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| ## golden nutsedge {#golden-nutsedge .Title-Header}                   |
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| *Cyperus eragrostis* Lam.                                             |
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| Plant Symbol = CYER                                                   |
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##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

### Alternate Names

Nutgrass, tall nutgrass, umbrella sedge, chufa, Earth almond, nutgrass,
zula nuts, edible galingale

### Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: On the rootlets of the sedge are small tubers, the size
of dried currants. These tubers make an excellent meal, either raw or
steamed. They are hard and crisp when eaten raw. These tubers taste
between fresh coconut and raisins. When reduced to meal and cooked as
cereal, it is both nourishing and appetizing. They can be soaked in
water, then pounded to release the milky juice, which can be mixed with
alcohol or water and sugar to make delicious drinks. Peeled and roasted,
the tubers can be ground to become a coffee substitute or a sweet flour.
The base of the stem may be eaten raw. The Yokuts in California ate the
grass-nut of *Cyperus* species and the seeds of the same (Powers 1877).
Native Americans use golden nutsedge as both sewing and wrapping
material in coiled baskets. Nutsedge leaves were made into seats.

*Erosion Control*: Nutsedge is especially good for stabilizing or
restoring disturbed or degraded areas (including logged or burned areas)
for erosion and slope control and for wildlife food and cover. *Cyperus*
species may be less suitable for general garden use, as these plants are
also invasive. Once established, these plants tend to out-compete,
displace, or overrun others.

*Wildlife*: The seeds are important, commonly used foods of ducks and of
certain marshbirds and shorebirds. Ducks, sandhill cranes, crow, other
waterfowl, and small mammals such as the kangaroo rat eat the seeds. The
tubers are eaten in the winter by ducks and
geese.![](media/image2.png){width="2.4993055555555554in"
height="1.84375in"}

### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

### Description

*General*: Sedge Family (Cyperaceae). This perennial herb has long,
solid triangular stems from 10 - 90 cm in height. The slender,
grass-like leaves grow from the base of the stem, and about 2-6
involucral leaves exceed the inflorescence. The flowers are golden-
brown colored, umbellate or capitate, with the rays extending out from a
central point with clusters of spikelets on the ends. Flowers and fruits
spread out in feathery spikes almost like the ends of an umbrella (thus
the name umbrella sedge). The plant has scaly stolons terminating in
nut-like tubers.

### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. It occurs in many plant communities in
most of cismontane California, north to Oregon, south to Mexico and
temperate South America. A related species, yellow nutsedge (*Cyperus
esculentus*) is a worldwide weed (Hickman 1993).

### Establishment

*Adaptation*: These sedges prefer mud flats that are underwater during
the winter months. Nutsedges grow in vernal pools, streambanks, ditches,
lawns, gardens, and disturbed places at elevations from 0 - 1000 m.
*Cyperus eragrostis* is common in shallow water and on moist ground at
elevations from 0 - 700 m.

*General*: *Cyperus* species may be planted from bare root stock, from
seedlings from container stalk, or directly seeded into the soil. Seed
collection is easy, efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive. Bare
rootstock or seedlings are preferred revegetation methods where there is
moving water. No more than 1/4 of the plants in an area should be
collected.

These plants establish extremely well from seed. Seed production is
prolific and germination rates are high. In wetland areas, revegetation
of *Cyperus* occurs naturally where there is water, wind, or animal
dispersal, or from the seed bank. It is likely that *Cyperus* will
re-vegetate naturally; seeding or planting in native plant communities
is not a good idea because of its invasive nature. This plant grows in
gardens that are irrigated, or where there is some natural moisture.

#### *Establishment from Seed*

-   Collect nutgrass seed in the fall and broadcast seed in late fall or
    early spring. Seeds can be broadcast on a moist and bare soil
    surface. Cover with a shallow layer of soil.

-   To collect and store seed, collect when seed is ripe and store in a
    dry and cool place. Clean seed by blowing out the light seed.

-   Plant seeds in the greenhouse in 1\" x 1\" x 2\" pots, 1/4\" under
    the soil surface. Keep soil surface moist. Put in temperature of 100
    degrees F (plus or minus 5 degrees). Seeds begin to germinate after
    a couple weeks in warm temperatures.

-   Plants are ready in 100 - 120 days to come out as plugs. By planting
    seeds in August, plugs are ready to plant in soil by November. These
    plants are very small; growing plants to a larger size will result
    in increased revegetation success.

-   Nutsedge would do well grown in wild gardens or cultivated for its
    edible tubers. *Cyperus* species tolerate disturbance, moderate
    grazing, and trampling.

### Management

Hydrology is the most important factor in determining wetland type,
revegetation, success, and wetland function and value. Changes in water
levels influence species composition, structure, and distribution of
plant communities. Water management is absolutely critical during plant
establishment, and remains crucial through the life of the wetland for
proper community management.

### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

CYER is readily available through native plant nurseries within its
range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look
in the phone book under "United States Government." The Natural
Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading
"Department of Agriculture."

### References

Barrows, D.P. 1967. *Ethno-botany of the Coahuilla Indians*. Malki
Museum Press, Banning, California. 82 pp.

Hickman, J.C. (dd.) 1993. *The Jepson manual*. University of California
Press. 1400 pp.

Powers, S. 1976. *Tribes of California*. University of California Press.
480 pp.

Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951*. American wildlife and
plants: A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York, New York. 500 pp.

Murphy, E.V.A. 199?. *Indian uses of native plants*. Mendocino County
Historical Society. 81 pp.

Sampson, A.W. & B.S. Jespersen 1981. *California range brushlands and
browse plants.* Division of Agricultural Sciences. University of
California.

USDA, NRCS 1999. *The PLANTS database*. National Plant Data Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Version: 990405.

### Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

Tormerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

### Species Coordinator

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Science Department,
University of California, Davis, California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 01may03 ahv; 05jun06 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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