Yellow nut grass is native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Depending upon
who you ask, it is an annoying weed, a treat whose tubers are to eaten raw or roasted,
an attractive wild plant, a source of feed for livestock, or an ingredient for a Spanish
drink called Horchata.
Identification: The stiff grasslike blades of this plant
often lift it up to 3′ (90 cm) high, so it is easy to notice, but it is the yellow-brown flower spikes that
really stand out. Like tangled bottle brushes, they emerge in stiff clusters 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) long, whose color and
shape is distinctive. As with most other sedges, stems are triangular in shape. Individual flower spikelets are ½-¾″ (1.3-1.9 cm)
long. The clusters are surrounded by four stiff grasslike bracts, neatly positioned at 90° angles from each other.
Edibility: These perennial plants have edible roots called "nuts,"
said to have a slightly sweet, nutty flavor.
Cultivated varieties have been used for food since ancient Egyptian times. Today many areas of
the world use them for animal or human food, as a flavoring for soft drinks, or for various
medicinal purposes.