Bladder-sedge - Carex vesicaria

This species has shortly creeping rhizomes bearing shoots in small tufts. It reaches between 30 and 120 cm in height. Stems are rough towards the top but not lower down. The leaves may reach a metre in length or more, they are narrow, rigid, pleated with fine toothed edges and fine points. The fruits are inflated, shiny and erect.

Only in wetland habitats, pond margins etc.

Flowering May or June.

Carex vesicaria is found dotted throughout Britain without being abundant anywhere.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was only found in 5 of the 617 tetrads.