Description: This native perennial sedge forms a
loose tuft of sprawling leafy culms about 1' tall and 1½' across; both
fertile and vegetative shoots are present. The unbranched culms are
½–2' long, light green, glabrous, sharply triangular, and slightly
winged; there are 2-3 alternate leaves along the lower half of each
culm. The leaf blades of fertile shoots are up to 8" long and 8 mm. across;
they are usually widely spreading and rather floppy. The leaf blades of
vegetative shoots tend to be slightly more long and wide. Each leaf blade is
light green, glabrous, and channeled along the middle. The inner side of each
leaf sheath is membranous, while the 2 outer sides are light green, glabrous,
and longitudinally veined. The sheaths adhere rather loosely to the culms. Each
ligule at the junction of the sheath and blade is longer than wide,
torpedo-shaped, and short-membranous. Each fertile culm terminates in an
inflorescence about 6" long (excluding the leafy bracts). This inflorescence
consists of a terminal staminate spikelet, 2-4 pistillate spikelets, and their
bracts. The narrow staminate spikelet is 6-12 mm. long and it has a short
peduncle about 3-6 mm. in length; it is initially silvery white, but later
becomes brown. Each pistillate spikelet is 8-18 mm. long, 5 mm. across, and
cylindrical in shape; it is packed with 10-30 perigynia and their scales. Each
perigynium is 2.8–3.5 mm. long and about half as much across; it is
obovoid, whitish green (while immature), and hairless. The apex of each
perigynium has a very short curved beak, while its bottom is wedge-shaped. The
pistillate scales are a little shorter than their perigynia; they are
2.2–3.0 mm. in length, ovate in shape, and softly awned. Each of these
scales is green-veined in the center, while its broad margins are membranous.
The upper 1-2 pistillate spikelets are nearly sessile, while the lower 1-2
pistillate spikelets have long slender peduncles (up to 3" long). At the base
of each pistillate spikelet (or its peduncle), there is a leafy bract about
1½–8" long and 1-7 mm. across; the lower bracts are larger in size
than the upper bracts. The blooming period occurs during the late spring; the
florets are wind-pollinated. The achenes are 2.0–2.5 mm. long and
1.2–1.5 mm. across; they are obovoid and 3-angled. The root system is
fibrous and short-rhizomatous.
Cultivation: This sedge prefers partial sun to
medium shade and moist to mesic conditions; it tolerates a wide range of soil
types, include those containing loam, clay-loam, or rocky material. Somewhat
dry locations are tolerated if there is sufficient shade. Sometimes, this sedge
can be found in shaded areas of yards, where it is slightly
weedy.
Range & Habitat: Common
Woodland Sedge has been found in nearly every county of Illinois and it is
common in most areas of the state (see
Distribution
Map). Habitats include upland woodlands, bottomland woodlands, woodland
openings, powerline clearances in wooded areas, thickets, weedy meadows, lawns
and gardens (particularly in shaded areas), and vacant lots. Common Woodland
Sedge has been found in both
deciduous and
deciduous/coniferous woodlands (or mixed woodlands). This sedge can be found in
high quality woodlands, but it is also common in degraded woodlands and various
waste areas where some shade occurs.
Faunal
Associations: Collectively, sedges (Carex spp.) are an
important source of food to many kinds of insects, birds, and other animals.
The caterpillars of the butterflies Satyrodes appalachia (Appalachian
Brown) and Satyrodes eurydice (Eyed Brown) feed on their foliage.
Various leafhoppers suck juices on the foliage, especially Cosmotettix
spp. The stink bug Mormidea lugens has been observed to feed on the
Common Woodland Sedge specifically. In woodlands, various upland gamebirds feed
on the seeds of sedges. These include the Woodcock, Wild Turkey, and chicks of
the Ruffed Grouse. Granivorous songbirds eat the seeds occasionally, including
various sparrows, towhees, cardinals, and others. The Gray Squirrel and Fox
Squirrel also eat the seeds, while the Common Mole feeds on the roots of sedges
to a limited extent.
Photographic
Location: The webmaster's wildflower garden in Urbana, Illinois,
where this sedge spontaneously introduced itself.
Comments: In open areas, this common sedge forms
tufts of pale green leafy stems that have to a tendency to sprawl across the
ground; it is often somewhat weedy in both appearance and behavior. Where there
is significant competition from adjacent ground vegetation, however, it can
assume a more ascending habit and dignified appearance. Common Woodland Sedge
resembles several other woodland sedges to a greater or lesser degree (e.g.,
Carex laxiflora, Carex striatula, & Carex
gracilescens). It can be distinguished by its staminate spikelets on short
peduncles (6 mm. or less) and obovoid perigynia with very short curved beaks.
The other sedges tend to have ellipsoid to ovoid perigynia with beaks that are
longer and more straight. The species Carex striatula and Carex
gracilescens have terminal staminate spikelets on long peduncles (12 mm. or
more), while Carex laxiflora has wider leaf blades (up to 2 cm. across).
Like the Common Woodland Sedge, all of these species have rather large leafy
bracts underneath their pistillate spikelets.