Nut Grass, Purple Nutsedge
Cyperus rotundus

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A sedge. It is a herb that continues growing from year to year. It has both rhizomes and tubers under the ground. The leaves of this plant have a blunt tip and do not have a shoulder along the leaf. The leaves mostly grow from the base of the plant. They are narrow and flat and 5-20 cm long. The flower is a compound flower with 5 leafy bracts near the base of the flower. These are of different lengths. The flower stem is 3-angled and 20-50 cm high. The fruit are 3 angled and brown. They are about 1.5 mm long. The tubers of this species are dark brown, in a chain and have a bitter or unpleasant taste.

It is mostly regarded as a serious weed in gardens in the tropical lowlands. There are 550 Cyperus species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs world wide in warmer places. In Papua New Guinea it grows up to 1800 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 300-2400 m altitude. It grows in moist places. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in most soil types and most pH levels. It cannot tolerate salt or shade. It can grow in arid places. It grows in the Sahara.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Europe, Fiji, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Micronesia, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: All parts of the plant can contain poisonous cyanide (the bitter taste) so must be well heated before eating. The tubers are eaten fresh. They are also roasted or boiled and can be dried and made into flour. The bases of the culms are cooked and eaten. The rhizomes are cut into small pieces and roasted.

The roots are chewed especially by children.

Edible parts

Tubers, seeds, roots, rhizomes, culms

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed or tuberous rhizomes. Seeds often do not grow. Rhizomes and tubers are more common methods of reproduction.

Its other names

Local names

Bhada, Chaguan humatag, Chufa roja, Coco grass, Contra cebra, Ei, Grama, Guel, Gunza, Injunca, Junquillo, Keya bon, Konnari gedde, Korai, Korrai kizhangu, Kuntayle, Motha, Mothe, Mothee, Mouku, Mumuta, Musta, Mustaka, Mutha, Mutha ghash, Muthanga, Myet-mon-nyin-ahnet, Pupu, Sembang kaothum, Suraj, Tamascal, Tamous-sayt, Te mumute, Teki, Tiririca, Topalak, Tungamuste, Tungegadde, Wet-mye-u, Xiang fu

Synonyms

Cyperus curvatus Llanos; Cyperus hexastochyus Rottb.; Cyperus leptostachyus Griff.; Cyperus madicans Fl. Graec.; Cyperus odoratus Osbeck; Cyperus tenuiflorus Royle (non Rottb.);