Shoreline sedge

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Shoreline sedge pistillate spike

Shoreline sedge

Shoreline sedge

Shoreline sedge staminate spike

Shoreline sedge

Shoreline sedge

Shoreline sedge spikes

Shoreline sedge leaves

Shoreline sedge inflorescence

Shoreline sedge inflorescence

Shoreline sedge pistillate spike

Morphology

Culm

Erect to ascending, mostly longer than leaves, stout, 3-sided, glabrous, base brown.

Leaves

Basal and on lower stem, light green; blades 4 to 20 inches long, .25 to .6 inch wide, slightly glaucous, channeled near base, margins rough, somewhat recurved near tip.

Sheath

Lowermost sheaths pale brown

Ligule

U-shaped, usually wider than long

Inflorescence

Bracts leaflike; terminal spikes 2-4, staminate, .4 to 1.8 inches long, to .2 inch wide; uppermost spike stalked, lateral spikes sessile if present; scales reddish brown with lighter center and transparent margins, becoming straw-colored at maturity, narrowly oblong-elliptic, .14 to .4 inch long, tip tapered to point or short awn. Pistillate spikes 2-4, sessile or short-stalked, ascending, narrowly oblong, .4 to 3.6 inches long, .4 to .6 inch wide; scales reddish brown with lighter center and transparent margins, ovate to lance-ovate, .16 to .4 inch, shorter than perigynia, tip tapered to point or short awn. Perigynia unto 150 per spike, green, narrowly ovoid, .2 to .3 inch long, tip gradually tapered to beak ending in 2 short teeth; stigmas 3.

Fruit

Achenes, yellowish brown or greenish brown, elliptic-obovate, .08 to .1 inch, 3-sided.

Ecology

Habitat

Wetlands; river, pond and lake margins; ditches; wet, disturbed sites

Distribution

East 1/3 of Kansas

Additional Notes