Bunched perennial with flowering stems 12-30 inches tall and narrow grass-like leaves. Loosely spaced spikes are borne on slender, arching stems (C). Spikes are all alike. Female flowers with their white stigmas are positioned above the males identified by their pale yellow stamens (E). The light green or yellowish perigynia (F) turn a rich golden brown at maturity (A). Close-up photo (G) shows the green perigynia with their fairly long beaks and the shorter maturing scales that have already turned a light brown. The spike at the top of photo (G) also shows a number of additional light brown ill-defined scales at its base that represent the very inconspicuous remnants of the male flowers.
Moist floodplain woods. In Fontenelle Forest, Slender Sedge is common along the Gifford Memorial boardwalk. It is uncommon in the uplands on Ridge Trail. At Neale Woods it is uncommon on Missouri River Ecology Trail. Flowering occurs in late April with perigynia quite evident by early May. Mature perigynia turn a rich brown color in June.
At FF/NW, Shorter Sedge (Carex brevior) and Troublesome Sedge (Carex molesta) have spikes all alike with female parts above. Like Slender Sedge, the tip of the flowering stem of Shorter Sedge is curved. Unlike Slender Sedge the rest of the stem is straight, not arching. Troublesome Sedge has straight stems and the tip also is erect.
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