Plukenet's Flatsedge

Cyperus plukenetii

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in longleaf pine sandhills, sandy woodlands, thin soils of rock outcrops, and dry, disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

42

Good

Native to Louisiana (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 88%

Height: Up to about 3 feet 4 inches
Light: Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: July to October

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 19 Louisiana parishes.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Dry, deep-sand ridges with longleaf pine and turkey oak, kept open by fire.

Cliffs, ledges and rocky summits

Cliffs, ledges, rock outcrops, talus and rocky summits where the source does not name the rock. A named rock files the place under its own glade or outcrop type instead.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Louisiana. Shared habitat, not food. 50 animals.

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (17)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Louisiana

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · Cyperus

Argyrotaenia ivanaIvana Leafroller Moth
Bactra verutanaJavelin Moth
Diploschizia impigritellaYellow Nutsedge Moth
Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
Euphyes pilatkaSawgrass Skipper, Palatka Skipper, Coastal Sedge Skipper, Keys Sawgrass Skipper[for subspecies Euphyes pilatka klotsi]
Euphyes vestrisDun Skipper, Dun Sedge Skipper, Sedge Witch)\
Globia oblongaOblong Sedge Borer Moth, Large Noagria
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Cosmopterix attenuatella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

0BeesSoutheastern regional records

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

17BirdsRecorded eating Cyperus in Louisiana

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Louisiana, most records first.

Wild TurkeyRoots. 19 diet records
Sandhill CraneRoots. 10 diet records
Ring-necked DuckSeeds and roots. 6 diet records
Common Ground-dove4 diet records
Red-winged BlackbirdSeeds. 3 diet records
GadwallSeeds. 3 diet records
Northern Bobwhite3 diet records
Fulvous Whistling-duckSeeds. 2 diet records
Northern PintailSeeds. 2 diet records
Sora2 diet records

Show all 17

Vesper SparrowSeeds. 2 diet records
American WigeonSeeds. 1 diet record
Brown-headed Cowbird1 diet record
CanvasbackRoots. 1 diet record
Field SparrowSeeds. 1 diet record
Greater White-fronted GooseRoots. 1 diet record
Lesser ScaupSeeds. 1 diet record

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Birds that eat Cyperus 17

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Roots. 19 diet records
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Roots. 10 diet records
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Seeds and roots. 6 diet records
Common Ground-dove
Columbina passerina
4 diet records
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Seeds. 3 diet records
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Seeds. 3 diet records
Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
3 diet records
Fulvous Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna bicolor
Seeds. 2 diet records
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Seeds. 2 diet records
Sora
Porzana carolina
2 diet records
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Seeds. 2 diet records
American Wigeon
Anas americana
Seeds. 1 diet record
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
1 diet record
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Roots. 1 diet record
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Seeds. 1 diet record
Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
Roots. 1 diet record
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Seeds. 1 diet record

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Cyperaceae
Flower color: Green, purple or brown

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “July to October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Green, purple or brown” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Height · “Up to about 3 feet 4 inches” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Light · “Partial shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Plukenets Flat Sedge

Conservation status

Louisiana rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
LA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

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