Carex - sedges

This is a large family of varied species, over 40 have been recorded in Lanarkshire. Nine examples have been included here which are commoner and distinctive. There is an overview of grasses, sedges and rush structure here.

The first two are short, green or yellow-green sedges. They have a clustered, female, round spikelet and then a single thin, darker, male spike at the top of the stem.

Carex demissa - Common Yellow-sedge is short, less than 30cm with green, keeled, recurved leaves. The male spike continues the line of the rounded stem and there is usually a female spike, isolated, lower down the stem. The fruits are round, narrowed into a short beak and the female glume has a green midrib.

Carex hirta - Hairy Sedge is the only sedge with hairy sheaths and leaves, these are distinctive and persist throughout the winter. The fruits are also long beaked and hairy.

The next three all have glaucous leaves, narrower female spikes and even narrower male spikes at the top.

Carex panicea - Carnation Sedge this has very glaucous leaves on both sides which end in a thin triangular point. The female spikes are loose-flowered and the fruits bulge out on the underside appearing plump (“Pregnant panicea”) with a tiny beak. The male spikes are dark purple-brown.

Carex flacca - Glaucous Sedge has grey-green leaves on top but glaucous below which end in a fine point. The female spikes are on short stalks and especially the lower ones hang down (“Floppy flacca”). The female glumes have a small mucronate tip.

Carex nigra - Common Sedge has glaucous or grey-green leaves which tend to be more erect. The female glumes are dark with a green midrib and blunt tip.

The remaining four species show the variety of this large family.

Carex leporina - Oval Sedge has spikes that look similar. The male flowers are at the base of the upper spikes. The spikes are clustered and oval in shape.

Carex pendula - Pendulous Sedge. This is a distinctive large sedge often found in urban woods. It has large leaves which are W-shaped in cross-section.

Carex sylvatica - Wood-sedge. This is smaller and more delicate than Carex pendula. It is usually densely tufted. There is a single upright male spike and then a series of distant, loose, long, female spikes on stalks which become longer, going down the plant.

Carex rostrata - Bottle Sedge is a common sedge in standing water where it can form larger colonies. The leaves are erect, glaucous on top and dark, shiny green below. There are several male spikes at the top with several densely packed female spikes below. The fruits are shiny.

This is a useful on-line key to Carex which is also a good way to learn about this genus.