Woodland sedge

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Woodland sedge

Woodland sedge

Woodland sedge inflorescence

Woodland sedge

Woodland sedge

Woodland sedge inflorescence

Woodland sedge sheath

Woodland sedge

Morphology

Culm

Strongly triangular, pale green, nearly glabrous, bases brownish.

Leaves

Blades to 3/5 inch wide, pale green, glabrous, sometimes slightly waxy; margins rough.

Sheath

Thin, white on inner side.

Inflorescence

Spikes, usually unisexual; terminal spike staminate, 1/5 to 4/5 inch long, sessile or short-stalked; staminate scales blunt or very short pointed; centers green; margins transparent; lateral spikes pistillate, 2-5, oblong or linear-oblong, .25 to 1.25 inch long, ascending to erect, stalked or uppermost nearly sessile and contiguous with male spike; pistillate scales about as long as perigynia, usually awned; centers green; margins transparent; perigynia 8-25 per spike, ellipsoid or egg-shaped, usually pale yellowish green, strongly several-nerved; beaks short, distinctly curved.

Fruit

Achenes, triangular, yellowish brown, 1-seeded; stigmas 3.

Ecology

Habitat

Dry or wet wooded areas, ditches, and along streams.

Distribution

East 1/2 of Kansas.

Additional Notes