Wood-sedge - Carex sylvatica

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Alternative names
Wood Sedge
Description

Densely tufted plant with short rhizomes and stems 15 to 60 cm that often droop at the tip, and bear yellowish green leaves. Inflorescence very loose, usually with only one terminal male spikelet, and 3 to 5 long stalked, pendulous slender female spikelets 20 to 60 mm long.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woodland.

When to see it

May to August.

Life History

Perennial, leaves overwintering.

UK Status

Fairly frequent in Britain, but rare in northern Scotland.

VC55 Status

It is occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 48 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    24 April 2014
  • David Nicholls
    The Brand, Woodhouse
    15 June 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    10 May 2007
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    10 May 2007
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    23 July 2008

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Wood-sedge
Species group:
Grasses, Rushes & Sedges
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Poales
Family:
Cyperaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
45
First record:
10/05/2007 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
05/04/2024 (Markham, Marian)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    24 April 2014