Sedge Group 2
What are they?
This group includes sedge species that have their flowers in a single, terminal spike, with the individual flowers clustered into two or more spikelets, thus creating a lobed spike. The spikelets are all more or less the same, with even the terminal spikelet containing at least some female flowers. Plants generally grow in spreading colonies of stems rather than forming tussocks.
Where are they found?
There is quite a range of species in this group, with some being plants of wetland habitats and others prefering drier grassland. Thus, habitat can be a useful part of the identification process.
Identification
While the creeping rhizomes and overall flower spike details define this group, the finer details of the flowers and fruits are necessary for species identification. Note the distribution of female and male flowers within the spike and note details of shape, size and colour of the ripe utricles (fruits).
Lesser Tussock Sedge Carex diandra
Native. Rare, with the main population in Broadland, but declining due to falling water tables and drying out of its habitats and now largely confined to managed reserves. Flowers May to June, fruits June to July. Plants spreading, or only forming loose tussocks. Leaves 1-3mm wide. Flower spike rather compact, the lower spikelets without stalks. Glumes without the contrastingly pale margin of Greater Tussock Sedge; flowers with two stigmas. Utricles 2.7-4mm long, broadly ovoid, planoconvex (flattened on one side); beak 1-2mm long, saw-edged but without noticeable wings.
Compare also with Fibrous Tussock Sedge.
 |
 |
||
| |
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Sand Sedge Carex arenaria
Native. A common and often abundant plant in sandy habitats, both coastal and inland. Flowers June to July, fruits July to August. Plants widely spreading to form extensive, single-species colonies. Leaves 1.5-3.5mm wide, rough and keeled or channelled. Flower spike up to 8cm long with 5-15 spikelets without. Flowers with two stigmas. Utricles 4-5.5mm long, ovoid, planoconvex (flattened on one side), many-ribbed; beak 1-2mm long, rough and slightly winged at the base.
Although local in its distribution, this can be an abundant plant in coastal dunes and on sandy heaths. Plants spread by extensive rhizomes that play an important part, along with Marram, in stabilising sand dune systems. Rhizomes creep below ground and send up tufts of leaves from the nodes; these tufts make distinctive, straight lines for many meters through sandy ground. Eventually, plants infill to create solid 'lawns' of vegetation.
Can be told from Divided Sedge by the habitat (though there can be a little overlap in damp dunes) and the terminal spikelet, which has male flowers throughout (not just at the very tip). Also, the leaf sheath is membranous (and not entirely herbaceous) opposite the leaf blade.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Brown Sedge Carex disticha
Native. Widespread in flood meadows along river valleys and wet fens. Flowers June to July, fruits July to August. Plants widely spreading to form open stands of leaves; stems clearly three-angled, 20-80cm in height. Leaves 2-4mm wide, flat but keeled on the midrib. Flower spike 2-7cm long with spikelets rather tightly clustered. Flowers with two stigmas. Utricles 4-5.5mm long, ovoid, planoconvex (flattened on one side), with narrow wings; beak 1-1.5mm long, rough and bifid.
Flower spikes rather similar to those of Sand Sedge, but the habitat easily distinguishes them.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
Divided Sedge Carex divisa
Native. A coastal species, occurring in grazing marshes, especially where the water is brackish, as well as damp hollows in dunes. Flowers May to June, fruits July to August. Plants widely spreading to form open stands of leaves; stems clearly three-angled, 15-80cm in height. Leaves 1.5-3mm wide, stiff and rather variable in their flatness. Flower spike short, 1-3cm long. Flowers with two stigmas. Utricles 3.2-4mm long, ovoid or broadly ellipsoid, planoconvex (flattened on one side), ribbed, not winged; beak 0.5-0.8mm long.
Can be told from Sand Sedge by the habitat (though there can be a little overlap in damp dunes) and the terminal spikelet, which only has male flowers at the very tip. Also, the leaf sheath is entirely herbaceous (and not membranous) opposite the leaf blade.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
mature |
mature |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| stigmas mature |
|
|
|
White Sedge Carex canescens
(Carex curta) Native. A scarce and decling species of wet, sandy heaths, in East Anglia probably more or less confined to bogs in East and West Norfolk and East Suffolk. Flowers June to August, fruits August to September. Plants in loosely spreading tufts, 10-50cm in height. Leaves 2-3mm wide, soft, keeled. Flower spike 3-5cm long with 4-8 spikelets. Flowers with two stigmas. Utricles small, 2-3mm long, ovoid-ellipsoid, planoconvex (flattened on one side), not winged, remaining yellowish when ripe (not darkening to brown); beak 0.5-0.7mm long.
The overall pale colouration and very small utricles, as well as the slightly tufted growth separates this species from the others in this group.
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|