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Sedge (12)

Sedges are a large genus with over 600 species in North America. They are usually found in moist areas and have solid triangular stems. See also Bulrush, Three Square and Spikerush which are also in the Sedge family.

Water Sedge
Carex aquatilis

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: Leafy Tussock Sedge
Photo taken on: July 14, 2012
Location: Paradise Divide, CO
Life Zones: Foothills to subalpine
Habitat: Wet, open areas

Grows to 3 feet with dry leaves at the base and leaves shorter than the stems. One to two male flower spikes are at the tip, two to six female below with the lowest leaf-like bract extending past the topmost spike.

Flora of North America reference.

Douglas' Sedge
Carex douglasii

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: June 1, 2016
Location: Agua Caliente Spring, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry, wet and seasonably moist areas

Grows 6" to 16" high. This was about 8". Leaves are narrow and grass-like. The flower heads are dense, about an inch long. The female flowers have very long stigmas that form a tangled mat.

Flora of North America reference.

Ebony Sedge
Carex ebenea

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: June 22, 2013
Location: Mt. Crested Butte, CO
Life Zones: Montane to alpine
Habitat: Meadows, roadsides

Grows to 20" with stems longer than the wide, flat leaves. The flowers are in a dense cluster at the top of the stem and have black scales.

Flora of North America reference.

Carex emoryi

Emory's Sedge
Carex emoryi

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: May 17, 2020
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Wet areas, stream banks

Grows 1 to 3 feet tall with up to 3 male flower spikes above 3 to 5 female spikes. Similar to C. aquatilis but found growing at lower elevations and the lowest bract does not extend past the flower head. Female spikes often have male flowers at the tip. 

Flora of North America reference.

Salt Sedge
Carex hassei

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: False Golden Sedge
Photo taken on: July 5, 2014
Location: Almont, CO
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Meadows

Grows 4" to 16" with very narrow leaves. A long leaf-like bract extends beyond the flower head. The flower head usually has the male flowers in a spike above the female spikes but the top spike can be both male and female flowers.  The spikes are about ¾" long. The fruits are egg-shaped and greenish white or pale gold with a brownish tip.

Flora of North America reference.

Smallwing Sedge
Carex microptera

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: Narrow-Winged Sedge
Photo taken on: August 29, 2014
Location: Ditch Trail, Brush Creek, GV, CO
Life Zones: Foothills and montane
Habitat: Moist meadows, stream banks

Grows to 3 feet tall in dense clumps. Flower head is a dense cluster of scaly, brown flowers.

Flora of North America reference.

Nebraska Sedge
Carex nebrascensis

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: June 5, 2018
Location: Almont, CO
Life Zones: Plains to subalpine
Habitat: Wet meadows, disturbed riparian areas

Grows 8" to 36" tall with bluish-green leaves and up to 1 to 3 male flower spikes above 2 to 4 female spikes, similar to C. aquatilis. The lowest bract does not extend past the flower head. Female flowers are red-brown with a tiny bristle.

Flora of North America reference.

Chamisso Sedge
Carex pachystachya

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: Thick-headed Sedge
Photo taken on: July 14, 2012
Location: Paradise Divide, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Moist meadows, roadsides, forest edges

Grows to 40" with grass-like leaves. The flowers spikes are in a dense cluster at the top of the stem and are gold to coppery brown with a metallic sheen and a dark tip.

sedge

Flora of North America reference.

Woolly Sedge
Carex pellita

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 21, 2017
Location: Monte Vista NWR, SLV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to subalpine
Habitat: Moist and wet meadows, stream banks

Grows to over 3 feet tall. The base of the leaves is reddish-purple. It has narrow male flower spikes above 2 or 3 cylindrical female spikes. A lower leafy bract extends beyond the female spikes.

Flora of North America reference.

Dunhead Sedge
Carex phaeocephala

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: Head-like Sedge
Photo taken on: July 13, 2012
Location: Poverty Gulch, GV, CO
Life Zones: Subalpine to alpine
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes

Grows to 18" in dense tufts with leaves shorter than the stem. Reddish-brown flower spikes are clustered at the top of the stem.

Carex phaeocephala

Flora of North America reference.

Meadow Sedge
Carex praticola

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 17, 2017
Location: Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to subalpine
Habitat: Moist meadows, open, dry woods

Grows in dense clumps to 3 feet tall. The inflorescence is an erect or nodding cluster of several flower spikes which have green or gold to dark brown scales.

Flora of North America reference.

Beaked Sedge
Carex utriculata

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
AKA: Northwest Territory Sedge, Swollen-beaked Sedge
Photo taken on: August 29, 2014
Location: Ditch Trail, Brush Creek, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Wet areas, stream sides, marshes

Grows to 4 feet with a long leaf-like bract extending beyond the flower spikes. Leaves are flat and yellowish-green. The narrow, brown male flower spikes are above the larger female flower spikes which are a dense cylinder of golden or brown pointed (beaked) fruits. A common sedge.

Flora of North America reference.

Grasses, Sedges & Rushes