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.

Carex demissa NS6939 01Jul2017 PW

Carex demissa NS6765 23Jul2017 PW

Carex demissa NS6939 01Jul2017 PW

Carex demissa 28May2017 NS8267 PW

Carex demissa NS6765 23Jul2017 PW

Carex hirta NS5463 12July2018 PW

Male flower.

Carex hirta NS5857 20July2018 PW

Carex hirta NS6667 May2018 FM

Even in late winter this sedge can be identified.

Carex hirta NS7357 3Feb2019 FM

Even over winter, last years seed-heads retain a few distinctive hairs.

Carex hirta NS7357 25March2019 FM

The notable feature of this sedge is the pale and large utricle - “Pregnant Panicea”.

Carex panicea NS8761 6June2018 PW

The leaves are glaucous on both sides.

Carex panicea NS9335 21July2018 PW

Carex flacca NS6051 9July2020 PW

Carex flacca 19May2017 NS5857 PW

Male flower

Carex flacca 6May2017 NS5857 PW

"floppy" flacca

Shows the female flower - lowest one on a stalk.

Carex flacca 28May2017 NS8267 PW

Carex flacca NS9417 16Jun16 PW

The female flowers can appear wholly green but then as the nut develops the rest of the glume appears. The glume is black with a green midrib. The green edge become hyaline and brown later.

Carex nigra NS7848 20July2020 PW

This shows the dark amel flower and almost sessile female flowers.

Carex nigra NS9417 16Jun16 PW

Carex nigra NS7747 8Jul2020 MP

Carex leporina NS5863 12Jun2020 PW

Carex leporina NS9335 15Jul2018 PW

Looking down on the leaves and stem.

Carex leporina NS5863 12Jun2020 PW

Carex leporina NS9335 15Jul2018 PW

Carex pendula 31May2017 NS6637 MP

Carex pendula NS5858 26April2019 PW

Showing the large strong W-shaped leaves.

Carex pendula NS7357 3Feb2019 FM

Carex sylvatica NS6958 21Sep PW

Carex sylvatica NS8050 15May2020 MP

Carex rostrata NS6739 26Aug2017 PW

Carex rostrata 25July2017 NS7266 MP

Carex rostrata NS9335 15Jul2018 PW

Carex rostrata NS6739 26Aug2017 PW

Carex rostrata NS9335 15Jul2018 PW