Rhizomatous perennial sending up scattered shoots forming open colonies. The 8-20 inch flowering stem and leaves are grayish-green in color. Spikes are unisexual with a single long-stemmed male spike above and 1-3 female spike(s) below (B,C), usually borne on the upper half of the stem. Pale green or yellow brown perigynia have 3 styles and reddish brown scales with a green midrib (A,D). The very short beaks at their tips are bent to one side (E).
Upland prairies. This species occurs only at Neale Woods where it is uncommon in the Millard Prairie transplant. The transplant is located in Koley Prairie at the junction of Jonas and Neale Trails. Mead’s Sedge occurs only in the transplant and not in any of our other prairie restoration sites. It flowers in early May with perigynia persisting into early June.
The Millard Prairie Transplant consists of virgin prairie sod originating from a site near 150th and Dodge Streets. A dedicated band of prairie loving volunteers laboriously dug it by hand and loaded the approximately one foot square pieces onto a truck. They were then transported to Neale Woods and placed at their present location in Koley Prairie.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Neal Ratzlaff.