Sedge (12)
Sedges are a large genus with over 600 species in North America. They are usually found in moist areas and have solid triangular stems. See also Bulrush, Three Square and Spikerush which are also in the Sedge family.
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Water Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 3 feet with dry leaves at the base and leaves shorter than the stems. One to two male flower spikes are at the tip, two to six female below with the lowest leaf-like bract extending past the topmost spike. Flora of North America reference. |
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Douglas' Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows 6" to 16" high. This was about 8". Leaves are narrow and grass-like. The flower heads are dense, about an inch long. The female flowers have very long stigmas that form a tangled mat. Flora of North America reference. |
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Ebony Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 20" with stems longer than the wide, flat leaves. The flowers are in a dense cluster at the top of the stem and have black scales. Flora of North America reference. |
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Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows 1 to 3 feet tall with up to 3 male flower spikes above 3 to 5 female spikes. Similar to C. aquatilis but found growing at lower elevations and the lowest bract does not extend past the flower head. Female spikes often have male flowers at the tip. Flora of North America reference. |
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Salt Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows 4" to 16" with very narrow leaves. A long leaf-like bract extends beyond the flower head. The flower head usually has the male flowers in a spike above the female spikes but the top spike can be both male and female flowers. The spikes are about ¾" long. The fruits are egg-shaped and greenish white or pale gold with a brownish tip. Flora of North America reference. |
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Smallwing Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 3 feet tall in dense clumps. Flower head is a dense cluster of scaly, brown flowers. Flora of North America reference. |
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Nebraska Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows 8" to 36" tall with bluish-green leaves and up to 1 to 3 male flower spikes above 2 to 4 female spikes, similar to C. aquatilis. The lowest bract does not extend past the flower head. Female flowers are red-brown with a tiny bristle. Flora of North America reference. |
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Chamisso Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 40" with grass-like leaves. The flowers spikes are in a dense cluster at the top of the stem and are gold to coppery brown with a metallic sheen and a dark tip.
Flora of North America reference. |
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Woolly Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to over 3 feet tall. The base of the leaves is reddish-purple. It has narrow male flower spikes above 2 or 3 cylindrical female spikes. A lower leafy bract extends beyond the female spikes. Flora of North America reference. |
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Dunhead Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 18" in dense tufts with leaves shorter than the stem. Reddish-brown flower spikes are clustered at the top of the stem.
Flora of North America reference. |
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Meadow Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows in dense clumps to 3 feet tall. The inflorescence is an erect or nodding cluster of several flower spikes which have green or gold to dark brown scales. Flora of North America reference. |
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Beaked Sedge Family:
Sedge (Cyperaceae) Grows to 4 feet with a long leaf-like bract extending beyond the flower spikes. Leaves are flat and yellowish-green. The narrow, brown male flower spikes are above the larger female flower spikes which are a dense cylinder of golden or brown pointed (beaked) fruits. A common sedge. Flora of North America reference. |
