CYPERACEAE (SEDGE FAMILY) 69 



from the size of a pea to three-fourths of an inch in diameter; 

 from this center, horizontal cord-like rootstocks are extended 

 in every direction, producing new tubers at intervals of two 

 to ten or more inches, which immediately send up shoots to 

 the surface and begin to throw out their own lateral growths ; 

 and so on, indefinitely, provided that the food-producing leaf- 

 growth above is permitted to flourish. The leaves appear first in the 

 spring, three to six inches long, one-eighth to one-fourth inch wide, 

 rather thick, smooth, with mid-vein prominent below and forming 

 a slight channel above. Culm slender, smooth, three-sided, six to 

 eighteen inches tall, leafless except for three or four involucral bracts 

 at its summit, one to four inches long and subtending the umbellate 

 cluster of flowers. Rays of the umbel two or three inches long, 

 spreading, bearing on the upper part four to nine flowering spikes 

 with twelve to forty spikelets ; scales closely imbricated, ovate, 

 pointed, dark purplish brown with a green' keel and margin ; 

 stamens three and style three-cleft, exserted much beyond the tops 

 of the scales. The many small achenes are oblong, pointed at 

 both ends, three-sided, dull green or brown. 



Means of control 



Prevent seed production. Although the weed is very prolific, 

 both above and below ground, the growth of flowering stalks is 

 most exhaustive to the underground tubers, and if such stalks are 

 persistently hoe-cut, before the flowers mature and sow their 

 progeny, the tubers in the soil must gradually yield up their life. 

 Both dormant seeds and tubers should be stimulated to active 

 growth by frequent stirring of the soil in the fore part of the season, 

 but the main battle should come at the time when the plant is 

 expending all its resources, above and below, in the development of 

 seed, which must not be permitted to come to perfection. This 

 intensive, late cultivation should be followed by heavily seeding 

 the ground to some winter crop, such as Rye or Winter Vetch or 

 Japan Clover, to be used for winter grazing which will keep down 

 the Sedge; the crop to be plowed under in the spring for green 

 manure. 



Care should be taken that the rootstocks and small tubers are 

 not transported to clean land on farm implements. 



