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Common Sedge

Common Sedge

Carex nigra

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How common: Very common

Common Sedge is a slim, grass‑like plant of damp ground. It grows in tufts or as single stems and is easy to notice along shores, ditches and wet meadows. The flowers are wind‑pollinated and arranged in separate male and female clusters.

Did you know?

  • If you roll the stem between your fingers, it feels three‑sided.
  • It varies a lot and can cross with several other sedge species.

About the species

Identification

10–80 cm tall. Stems usually slightly curved and clearly three‑angled; upper stem feels rough. Leaves narrow (about 1–4 mm), stiff and V‑shaped in cross‑section with edges rolled upward; shorter than the stem. Flower head has several slim, upright clusters: usually one pollen‑bearing cluster at the tip and 1–3 seed‑bearing ones below, sitting right on the stem. The tiny leaf under the lowest cluster is no longer than the whole flower head. Scales are dark; the small fruits sit inside dull green to brown or black little sacs. Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

shore

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Grows in many kinds of damp to wet places: along lakes, rivers and seashores, in ditches, wet meadows and roadsides, thin‑peat bogs and wet rock hollows. Common throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Alex Press, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6273992460

Text: Pinkka: Yläkoulun Pinkka - Ranta- ja vesikasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40417

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Kulttuuriympäristöt: niityt, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40417

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40417

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Carex, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40417

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jokapaikansara

See also