Carex vulpina
{{Short description|Species of grass-like plant in the sedge family}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Cleaned-Illustration Carex vulpina.jpg
| image_caption = Botanical illustration
| image2 = Carex vulpina - Botanischer Garten Braunschweig - Braunschweig, Germany - DSC04388.JPG
| image2_caption = At the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Carex
| species = vulpina
| authority = L.Sp. Pl.: 973 (1753)
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|
- Carex brotherorum Christ
- Carex compacta Lam.
- Carex glomerata Gilib. ex Bubani
- Carex mertensis Weihe ex Kunth
- Carex reflexa D.Dietr. ex Kunth
- Carex spicata Thuill.
- Carex vulpina f. capitulata (Peterm.) Soó
- Edritria vulpina (L.) Raf.
- Vignea vulpina (L.) Rchb.
}}
}}
Carex vulpina, the true fox sedge, is a species in the genus Carex, native to Europe and western Asia.{{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:302952-1 |title=Carex vulpina L. |author= |date=2017 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=18 December 2020 }}
Description
Carex vulpina can be identified by its reddish-brown inflorescence, appearing in June and July. It has sturdy, triangular stems, winged in cross-section, with bright green, flat leaves. It can reach 0.95m in height,{{Cite web |title=True Fox-sedge - Species Directory |url=https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/species/true-fox-sedge-carex-vulpina/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Freshwater Habitats Trust |language=en-GB}} and is often confused with its relative Carex otrubae, the False Fox-sedge.{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Colin |last2=Ashton |first2=Paul A. |date=2006 |title=Distinction between the sedges Carex vulpina L. and C. otrubae Podp. and the potential for identification of hybrids |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228854069 |journal=Watsonia |volume=26 |pages=15–25 |access-date=18 December 2020}}
Distribution and habitat
Carex vulpina is widespread throughout Europe to Xinjiang.{{Cite web |title=Carex vulpina L. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:302952-1 |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}
It favours a lowland wetland habitat, such as river banks, ditches and seasonally flooding meadows. Though not considered to be a species of global concern, it is considered vulnerable in the UK.{{Cite web |title=True Fox-sedge - Species Directory |url=https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/species/true-fox-sedge-carex-vulpina/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=Freshwater Habitats Trust |language=en-GB}}