Sedge Group 3
What are they?
This group includes sedge species that have their flowers arranged in several spikelets, with the upper spikelets made up of all (or mostly all) male and the lower spikelets made up of female flowers. There is thus a clear different between the upper and lower spikelets. The utricles are hairy in members of this group.
Where are they found?
Species in this group may be found in both wetland habitats and drier grasslands. Thus, habitat can be a useful part of the identification process.
Identification
While the overall flower spike details define this group, the finer details of the flowers and fruits are necessary for species identification. Note the shape and colour of both the male and female glumes (flower bracts) and note details of shape and size of the ripe utricles (fruits). Also note the overall shape of the flower spike, especially regarding the spacing of the spikelets along the main stem and the number of both male and female spikelets.
Hairy Sedge Carex hirta
Native. Widespread throughout the region in damp grassland habitats, roadsides and other grassy places. Flowers May to June, fruits June to August. Plants form spreading colonies of tufted shoots, 15-70cm in height. Leaves 2-5mm wide, noticeably hairy, especially on the leaf bases and sheaths. Flower spike with 2-3 male and 2-3 female spikelets. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles 4.5-7mm long, ovoid, many-ribbed, roundly three-sided with beak 1.5-2.5mm long.
A fairly common species, readily recognised by its well-spaced flower spike and noticeably white-hairy leaf sheaths.
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Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca
Native. Common and widespread in places with relatively short grass and in chalky fens. Unusually, this is a sedge that will grow in both wet and very dry soils. Flowers May to June, fruits June to September. Plants form spreading colonies of tufted shoots, 10-60cm in height. Leaves 1.5-4mm wide, dull green above, pale blue-green below with the midrib groove running all the way to the tip of the leaf. Flower spike 2-3cm long with (1)2-3 male and 1-5 female spikelets. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles small, 2-3mm long, ellipsoid to obovoid, minutely warty with a minuscule beak, 0.2-0.3mm long.
Often grows with the somewhat similar Carnation Sedge, but that species has leaves with a midrib groove that stops well short of the leaf tip.
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Pill Sedge Carex pilulifera
Native. Local but common where it occurs on dry, sandy heaths, especially on the Norfolk heaths, Suffolk Sandlings and in the more acidic parts of Breckland. Flowers May to June, fruits June to July. Plants form very close and dense, evergreen tussocks of leaves with flower stems rising, 10-30cm in height. Leaves 1.5-2mm wide, green in summer, becoming bronzed in winter. Flower spike 2-4cm long with one male and 2-4 female spikelets. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles small, 2-3.5mm long, ellipsoid to pear-shaped, minutely downy with a minuscule beak, 0.3-0.5mm long.
A small but distinctive species, often growing on well-trodden paths, where the leaf rosettes become flattened to the ground rather than forming low mounds.
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Spring Sedge Carex caryophyllea
Native. Widespread but generally uncommon in short turf on dry, chalky grassyland and occasionally on more heathy ground. Flowers April to May, fruits May to July. A very small, early-flowering species forming loose tussocks, typically 2-15cm in height. Leaves 1.5-3mm wide, curved, shiny and more or less flat. Flower spike 2-4cm long with one male and 1-3 female spikelets. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles small, 2-3mm long, ellipsoid to obovoid, minutely downy with two lateral ribs and with a minuscule beak, 0.2-0.3mm long.
A small and easily overlooked species, flowering early in the season. Very similar to Heath Sedge and best told from it by the female glumes, which are acute, greenish to dark brown without a papery margin and by the lowest flower bract which has a sheath of 3-5mm.
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Heath Sedge Carex ericetorum
(Rare Spring Sedge) Native. Rare nationally, with Breckland and a few uplands in northern England being its strongholds. Grows on both acid and chalk in short turf communities. Flowers April to May, fruits April to June. A very small, early-flowering species forming loose tussocks, typically 2-15cm in height. Leaves 1.5-4mm wide, curved, shiny and more or less flat. Flower spike 2-3cm long with one male and 1-3 female spikelets. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles small, 2-3mm long, obovoid to almost globbose, minutely downy with two lateral ribs and with a minuscule beak, 0.2-0.3mm long.
A small and easily overlooked species, flowering early in the season. Very similar to Spring Sedge and best told from it by the female glumes, which are obtuse to rounded, dark, purplish brown with a papery margin and by the lowest flower bract which has a sheath of 0-2mm.
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