Grasshopper's Cyperus Cyperus iria
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chlorocyperus iria
- C. microlepis
- C. panicoides
- C. santonici
- Cyperus microiria
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-PEAR-us EE-ree-a
- Description
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Ricefield flatsedge is a tufted, tropical annual or perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family. Native to tropical and subtropical locations, it is commonly found growing in the southeastern US in areas of marshes, swamps, ditches, and low wasteland. It can be found growing in rice paddies and other wet places around the world in tropical locations and is a major weed in rice, cotton, soybean and other crops. In native conditions, it can flower year round, in US locations, it will flower in the summer and fall. It can be found as far north as Maine.
Its flowers are each encased in two glumes, a membrane that surrounds the flowers of a sedge.
Multiplies rapidly by the 3,000 to 5,000 seeds produced on each plant. It has the ability to establish a second generation of plants in a single season. It has numerous, fibrous, yellow-red short roots.
Management of this weedy plant can be done by hand, performing weeding prior to the flowering and the production of seed. It can also be controlled chemically.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cyperus
- Species:
- iria
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and Subtropical Asia and old world
- Distribution:
- Worldwide
- Wildlife Value:
- A host plant to a wide variety of insects.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an shiny, obovoid, brown achene having three sides.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are produced in open, compound umbels on spikes that are subtended by 4-7 leaf-like bracts. The spikes are golden-brown in color, usually sessile, elongated and golden to yellowish-green.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The flat, lance-linear green leaves are scabrid (rough) on the margins and mid-rib (having small, sharp projections) and V-shaped. The leaf sheath is reddish-brown and wraps around the stem. The leaf sheaths are green, shorter than the stem and surround the stem at the base.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Roughly triangular, solid, green stem or culms.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
