ricefield flatsedge, Cyperus iria

Ricefield flatsedge is in the running for GOAT weed. For those not immersed in football, that is Greatest Of All Time weed. Ricefield flatsedge is a problem in rice paddies worldwide. Once it is established there it spreads to wetlands. Then it will creep up into other croplands and distubed areas. So it was one of those disappointed but not surprised moments to find it growing around a nursery in Michigan. But we may have dodged this one. It doesn't seem to have persisted beyond that season. I mentioned to the nursery staff that they had a lot of interesting weeds. I meant it in a much more positive way than they may have taken it. Since then the place has been close to weedless. It's hard to know if ricefield died out because of the northern climate, or because of their efforts. Ricefield flatsedge has been reported from AL, AR, CA, DE, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV. Lenawee Co MI, 9/13/11. Sedge family, Cyperaceae.