Sedge: Rush-Like Family:-

Sedge: Rush-Like Family are "unbranched grass-like or rush-like perennials, very rarely annuals, wiith unstalked leaves usually linear but sometimes reduced to sheaths. Flowers minute, generally grouped in spikelets, with the petals and sepals reduced to bristles, and often with a scale-like bract (glume) at their base. Several spikelets may form a flower-head. The anthers often hang out as tufts of bright yellow. Fruit a nutlet. Members of the Sedge Family differ from Rushes and Woodrushes in having no petals or sepals in their flowers, which are often separetly male and female. From Grasses they can be told by the stems being often 3-sided and never hollow; the leaves not being jointed at their junction on the stem (where there are therefore no knots) with their sheaths, which are usually closed. " from Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers by David McClintock and R.S.R. Fitter assisted by Francis Rose - ISBN 0 00 219363 9 - Eleventh Impression 1978

Sedge: Rush-Like Family plant table with its Common Name - Botanical Name. Flowering Months Range. Habitat with link to that Wild Flower Habitat Gallery:-

Common Name

Botanical Name

Flowering Months

Habitat

Black Cyperus

(Brown Galingale)

Cyperus fuscus

July-September

An annual of moist, open disturbed ground around the margins of ponds and by ditches, often on ground subject to winter-flooding. The substrate may be peaty, muddy or stony but humus-rich. Seed may not be set in cool summers. It is very rare by a few muddy ponds in Southern England, much increasing there in dry seasons.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Bog-Rush (Syn. Black Bog-Rush)

Schoenus nigricans

May-July

A tussock-forming perennial of calcareous and other base-rich fens (especially near springs), and of peaty flushes, marshes, bogs, dune-slacks, sea-cliff flushes, and the upper fringes of saltmarshes where there is base-rich flushing. In W. Ireland, it is frequent on acid blanket-bog. Generally lowland, but reaching 550 m in the Mourne Mountains (Co. Down).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Bristle Club-Rush

(Bristleleaf Bulrush)

Scirpus setaceus

(Isolepis setacea)

May-July

A perennial herb of open, damp, generally acidic sites, especially those subject to winter flooding. It occurs on sandy or gravelly tracks, on the shores of lakes or ponds, in short grassland, on eroding streamsides and occasionally on the coast in sand dunes or in turf in the upper zones of saltmarshes. 0-590 m (High Cup Nick, Westmorland).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Broad-leaved Cotton-Grass

Eriophorum latifolium

April-May

A rhizomatous perennial herb of open sites, growing in wet, base-rich lowland meadows and mires, and in fens and calcareous flushes in the uplands. 0-670 m (Breadalbanes, Mid Perth). Never grows in acid bogs

Cotton covered fruit in 30 June

Cotton covered fruits in 30 June

Foliage

Form

Brown Beak-Sedge

Rhynchospora fusca

May-July

A rhizomatous perennial of wet heaths, and the margins of acidic mires, favouring bare peat where competition is limited but preferring somewhat drier sites than Rhynchospora alba in the south of its range. It spreads vegetatively, and may reproduce by seed.

Form on 22 August

Flowers

Bulrush

(Common Club-rush)

Scirpus lacustris

(Schoenoplectus lacustris)

June-July

A tall rhizomatous perennial herb of standing or flowing fresh water, in conditions ranging from eutrophic and base-rich to oligotrophic and base-poor. Substrates include silt, clay, peat or gravel. It occurs in ponds, lakes, canals, dykes and slow moving rivers, usually in water 0.3-1.5 m deep, but can also be found in deeper water. Generally lowland, but reaching 405 m at Dock Tarn (Cumberland).

Form from Buckinghamshire from BritishFlora

Form from Buckinghamshire from BritishFlora

Chestnut Sedge

(Saltmarsh Flat-sedge)

Blysmus rufus

June-July

A rhizomatous perennial herb, found in sandy or gravelly wet runnels and depressions in saltmarshes, and in brackish ditches and dune-slacks. It also occurs on rocky shores, in freshwater seepages and beside streams where they debouch onto the beach.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Clustered Club-Rush

(Round-headed Club-rush)

Scirpus holoschoenus

(Scirpoides holoschoenus)

August-September

In Devon, this rhizomatous perennial herb occurs in damp dune-slacks and on adjacent low dunes, and in Somerset in a damp sandy hollow on a coastal golf course. Elsewhere, it occurs as an alien, especially in industrial areas. Substantial ripening of fruit and seed set appear to occur only after a long, hot summer.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Common Cotton-Grass

Eriophorum angustifolium

April-May

A rhizomatous perennial of open, wet, peaty ground, both calcareous and acidic, sometimes colonising peat-cuttings and often growing in standing water. Its habitats range from upland blanket bogs and hillside flushes to wet heaths and marshy meadows in the lowlands. 0-1100 m (Ben Alder, Westerness).

Cottony threads on the fruit from Sutherland in 14 June

Fruit from Goonhilly in Cornwall in 24 May

Foliage from Goonhilly in Cornwall in 24 May

Form in June

Common Spike-Rush

Eleocharis palustris

May-July

An emergent rhizomatous perennial herb, found on the margins of ponds, lakes, slow-flowing rivers and streams, in fens, marshes, swamps and wet meadows, and in ditches, dune-slacks and saltmarshes. It grows in a wide range of organic and mineral soils, but rarely on acidic peat. It spreads by rhizomes and reproduces by seed. 0-550 m (Tyne Head, Cumberland).

Form from Northants from BritishFlora

Form

Deer-Grass

Scirpus cespitosus

(Trichophorum cespitosum)

May-June

A densely tufted perennial herb occurring on peaty moors and bogs over acidic soils, persisting even in burnt and heavily deer-grazed areas. It is also local on open ground on wet lowland heaths in S. & E. England, where it often avoids the wettest sites and favours grazed, burnt and trampled areas. 0-1190 m (above Caenlochan, Angus).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Druce Bulrush

Scirpus x arunensis

August-September

Rivers (in the Rivers Medway, Arun and Tamar, persisting in the two former despite the extinction of one parent - Triangular Bulrush with Greyish Bulrush). Annotated List of Original Descriptions in Scirpus - The following list contains 1,672 names in the genus Scirpus of which 1,350 are specific and 322 are subspecific.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Estuarine Spike-Rush

(Dwarf Spike-rush)

Eleocharis parvula

August onwards

A diminutive rhizomatous perennial growing on firm estuarine mud by tidal rivers, and in tidal pans in brackish grazing marshes. It occurs close to the upper limit of tidal influence, avoiding strongly saline areas. It reproduces vegetatively by turions, and by seed, but flowering and fruiting is very poor in many localities.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

False Sedge

Kobresia simpliciuscula

June-July

A densely tufted perennial herb of open situations, occurring in stony flushes, base-rich mires and wet, grassy or sedge-rich turf on limestone or calcareous mica-schist. Generally montane, occurring as low as 360 m in Teesdale (N.W. Yorks.) but reaching 1065 m on Meall Garbh (Mid Perth).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Few-Flowered Spike-Rush

Eleocharis quinqueflora

June-July

A perennial herb of base-rich marshes and fens, calcareous flushes on peaty soils, stony and muddy areas with seeping water, wet paths and short turf on banks; also in coastal cliff-flushes, dune-slacks and in the upper parts of saltmarshes. It requires open sites and is often dependent on grazing, cutting or disturbance. 0-915 m (Atholl, E. Perth).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Flat-Headed Sedge

(Flat-sedge)

Blysmus compressus

June-July

A rhizomatous perennial of open areas in marshes and fens, and in short, sedge-rich, damp grassland, calcareous flushes and stream borders which are subject to flooding. 0-490 m (Co. Durham).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Floating Spike-Rush

(Floating Club-rush)

Scirpus fluitans

(Eleogiton fluitans)

May-July

A perennial herb found mainly on peaty, acidic substrates in, or on the margins of, slow-flowing streams, ditches, pools and the sheltered shores of some larger lakes and tarns, often in seasonally flooded sites. It also occurs in muddy hollows in grasslands and heaths, and the wet floors of disused quarries, sand- and gravel-pits. 0-435 m (Llyn Gwngu, Cards., and Styhead Tarn, Cumberland).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Galingale

Cyperus longus

September

A rhizomatous perennial herb of marshes and wet pastures near the coast, and sometimes in base-rich flushes on sea-cliffs. It also occurs on pond margins and in ditches inland, where it is usually planted. Reproduction is through vigorous rhizomatous spread, and it may not set seed in Britain.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Greyish Bulrush

(Grey Club-rush)

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

June-July

A rhizomatous perennial herb, most frequent in coastal sites where it grows in brackish water in rivers, dykes, tidal channels, lagoons and dune-slacks; also in depressions in saltmarsh and in wet pasture. Inland, it occurs by lakes, ponds, slow-flowing rivers, streams and canals, and in flooded quarries and pits.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Harestail (Syn. Harestail Cotton-Grass)

Eriophorum vaginatum

April-May

A tussock-forming rhizomatous perennial herb of wet heaths and mires, including blanket- and raised bogs. It is characteristic of wet peaty moorlands, often dominant or co-dominant with Calluna vulgaris, where it survives, or even increases, after burning. Its sites are always open and almost always acidic. 0-945 m (Ben Lawers, Mid Perth).

Flower from East Moor in Peak District on 22 May

Form from East Moor on 22 May

Seedhead from East Moor on 22 May

Many-Stalked Spike-Rush

Scirpus multicaulis

(Eleocharis multicaulis)

July-August

A densely tufted perennial herb mainly of acid bogs, wet heath, valley mires, pools and wet hollows over peat, and at the edge of acidic lakes; also occurring in coastal dune-slacks. 0-610 m (Macgillycuddy`s Reeks, S. Kerry).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Needle Spike-Rush

Eleocharis acicularis

August onwards

A rhizomatous perennial herb growing on the margins of lakes, ponds, reservoirs and rivers, in sites subject to winter flooding, and fully aquatic in shallow, still or slow-moving mesotrophic to eutrophic water. It roots into sand, gravel, mud or silt, often forming extensive lawns, but flowering only when exposed by falling water levels. 0-390 m (Drumore Loch, E. Perth).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Sea Club-Rush

Scirpus maritimus

(Bolboschoenus maritimus)

July-August

A rhizomatous perennial mainly of saline ground or in shallow brackish water, usually rooted in mud but sometimes in gravel and shingle. Coastal habitats include saltmarshes, tidal river banks, creeks, ditches, lakes, ponds, borrow-pits, and also marshes and damp pastures. It is occasionally found in freshwater habitats inland, including flooded riversides and clay- and gravel-pits. It reproduces by rhizomatous spread, tubers and seed.

Flower from Decoy Farm on 28 August

Flowers from High Halstow in Kent on 28 August

Form from High Halstow

Flower in Isle of Wight from BritishFlora

Form in Isle of Wight from BritishFlora

Sedge (Syn. Great Fen Sedge)

Cladium mariscus

July-August

A rhizomatous perennial of oligotrophic to mesotrophic habitats, usually growing on peat. It is found in swamps at the margins of lakes and ponds and along streams, and in tall-herb fens and open fen carr. In England and Wales it is largely restricted to calcareous sites, whereas in the Hebrides and Western Ireland it also occurs in acidic areas.

Flower in Norfolk from BritishFlora

Flowers in Norfolk from BritishFlora

Form in Norfolk from BritishFlora

Sharp Bulrush

(Sharp Club-rush)

Scirpus americanus

(Schoenoplectus pungens)

June-July

This rhizomatous perennial was formerly known from the margin of a coastal Saint Ouen's Pond in Jersey, and from a wet, coastal dune-slack near Ainsdale (S. Lancs.).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Slender Cotton-Grass

Eriophorum gracile

April-May

A rhizomatous perennial found in the wettest parts of bogs, transitional mires, poor fens and on the edge of Alnus carr, typically over liquid peats. Its sites are calcareous or moderately acidic, and have some water movement.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Slender Spike-Rush

(Onescale Spikerush)

Eleocharis uniglumis

(Eleocharis watsoni, Scirpus uniglumis)

May-July

A rhizomatous perennial herb, predominantly of coastal habitats, growing in damp dune-slacks, saltmarshes, short, brackish grassland and pools in the spray zone. It also occurs inland in base-rich, wet meadows and calcareous marshes, and locally, as in Oxfordshire, by springs with higher than normal sodium content. Generally lowland, but reaching 325 m at Ponterwyd (Cards.).

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Small Bristle Club-Rush

(Slender Club-rush)

Scirpus cernuus

(Isolepis cernua)

May-July

A perennial found in wet, coastal grassland, in bare or open sites over damp sand, peat and mud, in short turf and sometimes in flushes and trickles on rocky cliffs. In the New Forest (South Hants.), where it is locally common, it occurs inland in flushed acidic or base-rich turf and in old marl-pits.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

Triangular Bulrush

(Triangular Club-rush)

Scirpus triquetrus

(Schoenoplectus triqueter)

August-September

This tussock-forming, rhizomatous perennial herb occurs on mud-banks along the lower reaches of tidal rivers, where it may become submerged at the highest tides - of the Tamar and Shannon rivers. On schedule 8 as a Protected Plant.

Flower

Flowers

Foliage

Form

White Beak-Sedge

Rhynchospora alba

June-September

A perennial herb of base-poor acidic bogs, wet heaths and mires, often in association with Sphagnum species. It is intolerant of competition, preferring open sites, and is frequently found on bare wet peat, sometimes in shallow standing water. Generally lowland, but reaching 850 m (Clogwyn y Garnedd, Caerns.).

Flower from Nestles on 8 July

Flowers from Nestles on 8 july

Form from New Forest on 11 August

Wood Club-Rush

Scirpus sylvaticus

June-July

A robust rhizomatous perennial herb which may form extensive stands in swampy valley woodlands and similar shady places; also in wet pastures bordering woods and streams, and on the margins of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. It typically grows over thick, rather eutrophic silts which are often iron-enriched (Rodwell, 1991a). Lowland, reaching 300 m at Clearburn Loch (Selkirks.).

Flower from Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire

Flower

Flowers from Fountains Abbey

Form from Fountains Abbey