Carex caryophyllea Lat.
Vernal sedge
Vernal sedge is native to temperate regions of Eurasia. It was introduced to North America.
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Desperately Seeking Carex With close to 800 species in North America, and 2000 worldwide, many Carex species are difficult to identify. You might want to consult this quick guide to Carex anatomy. |
Plants: 4½–12″ (12–30 cm) high. Stems are roughly triangular in cross section.
Leaves: Grasslike blades are less than 1/32–⅛″ (1.5–3 mm) wide.
Flowers: Flowering tops, about 1″ (2.5 cm) high, are black at first, flowering in yellow. They are among the earliest plants to flower in the spring.
Fruits: Achenes are brown, sessile, obovoid, and ~1/16″ (2–2.2 mm) long.
Habitats: They are often found in human-disturbed areas, and dry pastures.
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Similar species. |
Online References:
References:
4/17/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 13 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
4/17/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Commelinidae | Dayflowers and spiderworts, and several others |
| Order | Cyperales | Flowering plants including grasses |
| Family | Cyperaceae | Sedge family |
| Genus | Carex | The “true” sedges |
| Species | caryophyllea | Probably walnut-leaved |
Carex caryophyllea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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