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Sheathed Sedge

Sheathed Sedge

Carex vaginata

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How common: Common

Sheathed Sedge is a slender, narrow‑leaved sedge of moist woods, rich fens and meadows in northern regions. It grows 20–50 cm tall with upright stems and bright to yellowish green leaves. The flowering head has a single male cluster at the tip and 1–3 female clusters just below.

Did you know?

  • Each female flower sits inside a small swollen bag that later holds the seed.
  • Instead of forming dense tussocks, it sends up separate shoots connected by a creeping underground stem.

About the species

Identification

Slender, 20–50 cm. Stems upright, firm (not hollow), usually as separate shoots linked by a long creeping underground stem. Leaf bases pale grey‑brown; leaves bright to yellowish green, flat, 3–5 mm wide. Flowering head with one thin male cluster at the very top and 1–3 female clusters below; clusters 1–2.5 cm, upright and rather open with gaps; the lowest clearly on a short stalk. Each female flower is in a small, pear‑shaped, yellow‑green bag that later encloses a tiny hard seed. Separate shoots and the spaced, stalked lowest cluster help tell it from tussock sedges. Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

mire

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Grows in moist to wet places: damp and rich woodlands, woodland meadows and roadsides, nutrient‑rich fens and bogs, and open heaths and meadows in northern areas. Common throughout the country, except Åland.

Sources

Photo: Petr Filippov, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carex vaginata1.JPG

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: kuviomaat, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40353

Text: Pinkka: A Pohjolan kasveja - Carex, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40353

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

See also