One of our earliest flowering plants, this sedge forms single or loosely grouped, dense cushion-like bunches (C,D). Early flowering stems up to 15 inches tall are erect and nearly all the same height, rising well above the narrow 1/8 inch wide leaves (D). Stems droop at maturity with the tips often touching the ground. The compact flower cluster has a separate male spike with yellow anthers at the tip and 1-4 sessile female spikes with white stigmas below (E). Mature plants have finely hairy, toothed perigynia with prominent beaks, and scales with dark reddish-purple or brown margins (F).
Moist to dry upland woods, especially upper south-facing slopes. Common in Fontenelle Forest at the Hackberry/Wren Trail junction. Common at Neale Woods on Fox and upper Settlers Trails. Flowers appear in late March and April.
Our earliest sedge, sometimes flowering the last week in March. Of our upland sedges, only Stellate Sedge (Carex rosea) and Blunt-scaled Oak Sedge have very narrow leaves. Stellate Sedge is found only in much moister habitats, mainly in ravines or on north facing slopes, while Blunt-scaled Oak Sedge occupies drier, sunny hilltops and south facing slopes. The purplish coloring on the male and female scales is also a good identifier. It is a feature of some of our other sedges, but is not seen in any other sedge species found in our upland woods.
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