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Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation
An Ethonobotanical Report
Cyperus esculentus
Native American Names There were no Indian names for this plant.
Description Nut Sedge has a triangular shaped stem and is yellow-green. The leaves are also yellow-green, wide bladed with a thick mid-vein and waxy covering. The root system produces many nut-like tubers. It has a yellow flower. Nut sedge is a perennial plant. It's a glasslike plant. This plant was introduced; it's unknown how it got into the United States. It flowers from July to August. Location and Habitat It's found scattered throughout Nebraska, but it's more common in the eastern part of Nebraska. It can also be found along streams and lakes and in meadows. It invades lawns, gardens, waste areas, cultivated fields, pastures, and roadsides. It can be here at the Senior Circle, by the headstart and along the road. Its habitat is dry sometimes and wet sometimes. Uses Native Americans used it for nausea, fever, inflammation, for pain reduction, and for muscle relaxation. They can be soaked in water, and then pounded to release the milky juice, which can be mixed with alcohol or water and sugar to make delicious drinks. Peeled and roasted, the tubers can be ground to become a coffee substitute or a sweet flour.
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