Greater Pond-sedge - Carex riparia

Tall, tussock forming plant reaching 100 to 150 cm in height. Spreading by strong rhizomes. Leaves quite erect and fairly broad (6 to 15 mm wide). Male spikelets 3 to 6 being 2 to 6 cm long, brown. Female spikelets are 3 to 10 cm by 10 to 12 mm wide.

Ponds, marshy areas, wet ditches and stream sides.

Fruiting June to September.

Perennial.

Common in most of Britain, scarcer in Scotland and absent in the north of that country.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 176 of the 617 tetrads.