Sedge with poorly developed rhizomes growing in bunches. Flowering stems from 16-40 inches tall bear 6-15 oval spikes. Lower spikes are well separated, but they are closer, often overlapping, at the tip (A). The rounded to oval spikes are all alike with male flowers, often inconspicuous, above and female flowers below (E). The green perigynia have just 2 stigmas and short, inconspicuous scales (F). Broad, arching leaves (C) up to 1/2 inch wide have loose, baggy and easily torn sheaths that are whitish or mottled green and white with prominent cross-ridging on the underside (D).
Upland woods. Bur-reed Sedge is uncommon in Fontenelle Forest on lower Linden Trail. At Neale Woods it is uncommon on the woodland portion of Nebraska Trail. There is a single large clump at the junction of Settlers and Paw Paw Trails (B). Flowering occurs from mid May to early June and perigynia may persist into July.
Heavy Sedge (Carex gravida) and Glomerate Sedge (Carex aggregata) have less widely spaced spikes and narrower leaves. They are usually found in more open sites.
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