Scientific Name: CYPERUS ESCULENTUS
Common Name: YELLOW NUTGRASS (CHUFA)
Erosion Index: GOOD
Erosion Index Value: 5.24
Wildlife Index: EXCELLENT
Wildlife Index Value: 7.69
Ecological Distribution: PINEYWOODS, GULF PRAIRIES AND MARSHES, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS PLATEAU, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: BOTTOMLAND, WETLAND,
Elevation Tolerance: SEA LEVEL - 2000'
Slope Tolerance: LEVEL TO GENTLY SLOPING
Aspect Tolerance: TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN, TOLERANT TO SUN-SHADE MIX
Wetland Regional Indicator: FACULTATIVE WETLAND
Physical Form: SEDGE
Habit: EMERGENT AQUATIC
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: UNKNOWN
Seed Interval: UNKNOWN
Growth: RAPID GROWTH, DENSE STAND-FORMING, SHALLOW ROOTED
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: FROST FREE PERIOD
Flowering Period: FROST FREE PERIOD
Fruiting Period: FROST FREE PERIOD
Soil Moisture: WITHSTANDS SHORT-DURATION SATURATION
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO CLAYEY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SILTY SOILS, TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility: TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH: SLIGHTLY ACIDIC
Soil Depth: WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Short-term Pest: LOW
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: HIGH
Dominance Characteristics: COMPONENT
Honeybee Relations: POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential: NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, UPLAND GAME BIRDS, WATERFOWL, NONGAME BIRDS, CATTLE
Small Mammal Food: GOOD
Large Mammal Food: GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food: EXCELLENT
Waterfowl Food: EXCELLENT
Nongame Birds Food: GOOD
Small Mammal Cover: EXCELLENT
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: GOOD
Waterfowl Cover: GOOD
Nongame Birds Cover: EXCELLENT
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM ONLY
Raindrop Impact: LOW
Erosion Hardiness: LOW
Ease of Propagation: HIGH
Soil Binding: LOW
Soil Enrichment Potential: UNKNOWN
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: LOW
Source Availability: COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio: LOW
Reproduction: APOMICTIC SEEDS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential: UNKNOWN
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: UNKNOWN
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: UNKNOWN
Establishment Time Interval: 2 TO 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: UNKNOWN
Relative Expense: INEXPENSIVE
Notes: - Natural seeds often not viable - Needs at least three month flood-free period during growing season - May become vigorously invasive - Primarily used for wildlife food planting on dredged material - Toleraant to soil textures which are sandy or loamy

Associated Species:

SWAMP SMARTWEED