# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![sallow sedge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carex_lurida_-_Shallow_sedge.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joshua Mayer, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carex_lurida_-_Shallow_sedge.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Cyperaceae - **Genus:** Carex ## 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 - **Waterlogged Warrior:** Sallow sedge can thrive in waterlogged soil and shallow water, thanks to special adaptations in its roots that let it breathe. - **Seed Spreader:** This sedge has unique spiklets that develop into burr-like structures, allowing its seeds to hitchhike on animals or float away on water. - **Soil Anchor:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. - **Shelter:** Green tree frog (*Hyla cinerea*) — Its dense growth provides hiding spots for small amphibians. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Butterfly caterpillars can find refuge among its leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [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. - [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 stay on paths when exploring wetlands and watch your step! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify sallow 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 sallow sedge? 30-100 cm ### How wide does sallow sedge spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on sallow sedge? 1-5 cm ### When does sallow sedge bloom? Late Spring to Late Summer ### Is sallow sedge edible? No ### Is sallow sedge toxic? None ### What is sallow sedge's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Downtown Tuscaloosa Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-tuscaloosa-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Gorgas-Manly Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gorgas-manly-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Campus [View all places to see sallow sedge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sallow-sedge) ## 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: [Sallow Sedge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sallow-sedge)