Glaucous Sedge - Carex flacca

Creeping plant about 10 to 60cm tall. Leaves grey or dull green above, and glaucous beneath, and egg shaped, inflated, almost beakless fruits. Inflorescence has 1 to 3 male spikelets 10 to 35 mm long with purple brown glumes that have pale midribs, and 1 to 5 close set female spikelets 15 to 50 mm the lower drooping on long rough stalks. Female glumes 2 to 3 mm long purple black with pale midribs and edges and blunt tips.

A number of sedges look very similar and sure identification requires detailed examination of the leaves and flowers.

3 male spikes, three stigmas, scabrid utricles without a beak, lowest inflorescence pendent

Wet places, damp ditches, etc.

June to September.

Perennial.

Common throughout Britain.

Frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 246 of the 617 tetrads.