Species that are considered high risk have a well-documented history of invasiveness in at least one location globally, and a high or medium climate match to the contiguous United States.
The history of invasiveness for Cyperus rotundus is high. Peer reviewed literature is available discussing the impacts of C. rotundus invasions. This species is a significant problem for agricultural efforts in many countries. C. rotundus has been spread by humans for medicinal properties for centuries. This species has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s worst weeds and is controlled in some states. The climate match is high. Most of the contiguous United States has a climate that could support the establishment of this species. The certainty of assessment is high. The overall risk assessment category is high.