The leaves of yellow nutsedge taper gradually to a sharp point. Erect, unbranched, and 3-sided and triangular in cross section. Stems are usually solitary and produce terminal spikelets. Rhizomes and tubers occur on the same plants. Tubers are round, ridged, initially white in color, eventually turning brown or black, and are sweet to the taste.
Yellow nutsedge produces solitary tubers that arise either from the basal bulb or from a rhizome.
Several tubers do not arise along the entire rhizome, as in purple nutsedge. Individual spikelets are yellow to brown in color. However, the leaves of purple nutsedge taper to a point abruptly whereas those of yellow nutsedge gradually taper to a point. Additionally, the seedhead of purple nutsedge is purple in color, while that of yellow nusedge is yellow. Lastly, the tubers of purple nutsedge are often connected in chains and bitter to the taste, while those of yellow nutsedge are solitary and sweet to the taste.