Fox sedge

Images

Click on image to view full size

Fox sedge inflorescence

Fox sedge inflorescence

Fox sedge

Fox sedge inflorescence

Fox sedge

Fox sedge inflorescence

Fox sedge

Fox sedge

Fox sedge

Fox sedge

Fox sedge habit

Morphology

Culm

Erect, stiff, slender, strongly triangular, rough above, often shorter than leaves, bases dark brown.

Leaves

Blades 3 to several, clustered near base, mostly flat, to 4 feet long, less than 1/4 inch wide, glabrous; margins rough.

Sheath

Open, tight, wrinkled cross-wise, inner surface greenish white.

Inflorescence

Spikes, bisexual, in narrow heads 1.5 to 4 inches long, to 3/5 inch wide; spikes 15 or more, clustered closely together, occasionally separated by spaces between spikes, sessile, densely flowered, ovoid-oblong, to 1/3 inch long; staminate flowers above pistillate flowers; bracts at bases of most spikes, bristle-like, to 2 inches long; pistillate scales ovate, as long or slightly longer than perigynia; margins greenish brown to transparent; centers green; tips strongly awned; perigynia ovoid, flat, green or yellowish brown; beaks about as long as body of the perigynia, 2-toothed.

Fruit

Achenes, lens-shaped, reddish brown, 1-seeded; stigmas 2, reddish brown.

Ecology

Habitat

Wet ditches, ravines, prairie swales, edges of marshes, springs, lakes, and ponds, most abundant in clayey soils.

Distribution

East 4/5 of Kansas.

Additional Notes