This native, perennial umbrella sedge grows from 6 to 30 inches tall and has leaves about as long as the triangular stem (culm). Several straw-colored flower spikes form a compound umbel. Each spike has 8 to 20 loosely-arranged spikelets.
Muddy lake shores and ditches. In Fontenelle Forest it is locally common in the open field near the blind. It has recently become somewhat of a pest in the garden at Neale Woods. Flowering occurs in July.
The very similar fragrant sedge (Cyperus odoratus) has more densely crowded spikelets. Red-rooted Sedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) has copper-colored spikelets, very densely clustered around its axis (rachis).
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.