sallow sedge

Carex lurida

Sallow sedge is a grassy plant that grows in wet places like marshes and along streams. It has long, slender leaves and can help keep the soil healthy.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The sallow sedge is a vibrant green, clump-forming plant with grass-like leaves. Its most distinctive features are the yellowish-green flower clusters (spiklets) that often droop and can appear somewhat burr-like when mature.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyCyperaceaeGenusCarex

sallow sedge

Interesting facts

It belongs to the sedge family, which looks like grass but has triangular stems!

Its tiny flowers don't have colorful petals; they rely on the wind to spread pollen!

Some people call its spiky seed heads 'bottlebrush sedge' because of their shape!

The plant's scientific name, Carex lurida, means 'pale' or 'sallow' sedge!

Special abilities

Sallow sedge can thrive in waterlogged soil and shallow water, thanks to special adaptations in its roots that let it breathe.

This sedge has unique spiklets that develop into burr-like structures, allowing its seeds to hitchhike on animals or float away on water.

Sallow sedge has a strong, dense root system that helps it hold onto soil in wet, erosion-prone areas, protecting its habitat.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-100 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 1-5 cm
Bloom Season: Late Spring to Late Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Wind

Ecological connections

eats

Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Muskrats munch on its leaves and stems in wetlands.

eaten by

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Mallard ducks forage for and eat its small, nutritious seeds.

shelters

Green tree frog

Hyla cinerea

Its dense growth provides hiding spots for small amphibians.

shelters

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

Butterfly caterpillars can find refuge among its leaves.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Grass-Like

Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.