A friend pointed me here.

[ameliorate]

I like in the Mojave Desert, Zone 8B.

I sometimes let my weeds grow out because some of them are really interesting; and, sometimes things grow that just do not make sense. This is one of those plants, and I'd really appreciate any guesses on identifying this plant.

Some info:
1. My initial guess is that this is some type of grass. 
2. It looks like

Comments

[meermondliebe]

Wow, I've traveled through the CA desert and while I'm particularly intrigued with CA desert plants and flora, I've never seen anything like it. It resembles the yucca. I'm gonna do some research myself and get back to you on this one.

[ameliorate]

I'm partly wondering if it's a mutation of something else, but that seems like a bit of a cop out on identifying this sucker. It's driving me nuts. XD

[meermondliebe]

Yes, feel free to email Cal Poly or the CNPS http://www.cnps.org/cnps/about/contact.php. If its a hybrid or non-native its of good interest especially if it seems to be thriving in the Mojave.

[ameliorate]

Oh wow, thank you for this link, I'll definitely send them a message. I just too a stab at sending the Cal poly email.

[ladycelia]

See if there's an extension office from Cal Poly and email them a picture--they should be able to identify it.

[ameliorate]

Thank you for the idea, I did.

[rainarana]

That's absolutely bizarre. I'd want one if it grew here.

[ameliorate]

It is neat, I've wanted to dig it up and see the root structure, but I was afraid of killing it since I don't have another one.

[jacquez]

That looks like nut sedge of some kind to me. It's a pest and very hard to eradicate, and def. grows wild in your area. Here's some info on nut sedges in CA from UC Davis: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7432.html

There's a nut sedge that grows where I live -- SW PA, Zone 6 -- and some of it got into my perennial garden. The one here is resistant to pesticides and the only remedy I found was to pull it, making sure to get the root tubers.

[ameliorate]

Yes, I do believe your right... the picture of the umbrella sedge looks very close in the flower shape, as well. Pus the head of the flower has five or so leaves instead of the three.I don't suppose it would be too terrible to allow to grow as it does look nice out here.. certainly better than crab grass.. then again if it's very tough to get rid of, I might be doing my landlord a great disservice by allowing it to live this long.

I think I'll try to carefully remove it tomorrow -pouts-

Thank you very much for the help!

[jacquez]

I just spent 20 minutes pulling nut sedge in my garden again. I noticed the other day that the soccer field down the street from me has been COMPLETELY taken over -- there's not even white clover left, and I thought nothing could out-compete that stuff. This is the first year I've seen it anywhere -- I had none last year -- and I don't know where it came in from, but it's all over my neighborhood!

Good luck. Hey, you get to see the root system, right?

[ext_2112427]

Do not pull the sedge. The nuts fall off the roots, and you end up with 5 or 6 new plants for every one you pull.

[ersatz_read]

Seconding the sedge ID. You can verify by checking the stem - "sedges have edges" (a triangular stem).
Specifically, it looks like Tall flat sedge (Cyperus eragrostis).
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/tallflatsedge.html
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=2581

[ameliorate]

Yes, triangular stem, and yes the tall flat sedge is it exactly!

Wondering why I haven't seen it around my neighborhood.

[jacquez]

Ooh, if it's tall flatsedge, it looks like it's maybe NOT a pest, and also the tubers are edible! How cool. Much better than the nutsedge that trying to take over my sage & irises.