Heavy sedge

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Heavy sedge inflorescence

Heavy sedge

Heavy sedge

Heavy sedge inflorescence

Heavy sedge

Heavy sedge

Heavy sedge

Heavy sedge spikes

Heavy sedge leaves

Morphology

Culm

Erect or ascending, slender, prominently triangular, light green, rough beneath inflorescences.

Leaves

Blades 4-6, flat, to 12 inches long, less than 1/3 inch wide, rough above, glabrous below; tips pointed

Sheath

Open, loose, green and white spotted.

Ligule

Prominent

Inflorescence

Heads, dense, oblong or egg-shaped, .5 to 1.5 inch long, less than 3/5 inch wide, pale, composed of 5-15 rounded spikes; bracts bristle-like, shorter than heads or lowest about as long; spikes generally touching, sometimes interrupted by intervening space, sessile, appearing bristly; staminate flowers above pistillate flowers; pistillate scales ovate-lanceolate, dull green to brown, midvein conspicuous, about as long as perigynia, awn-tipped; perigynia to 15 per spike, oval to nearly circular, flattened, dull green to pale brown; margins greenish; beaks 2-toothed; staminate scales narrow, pale brown; tips gradually tapered to points.

Fruit

Achenes, small, flat, round, brownish yellow, 1-seeded; stigmas 2, reddish brown.

Ecology

Habitat

Damp or drying prairies, open woods, swales, and roadside ditches, most abundant on limestone or chalk soils.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.