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Fingered Sedge
Carex digitata
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Fingered Sedge is a small, tuft-forming forest sedge. It makes dark green clumps 10–30 cm tall with narrow, flat leaves and dark wine‑red leaf bases. You can spot it in deciduous and mixed woods and along woodland edges across much of Europe and the Nordics.
Did you know?
- Ants often carry its seeds because they have a fatty snack attached.
- Its leaves stay green through winter; during thaws the dark wine‑red leaf bases help you find the clumps.
About the species
Identification
Tuft-forming sedge, 10–30 cm tall. Stems upright and smooth. Leaves dark green, flat, 2–5 mm wide, up to stem length; lower leaf bases are deep wine‑red. Flower head with one short, narrow male cluster at the tip and 2–3 longer, loose female clusters below; the top female cluster usually reaches a bit above the tip. Later, shiny pear‑shaped seed cases about 4 mm long appear with short hairs. Key clues: narrow flat leaves, dark red bases, and the uneven, loose clusters. Flowers in May–June.
Plant group
Grasses, sedges and rushes
Habitat
herb-rich forest
Flowering
May–Jun
About the habitat
Light to moderately shaded woods on dry to fresh ground, from rich deciduous groves to pine ridges and woodland edges. Common in southern and central Finland; absent from northern Lapland.
Sources
Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carex digitata kz02.jpg
Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40373
Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40373
Text: Pinkka: Kasvitieteen retkeily Ahvenanmaalle - Nåtön luontopolku, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40373
Text: Pinkka: Kasvien talvi - Talvivihreät luonnonkasvit, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40373
Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sormisara
