A perennial growing in well-defined bunches. Sprawling dull green to grayish green, fairly broad, grooved leaves up to 3/8 inch wide give some plants a “crabgrass-like” appearance, especially early in the season (B,C). Later they often assume a more conventional look (D). Sharply triangular flowering stems from 4-24 inches tall with narrow wings at the angles (E), bear a separate male spike at the tip and up to 4 erect female spikes below (F,G). Observation with a hand lens will show that the tips or beaks of the mature perigynia are curved at the tip (H).
Many habitats including wooded bottomlands, upland woods, streambanks, ditches, lawns and disturbed areas. It is the most common and widely distributed sedge at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods, thriving and abundant in both floodplain and upland habitats. Flowering begins in mid-April. A few perigynia may persist until early June.
Narrowly winged, sharply triangular flowering stems and perigynia with curved beaks separate Woodland Sedge from Gray Wood Sedge (Carex grisea) and Few-fruited Sedge (Carex oligocarpa). Hitchcock’s Sedge (Carex hitchcockiana) has perigynia with beaks bent to one side, but they are more widely spaced, and leaf sheaths are hairy and usually rough to the touch. The winged, sharply triangular stems are better felt than seen. This can best be accomplished by rolling the flowering stem between the thumb and index finger, a procedure that can be performed without damaging the plant.
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.