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