Cyperus esculentus var. macrostachyus

Yellow nutsedge

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Yellow nutsedge is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions in dunes, disturbed soil, and cropland at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering during summer, this plant produces small, spreading spikelets 10 to 40 millimeters long with narrow flower bracts. Growing 40 to 70 centimeters tall with an erect habit, it forms clusters of slender stems emerging from underground tubers. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, arranged in clusters around the stem base. The fruit is small, approximately 1.7 millimeters long, with distinctive narrow flower bracts characteristic of sedge species.

Habitat: Dunes, disturbed soil, cropland

Bloom period: Summer

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: SCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.