Yellow Nutsedge, Tiger nut
Cyperus esculentus

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

An upright grass like sedge. It continues to grow from year to year. It is usually 30-90 cm high. The leaves are long and narrow. They are shiny. The leaves are arranged on 3 rows around an angular stem. The leaves often have a pointed tip. The leaves are light green. The flowers are yellow spikes. They are 1-1.5 cm long. There are many creeping underground stems (rhizomes). These spread out then end in a swelling. This tuber is round and 5-20 mm long. It has a thin brown skin. They are crisp and nutty.

There are 550 Cyperus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the tropics and warm temperate zone. It is common in seasonally dry grasslands. It does not tolerate shade. High temperatures (27-30°C) and low nitrogen favours tuber production. It grows best in sandy soils with pH 5.5-6.5. It can tolerate salty soils. Day lengths of 8-12 hours favours tuber production. Day lengths of over 16 hours favour vegetative growth. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hawaii, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sicily, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Spain, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten raw or baked. Sometimes they are ground into flour and boiled into a porridge. (If eaten raw they can carry contaminants that cause sickness) The oil from the tubers can be used for cooking. It is edible. The roasted tubers are used as a coffee substitute. The tubers are used as a source of potash for softening and flavouring green leafy vegetables.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is an important food of several tribes in Africa. They are sold in markets in India. They are cultivated in Spain.

Edible parts

Tubers, oil, bulb, vegetable, root, coffee

How it is grown

Plants are grown from tubers. Tubers are soaked in water for 24-36 hours before being planted out. Sometimes tubers remain dormant but if they are chilled they grow better and produce more tubers. A spacing of 10-15 cm apart along rows 60 to 90 cm apart are suitable. Tubers should be placed 2.5-4 cm deep. The tubers are dug, washed and dried for 1-3 days before being sold or used.

Yields of 800-900 kg per hectare of tubers are achieved on sandy soils. Yields of 8000-14000 kg per hectare are possible. Tiger nuts take 90-120 days to reach maturity.

Its other names

Local names

Abdulaziz, Abide, Aya, Banhamo, Bibi, Ceko, Chichoda, Chimbwe-chimbwe, Chufa, Chufa salvaje, Dila, Dim, Djardole, Djunca, Earth almonds, Enensa, Fio, Gaasu, Geeluintjie, Gocoso, Goon, Haya, Imumu, Inqoba, Junca, Kaothum, Karepoka, Karekika, Kaseru, Kaseruka, Keseru, Kwentii, Motha, Ndao, Ndawi, Ngowe, Noem phlong, Nut Sedge, Nut-grass, Ofio, Amu, Omu, Pfende, Rush nuts, Sekwa, Tiger nut, Tiririca, Umhlata, Vista, Yanaacemmora, Zulu nut

Synonyms

Cyperus aureus Ten.[Illegitimate]; Cyperus nervoso-striatus Turrill; Cyperus melanorhizus Delile; Pycreus esculentus (L.) Hayek; and many others