A Guide to Moist-Soil Wetland Plants of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley

Sedges and Rushes

S EDG E S A ND R US H E S Yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens Native; CAAN6; FACW habits and habitat: Perennial herb usually growing from underground rhizomes, clump-forming. Located on moist to wet edges of wetlands, especially areas that are not disturbed (i.e., not disked or plowed often) but are not covered by a tree or shrub canopy. Distinguishing Characteristics stems and leaves: Stem three-sided, 1 to 3½ ft. tall. Leaves ₁⁄₁₀ in. wide, originating near base of stem, and may exceed height of stem, although none may occur. flowers: Single vertical flowering structure with many small spikes, which may appear continuous or slightly clumped. March to June. fruit and seed: Fruit a two-sided, lens-shaped, rounded nutlet. Nutlets appear stacked atop each other, each within a reddish brown perigynium (sac-like structure). similar plants: Leaf arrangement is similar to those of Rhynchospora spp. (RHYNC3). Carex is the largest genus of plants in the southeastern United States, with more than 150 species that are mostly native and noninvasive . Eastern fox sedge (Carex triangularis; CATR6) and fox sedge (C. vulpinoidea; CAVU2) are fairly common in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. 145 Cyperaceae Vertical flower structures Vertical flower structures Plant with flowers in typical habitat perigyni achenes S EDG E S A ND R US H E S Foxtail sedges Carex crus-corvi, C. stipata Native; CACR8, CAST5; OBL habits and habitat: Perennial herbs usually growing from underground rhizomes, clump-forming. Common along moist to wet edges, especially areas that are not disturbed (i.e., not disked or plowed often) but are not covered by a tree or shrub canopy. These are relatively tall Carex species. Distinguishing Characteristics stems and leaves: Stem three-sided, may reach 3 ft. tall. Leaves ¼ in. wide, originating near base of stem, although none may occur. flowers: Single vertical flowering structure with many small spikes, which may appear continuous or slightly clumped. Spikes are particularly long and narrow, and seed cluster may be 3 to 5 in. long. March to June. fruit and seed: Two-sided, lens-shaped nutlet contained within brown (Carex crus-corvi) or greenish (C. stipata) elongated, noticeably veined perigynium (sac-like structure). similar plants: Carex is the largest genus of plants in the southeastern United States, with more than 150 species that are usually native and noninvasive. Members of both Carex and Cyperus are similar and can be most easily distinguished by the seed cluster. Specifically, Carex nutlets are contained in a sac-like structure (perigynium) subtended by a scale, whereas Cyperus only have achenes (small seed-looking fruits containing one seed each) and each flowering spike is flattened (hence the common name flatsedge). 147 Cyperaceae Flowers (Carexcrus-corvi) Flowers (Carexcrus-corvi) Typical growth (Carexcrus-corvi) Example of triangular stem Carexstipata nutlet perigynia S EDG E S A ND R US H E S Frank’s sedge Carex frankii Native; CAFR3; OBL habits and habitat: Perennial herb usually growing from underground rhizomes, clump-forming. Common along moist to wet edges of wetlands , especially areas that are not disturbed (i.e., not disked or plowed often) and usually not covered by a dense tree or shrub canopy, such as ditches, stream sides, or marsh edges. Distinguishing Characteristics stems and leaves: Stem three-sided, 1 to 2½ ft. tall. Leaves, ₁⁄₁₀ to ¼ in. wide, originating near base of stem and upward on stem, although none may occur. flowers: Dense flowering structure that resembles a tube with short spikes, which is composed of densely packed individual flowers. March to June. fruit and seed: Three-sided nutlet contained within perigynium (sac-like structure), egg-shaped, with the narrower end at the connecting base and a beak on the other end, subtended by an awned scale. similar plants: Also referred to using the synonym Carex aureolensis (goldenfruit sedge). Leaf arrangement is similar to Rhynchospora spp. (RHYNC3). Carex is the largest genus of plants in the southeastern United States, with more than 150 species that are mostly native and noninvasive. 149 Cyperaceae Typical plant and flowers Typical plant, close-up Maturing perigynia and nutlets Flower arrangement nutlets perigynia S EDG E S A ND R US H E S Long’s sedge Carex longii Native; CALO5; OBL habits and habitat: Perennial herb usually growing from underground rhizomes, clump-forming. Common along moist to wet edges of wetlands , especially areas that are not disturbed (i.e., not disked or plowed often) but are not covered...