  Life
cycle: Nutsedge, also known as nut grass, is a perennial, grassy herb that grows about
12" high and spreads aggressively through seeds, rhizomes (underground creeping
stems), or nuts (tubers). The underground "nuts" can lie dormant for several
years.
It is found worldwide in warm and temperate zones,
first occurring
in Europe and Africa. It was introduced into the New World from the
Old World.
Its leaves and flowering stalks generally die back in
fall, but tubers and rhizomes survive in the soil and sprout the following
spring. The majority of tubers can be found in the top 6 inches of
soil where they can survive for 1 to 3 years.
History: The "nuts" are edible tubers with
high oil and sugar content. In many countries both yellow and purple nutsedge
are grown for their edible tubers. Currently, in the United States,
yellow nutsedge is merely regarded as another obnoxious weed; however,
historically, its small tuberous rhizomes were used both as food and medicine
by the Native Americans.
The nut is white and fibrous and can be squashed between
your fingers when young. As it matures, it becomes darker and quite
hard. A single tuber can produce nearly 2000 plants and 7000 new tubers
in one growing season. |
