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 inchés, 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. 
