Description
Sartwell's sedge is a tall grass-like perennial that grows in large patches. Stems 30-120 cm or slightly taller occur singly along the rhizomes. Leaves occur along these stems and are 2.5-4.6 mm wide. Many of these stems do not develop flowers. At the top 2.5-9.0 cm of some of the stems are flower/fruit clusters (spikes). The spikes are numerous and densely arranged. Each spike is composed of either all male flowers, all female flowers, or have male flowers above and female flowers below. Fruits (perigynia) are 2.5-4.6 mm long (Reznicek and Catling 2002).
From CNHP Wetland Guide 2012: Description: Growth Habit: rhizomatous from long rhizomes. Culms: taller than or equal to basal leaves, erect, aphyllopodic. Leaves: basal sheaths brown, sheaths glabrous, inner band green, veined, apex hyaline, prolonged, 2.5-4 mm wide. Ligule conspicuously tubular and hyaline. Blades: Sheaths: upper leaf sheaths green-nerved. Bracts: none or scale-like Spikes: 10-20, terminal spike androgynous or staminate, lowest spike androgynous. Upper and lower spikes appear the same, lowest spike sessile, spikes with 10-30 pistillate flowers. Pistillate Scales: pale brown to straw colored at maturity, hyaline margins, ovate, apex acute to acuminate. Perigynia: ovate-ovoid or elliptic-oblong, plano-convex, tip concave with short taper, 2.5-4 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide Nerves: nerved Beaks: 0.4-1 mm, serrulate Stigmas: 2
Diagnostic Characteristics
From CNHP Wetland Guide 2012: Main Characteristics:
·Upper leaf sheaths green-striate ventrally
·Ligule conspicuously tubular and hyaline
·Perigynia: ovate-ovoid or elliptic-oblong, plano-convex, tip concave with short taper, 2.5-4 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide
·Pistillate Scales: pale brown to straw colored at maturity, hyaline margins, ovate, apex acute to acuminate