Prairie Sedge

Common Name: Prairie Sedge
Other Names: Fescue Sedge
Species Name: Carex festucacea
Family Name: Cyperaceae, Sedge Family

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Triangular stems; short scales at base
Floral
- Alternating seed heads to the tip of stem
- Seed heads rest between stem and one single small leaf
- Seed heads look similar in structure to pine cones
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 30-75 centimeters
- Ligule Type: Membranous
- Sheath: Glabrous
- Leaves: Basal
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence Type: Straight or arching spike
- Florets Per Spikelet: 1
- Glumes: None


Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Poorly drained sandy soil
Habitat	Wet sites in the tallgrass prairie and open woods
Successional Stage	Mid to late