Pale Galingale - Cyperus eragrostis

Alternative names
Nutsedge and as Tall Flatsedge and as Umbrella Sedge, Cyperus vegetus
Description

Growing to about 90 cm tall from ground to seed heads. A tufted, rhizomatous plant. The stem is triangular in cross section and the plant has long, spreading, linear, mid-green leaves with a v-shaped cross section and umbels of rounded clusters of pale green flower spikelets.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph showing inflorescence

Habitat

Pond margins and damp areas.

When to see it

Midsummer to autumn.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Occasional in Britain, previously found mainly in southern England, but is now spreading northwards.

VC55 Status

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland with the first record for VC55 coming from Markfield in 2005. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Pale Galingale
Species group:
Grasses, Rushes & Sedges
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Poales
Family:
Cyperaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
12
First record:
07/08/2006 (Gould, David)
Last record:
30/08/2024 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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