# slough sedge (*Carex obnupta*) Slough sedge is a tall, grassy plant that grows in wet places like marshes. It has long, green leaves and fluffy flower heads that look like little brushes. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![slough sedge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Carexobnupta.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carexobnupta.jpg) ## Appearance The slough sedge has tough, grass-like leaves that form dense, upright clumps, often appearing bright to dark green. Its unique triangular stems feel sharp to the touch, topped with slender, brownish-green flower spikes that are not showy. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Cyperaceae - **Genus:** Carex ## Interesting facts - If you roll a slough sedge stem, you'll feel it's triangular, not round like grass! - Indigenous peoples once wove its tough leaves and stems into sturdy mats and useful baskets. - Its roots act like natural sponges, helping to filter pollutants and keep wetland water clean. - Slough sedge can live for many, many years, making it a very long-lasting plant in its habitat. ## Special abilities - **Wetland Anchor:** Slough sedge can grow directly in standing water, using its strong roots to anchor soil and prevent erosion. - **Rhizome Spreader:** This sedge has tough underground stems called rhizomes, helping it spread widely and form dense colonies. - **Shelter Builder:** Its thick clumps create safe hiding spots and nesting sites for many small wetland creatures to thrive. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and stems - **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — forages for its seeds and plant material - **Shelter:** [Red-winged Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-winged-blackbird) (*Agelaius phoeniceus*) — builds nests deep within its dense clumps ## 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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [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 don't touch unknown plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify slough 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 slough sedge? 60-150 cm ### How wide does slough sedge spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on slough sedge? 1-5 cm ### When does slough sedge bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is slough sedge edible? No ### Is slough sedge toxic? None ### What is slough sedge's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Peavy Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peavy-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/smith-and-bybee-wetlands-natural-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Reed College Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reed-college-parkway) — Oregon, US · Park [View all places to see slough sedge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/slough-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: [Slough Sedge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/slough-sedge)