Carex sprengelii
{{Short description|Species of grass-like plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=Carex sprengelii (8162119443).jpg
|image_caption=Hanging spikes of seeds nearing maturity
|status=G5
|status_system=TNC
|status_ref=
|genus=Carex
|parent=Carex sect. Hymenochlaenae
|display_parents=2
|species=sprengelii
}}
Carex sprengelii, known as Sprengel's sedge and long-beaked sedge,{{EFloras|1|242357550|Carex sprengelii|first1=Peter W.|last1=Ball|first2=A. A. |last2=Reznicek}} is a sedge with hanging seed heads, native to North America.
Description
Long-beaked sedge has flowering stems (culms) {{convert|30|to|90|cm|ft|0|abbr=on}} long. The leaves are {{convert|2.5|to|4|mm|2|abbr=on}} wide and shorter than the flowering stems.
Each flowering stem has 1 to 4 spikes of flowers. While flowering, they are crowded at the tip of the stem. The terminal spike is either all male or male with a few female flowers at the bottom. Each female spike has 10 to 40 female flowers, each about {{convert|1|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} apart. Each spike is on its stalk (pedicel), and each succeeding spike is shorter than the previous one. As the female flowers develop into seeds (achenes), the stalk droops or nods downwards.{{Minnesota Wildflowers |Carex sprengelii (Sprengel's Sedge) |grass-sedge-rush |sprengels-sedge}} The bract enclosing the seed has a long tapered tip (beak), which gives the plant its common name.{{Go Botany |genus=Carex |species=sprengelii |common=long-beaked sedge}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{CalPhotos|Carex|sprengelii}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15580624}}
Category:Flora of Northern America
Category:Flora of Eastern Canada
Category:Flora of Western Canada
Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States
Category:Flora of the North-Central United States