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Looks Like Grass, But Its Not Gallery
Cyperaceae, Cyperus - Flatsedge
Waves of Grain Index - Not Grass
Cyperaceae - Sedge family, Flatsedge Genus
Purple Nutgrass Cyperus rotundus
The bane of many lawns. Triangular stem can be 18" tall but in my area is usually 6"-8" tall, multiple bracts. Several branches of long red to brown spikelets clustered at on top of a pedicel that grows as the spikelets mature. Narrow basal leaves with a prominent mid vein. Fibrous root system made of hairy rhizomes that become tubers (nutlets) and new plants. Does not tolerate shade.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, June 2007
(Introduced, native of Europe - Taylor, Brown)
Similar Species
Yellow Nutsedge Cyperus esculentus
Very loose bottlebrush shaped heads, yellow.
(Native to Texas - Coke)
Cyperaceae - Sedge family, Flatsedge Genus
Fragrant Flatsedge (Large-head Flatsedge, Rusty Flatsedge) Cyperus odoratus
Lives at water edge. Elongated branches covered in tiny perpendicular needle-like spikelets, green to yellow.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2007
(Native to Texas - Taylor, Nolan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)
Cyperaceae - Sedge family, Flatsedge Genus
Oneflower Flatsedge Cyperus retroflexus
This is a common dry-land sedge that prefers sand. It grows from rhizomes so does not require moist soil. Several branches of spherical clusters of flat green to brown spikelets, one per pedicel that lengthens as the spikelets mature. Plant 12"-16" tall, with multiple long bracts, flat narrow basal leaves.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004, July 2005, June 2007
(Native to Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Brown, Coke)
Cyperaceae - Sedge family, Flatsedge Genus
Baldwin Flatsedge (Globe Sedge) Cyperus croceus (Cyperus globulosus)
Very similar to Oneflower Flatsedge but grows in moist sunny areas only. More flowers in cluster.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2008
(Native of Texas - Brown)
Other Species in My Area - needle-like spikelets
Redroot Flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos
Bottlebrush shaped heads
(Native to Texas - Brown)
False Nutsedge Cyperus strigosus
Bottlebrush shaped heads
(Native to Texas - Taylor, Brown, Tom Green)
Other Species in My Area - wheat-like spikelets
Taperleaf Flatsedge (Tapertip Flatsedge) Cyperus acuminatus
Looks like a cluster of Seagrass.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown)
Slender Flatsedge (Great Plains Flatsedge) Cyperus lupulinus ssp. lupulinus
Looks like one large ball at top of stem but made up of Seagrass.
(Native to Texas - Brown)
Schweinitz Flatsedge (Sand Flatsedge) Cyperus schweinitzii
Spike of clusters, large roundish spikelets, branches appended.
(Native to Texas - Taylor, Jones, Coke)
Lean Flatsedge (Strawcolored Flatsedge, False Nutsedge) Cyperus setigerus
Puff-ball inflorescence, one to many. Needle-like spikelets, 1/4"-1" long, radiate horizontally off branch, golden-brown. 3-10 long bracts. Triangular culm. 1-3 feet tall. Longest leaves as long as the culm and up to 1/2" wide. Variable in appearance. Grows in open, moist, sandy soils.
(Native to Texas - Taylor, Jones)
Bearded Flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
(Native to Texas - Tom Green)
Green Flatsedge Cyperus virens
(Native to Texas - Coleman)
Waves of Grain Index - Not Grass