Sedge Group 5
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 all female flowers. There is thus a clear different between the upper and lower spikelets. The hairless utricles in members of this group separates them from Group 3 sedges, while the female flowers with three stigmas separates them from group 4 sedges. As the flowers develop and mature into fruits, at least the lowest one or two spikelets become clearly pendulous, while the plants themselves form tight tussocks of leaves.
Where are they found?
These are mostly sedges of wetland habitats, though one species occurs as an introduction or escape from cultivation.
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).
Cyperus Sedge Carex pseudocyperus
Native. Widespread in a wide range of wetland habitats. Flowers May to June, fruits July to August. Plants grow to 40-90cm in height. Leaves 5-12mm wide, strongly keeled and folded. Flower spike emerges upright but soon becomes pendulous, with 1 male and 3-5 female spikelets. male and female glumes very long with bristle-edged tips. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles 4-5mm long, elliptical to oval, strongly ribbed, with a long beak 1.5-2.5mm in length and deeply notched at the tip.
A highly distinctive and ornamental species and easily recognised by its close cluster of pendulous spikelets containing distinctive utricles.
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Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula
Native. Traditionally a plant of damp woodland on heavier chalky soils but also more recently occurring as an escape from cultivation and often spreading quite aggressively in gardens. Flowers May to June, fruits June to July. Plants grow to 60-180cm in height, often forming large, leafy tussocks. Leaves broad, shining green, 15-20mm wide, strongly keeled and folded. Flower spike emerges upright but soon becomes pendulous, with 1-2 male and 4-5 female spikelets. Male and female glumes acute to acuminate at the tip. Flowers with three stigmas. Utricles 3-3.5mm long, broadly oval, three-sided, with a beak 0.2-0.6mm in length.
A highly distinctive and ornamental species and easily recognised by its pendulous spikelets, well spaced along the main stem.
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Common Wood Sedge Carex sylvatica
Native. Generally considered to be a good indicator of old and species-rich woodland on chalky boulder clay soils. Widespread in woodland and shady hedge bottoms except on more acid soils. Flowers April to July, fruits June to September. Plants grow to 15-60cm in height, often forming distinct colonies of leafy tussocks. Leaves fairly broad, bright green, 3-10mm wide, strongly keeled and folded. Flower spike emerges upright but the female spikelets become pendulous as the fruits develop. Spikes have 1 male and 3-5 female spikelets. Utricles 3-5mm long, broadly oval, three-sided, with a long beak, 1-2.5mm in length.
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Thin-spiked Wood Sedge Carex strigosa
Native. Rare in our region, being most frequent in old woods in the Colchester-Ipswich area. Flowers May to June, fruits June to September. Plants grow to 35-75cm in height, often forming distinct colonies of leafy tussocks. Leaves fairly broad, bright green, 6-10mm wide, strongly keeled and folded. Flower spike emerges upright but the female spikelets become pendulous as the fruits develop. Spikes have 1 male and 3-6 female spikelets. Utricles 3-4mm long, narrowly elliptical, often curving outwards from the main stem; beak short, 0.3-0.5mm in length.
Greatly resembles Common Wood Sedge in general appearance and best told by its typically broader leaves and the size and shape of the utricles.
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Green-ribbed Sedge Carex binervis
Native. Very uncommon in our region with a thin scattering of locations on heathy, acidic soils, mostly in Norfolk. Flowers June, fruits June to August. Plants grow to 15-75cm in height, often forming distinct colonies of leafy tussocks. Leaves dark green, 3-6mm wide, strongly keeled and folded. Flower spike elongated with the lower female spikes being particularly widely spaced. The spike stays more or less upright but often leans strongly to one side, with only the lowermost spikelet becoming pendulous. Spikes have 1 male and 2-4 female spikelets. Utricles 3.5-4.5mm long, broadly elliptical, ripening reddish- or purplish-brown, with two, well-marked veins or ridges; beak 1-1.5mm in length.
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