Cyperus esculentus (also called chufa,[3] tiger nut,[4] atadwe,[5] yellow nutsedge,[6] earth almond, and in Chishona, pfende[7]) is a species of plant in the sedge family widespread across much of the world.[8] It is found in most of the Eastern Hemisphere, including Southern Europe, Africa and Madagascar, as well as the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.[9][10][11] C. esculentus is cultivated for its edible tubers, called earth almonds or tiger nuts (due to the stripes on their tubers and their hard shell), as a snack food and for the preparation of horchata de chufa, a sweet, milk-like beverage.[12][13]
Quick Facts Chufa sedge, Conservation status ...
Chufa sedge |
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Scientific classification |
Kingdom: |
Plantae |
Clade: |
Tracheophytes |
Clade: |
Angiosperms |
Clade: |
Monocots |
Clade: |
Commelinids |
Order: |
Poales |
Family: |
Cyperaceae |
Genus: |
Cyperus |
Species: |
C. esculentus |
Binomial name |
Cyperus esculentus
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Synonyms[2] |
- Chlorocyperus aureus (K.Richt.) Palla ex Kneuck.
- Chlorocyperus phymatodes (Muhl.) Palla
- Cyperus aureus Ten
- Cyperus aureus (L.) Nyman
- Cyperus bahiensis Steud.
- Cyperus buchananii Boeckeler
- Cyperus callistus Ridl.
- Cyperus chrysostachys Boeckeler
- Cyperus cubensis Steud.
- Cyperus damiettensis A.Dietr.
- Cyperus esculentus var. angustispicatus Britton
- Cyperus esculentus f. angustispicatus (Britton) Fernald
- Cyperus esculentus subsp. aureus K.Richt.
- Cyperus esculentus var. cyclolepis Boeckeler ex Kük.
- Cyperus esculentus f. evolutus C.B.Clarke
- Cyperus esculentus var. heermannii (Buckley) Britton
- Cyperus esculentus var. helodes (Schrad. ex Nees) C.B.Clarke
- Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus Boeckeler
- Cyperus esculentus var. lutescens (Torr. & Hook.) Kük. ex Osten
- Cyperus esculentus var. lutescens (Torr. & Hook.) Kük.
- Cyperus esculentus var. macrostachyus Boeckeler
- Cyperus esculentus f. macrostachyus (Boeckeler) Fernald
- Cyperus esculentus var. phymatodes (Muhl.) Kük.
- Cyperus esculentus f. princeps C.B.Clarke
- Cyperus esculentus var. sativus Boeckeler
- Cyperus esculentus var. sprucei C.B.Clarke
- Cyperus fresenii Steud.
- Cyperus fulvescens Liebm.
- Cyperus gracilescens Schult.
- Cyperus gracilis Link
- Cyperus heermannii Buckley
- Cyperus helodes Schrad. ex Nees
- Cyperus hydra Kunth
- Cyperus lutescens Torr. & Hook.
- Cyperus melanorhizus Delile
- Cyperus nervosus Bertol.
- Cyperus officinalis T.Nees
- Cyperus pallidus Savi
- Cyperus phymatodes Muhl.
- Cyperus phymatodes var. heermannii (Buckley) S.Watson
- Cyperus repens Elliott
- Cyperus ruficomus Buckley
- Cyperus scirpoides R.Br.
- Cyperus sieberianus Link
- Cyperus tenoreanus Schult.
- Cyperus tenorei C.Presl
- Cyperus tenorianus Roem. & Schult.
- Cyperus tuberosus Pursh
- Cyperus variabilis Salzm. ex Steud.
- Pterocyperus esculentus (L.) Opiz
- Pycreus esculentus (L.) Hayek
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Close
Cyperus esculentus can be found wild, as a weed, or as a crop. It is an invasive species outside its native range, and is readily transported accidentally to become invasive. In many countries, C. esculentus is considered a weed.[12][14] It is often found in wet soils such as rice paddies and peanut farms as well as well-irrigated lawns and golf courses during warm weather.