Yellow nutsedge belongs to the sedge family (Cyperaceae) and is distinguished morphologically from grasses (Poaceae) by a nodeless stem that is triangular in cross-section (trigonous).
![souchet-consequence-agriculture](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/image/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501243645798/souchet-consequence-agriculture.jpg)
Stem
![souchet-tige](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/textimage/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501243735028/258.1000/souchet-tige.png)
Height 30–70 cm
Nodeless
Triangular cross-section
Leaves
![souchet-feuille](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/textimage_1245536409/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501243915447/258.1000/souchet-feuille.png)
Narrow (5–10 mm) and elongated
Arranged in a ‘V’ shape.
The needles of the leaves feel prickly to the fingertip.
The plant is a yellowish-green in colour.
Flowers
![souchet-fleurs](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/textimage_928106446/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501243992642/258.1000/souchet-fleurs.png)
Surmounted by 2 to 9 bracts consisting
of 4 to 10 branches,
bearing yellow or brown spikelets
6 to 12mm in length.
Tuber
![souchet-tubercule3](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/textimage_1360369744/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501244063789/258.1000/souchet-tubercule3.png)
Rounded shape
1mm to 15mm in size
Whole Plant
![Souchet-entier](/agroscope/en/home/topics/plant-production/plant-protection/herbologie/souchet-comestible/identification-developpement-souchet/_jcr_content/par/columncontrols/items/0/column/textimage_1001424671/image.imagespooler.jpg/1501244316657/258.1000/Souchet-entier.png)
Not to be confused with the hairy sedge (Carex hirta) – which has hairs on the surface of its leaves and puts out stolons rather than rhizomes – nor with several other native sedges (www.infoflora.ch).
Weed Science in Arable Crops - Changins