Carex pseudocyperus L.

Cyperus sedge, hop sedge, cypress-like sedge

Cypress-like sedge is so named for its fondness, like that of cypress trees, for wet areas. It is native to temperate 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: Up to 3′ (1 m) tall. Stems feel rough to the touch, and are roughly triangular (“trigonous”) in cross-section.

Leaves: ⅛–½″ (4–13 mm) wide, hairless, flat to W-shaped in cross-section. They are basal or alternate.

Flowers: Inflorescences are 1½–6″ (4–15 cm) long. Each is topped by a single staminate (male) spike (sometimes with some pistillate flowers at the tip). The spike is up to 3″ (7.6 cm) long, with a leaflike bract below that is much longer than the spike. This spike is comprised of carpellate scales 1/16–¼″ ⨉ 11.8–23.6 mils (2.5–8.6 ⨉ 0.3–0.6 mm). Below the staminate spike are two to six pistillate spikes, cylindrical, ⅞–3″ long ⨉ ¼–⅜″ wide (2.5–7.5 cm ⨉ 8–12 mm). They are erect at first, drooping as the plant matures. They are com­prised of perigynia ⅛–3/16 ⨉ 1/32–1/16″ (3.4–6.1 ⨉ 1–1.7 mm) in size. Each is tipped by two single, sharp teeth.

Fruits: Achenes are 3-sided, oval-elliptic, becom­ing light brown. Fruits appear from June to July.

Habitats: Wet sunny areas—shores, riverbanks, marshes, swales, ditches.

Similar species.

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

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