Tufted Sedge

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©Carex gaudichaudiana - Richard Hartland CC-BY

Carex gaudichaudiana


Loosely-tufted sedge to 40 cm with stolons and creeping rhizome. Flowerstems are three-sided and are usually shorter than the leaves and rough to the touch. Dark green, blue-green or waxy blue grasslike leaves are long and thin and v-shaped. Sheath pale yellow-brown to orange-brown. Flowers very dark purplish brown.


Details
Flora Type
Sedges, rushes
Other Common Names
Fen Sedge
Distinctive Features

The uppermost flowerspikes are male and are much longer than the female lower spikes. Can form large mats.

Biology

Perennial. Wet places on the banks of streams, lakes, pools and swamps. Often subalpine.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Sep-Feb

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Carex
Species
gaudichaudiana

The stem of Carex species was used for making string and baskets by Aboriginal people. Favoured host for caterpillars.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Variable species.

Native Status
Native