The Book of Grasses 



V 



m 



The most noticeable sedges of open marshes are the several 

 Hop Sedges, blooming in early summer and bearing thick, oblong 

 spikes of inflated, light green 

 seed-pouches. Of the com- 

 mon species the Bladder Sedge 

 (Carex intumescens) is a slen- 

 der plant with one to three 

 short, few-flowered, fertile 

 spikes above which the nar- 

 row staminate spike is borne 

 on a slender stalk. The Hop 

 Sedge {Carex lupultna) is stout, 

 with broad, light green leaves 

 and two to six densely flowered 

 fertile spikes which are usually 

 sessile, though the lower spike 

 is often borne on a short ped- 

 uncle. The Porcupine Sedge 

 {Carex hysiricina) bears nar- 

 row, yellowish green leaves 

 and one to four densely flow- 

 ered pistillate spikes. The 

 long, rough point of the scale 

 is a distinguishing feature of 

 this species. The Long Sedge 

 {Carex folliculata) is tall and 

 slender and is most frequently 

 found in the borders of thickets 

 and swamps. It should be 

 recognized by the broad, flat 

 leaves and the rather loosely 

 flowered pistillate spikes which 

 are borne on long, spreading 

 peduncles. 



The most showy sedge of 

 swamps and open woods is the 

 great Fringed Sedge {Carex 

 crintta) which grows shoulder- 

 high, with sharp, three-angled 

 stems which spread from the 

 310 



Little Prickly Sedge 

 Carex scirpoides 



Slender Sedge 

 Carex gracillima 



