A native sedge which grows in small bunches. Erect or arching sharply triangular flowering stems are 8-24 inches long and hairy along the edges (E). Leaves up to 15 inches long are covered with soft hairs. They are basal or arise from the lower 1/3 of the stem. There is a single, separate male spike at the tip of the flowering stem with 2-4 dense to loosely spaced female spikes just below (D). Each female spike consists of 10-25 green, hairy, triangular perigynia (A). They are tapered at both ends to a short stalk-like base below and a short beak at the tip.
Moist upland woods, especially lower slopes and ravines; lowland woods. This sedge has been observed only at Neale Woods where it is rare. The few plants observed at a single site on lower Paw Paw Trail are at the western edge of their range and represent only the second reported occurrence in the state of Nebraska. The plants shown here were photographed in mid-May and have well-developed perigynia suggesting flowering likely occurs in early May.
The hairy perigynia and stems are good field marks, a combination not seen in any of our other upland sedges.
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