Carex normalis Mack.

Greater straw sedge

Greater straw sedge is native to eastern North America.

Desperately Seeking Carex With close to 800 species in North America, and 2000 worldwide, many Carex species are difficult to identify. You might want to consult this quick guide to Carex anatomy.

Plants: Tufts of 40 or fewer culms. Culms are erect, 1–4½′ (35–140 cm) tall. Only a few culms are fruiting.

Leaves: Each fertile culm has 3-7 leaves, each 8–26 ⨉ 1/16–⅛″ (20–65 cm ⨉ 2.2–6 mm).

Flowers: Inflorescences are erect or arching, ½–1¾ ⨉ ⅛–⅝″ (1.5–5 cm ⨉ 5–16 mm). There are four to ten spikes, each globose to ellipsoid, ¼–½ ⨉ ⅛–¼″ (7–13 ⨉ 4–7 mm). Pistillate scales are shorter and narrower than the perigynia, with a green midstripe. Each spike has 15-80 perigynia, each smooth, with four conspicuous veins, 1/16–⅛ ⨉ 1/32–1/16″ (2.7–4.1 ⨉ 1.3–2.3 mm).

Fruits: Achenes are elliptic, 1/32–1/16 ⨉ ~1/32″ (1.3–1.6 ⨉ 0.9–1.2 mm). They appear in early summer.

Habitats: Open, usually wet woods, meadows, and roadsides.

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Carex normalis description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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