# Bigelow's sedge (*Carex bigelowii*)

Bigelow's sedge is a grassy plant that grows in cool, wet places. It has long, slender leaves and can be found in meadows and along streams, making it a cozy home for tiny creatures.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands

![Bigelow's sedge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carex_bigelowii.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Petr Filippov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carex_bigelowii.JPG)

## Appearance

The Bigelow's sedge has stiff, upright stems topped with small, dark brown or blackish spikelets. Its leaves are a distinctive grayish-green, forming dense, low-growing clumps. This coloration helps it blend into its arctic and alpine surroundings.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Cyperaceae
- **Genus:** Carex

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny seeds are snacks for birds and mice, giving energy in cold places!
- Scientists study Bigelow's sedge to understand how plants survive climate change!
- Some sedges can stay green under snow, ready to grow as soon as spring arrives!
- Wow! This sedge can grow where the ground is always frozen, called permafrost!

## Special abilities

- **Soil Hugger:** Its strong, creeping roots can bind together loose soil, helping to prevent erosion in windy or watery areas.
- **Rhizome Runner:** This sedge spreads underground using rhizomes, allowing it to quickly colonize new ground and form dense mats.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-50 cm
- **Spread:** 20-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — A staple food for reindeer in arctic tundras.
- **Shelter:** Tundra Vole (*Microtus oeconomus*) — Dense tussocks provide cover from predators.
- **Eaten by:** Lapland Longspur (*Calcarius lapponicus*) — Seeds are a food source for tundra birds.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Bigelow's sedge?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Bigelow's sedge?

10-50 cm

### How wide does Bigelow's sedge spread?

20-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Bigelow's sedge?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Bigelow's sedge bloom?

Summer

### Is Bigelow's sedge edible?

No

### Is Bigelow's sedge toxic?

None

### What is Bigelow's sedge's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Bigelow's sedge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bigelows-sedge)