Field Key to VCR Plant Species
Subection VII. Sedges with Triangular Stems
- 1a. Flowers come out of the side of the stem; flower clusters scaly, brown.
- 2a. Long leafy bracts under inflorescence; flower clusters sometimes on
short branches.....Three-square Sedge, Scirpus americanus
(SCRAMR).
- 2b. No leafy bracts; flower clusters not on branches.....Salt-marsh Bulrush, Scirpus robustus
(SCRRBS).
- 1b. Flower branches radiate from one point at the top of the stem; flowers in flattened
clusters (spikelets) in a feather-like arrangement (spike or head) perpendicular to
the branches.
- 3a. Flower branches stout, length variable; plant up to 1 m. tall.
- 4a. Spikelets yellowish-green; bristly flower heads; roots with little hard
tubers underground.....Nut Sedge, Cyperus esculentus
(CYPESC).
- 4b. Spikelets very narrow, dull brown; roundish flower heads; denser arrangement of spikelets within head than C. esculentus; roots without tubers.....Flat or Sweet Sedge, Cyperus odoratus
(CYPODR).
- 3b. Flower branches long and thread-like; spikelets greenish-chestnut colored;
loose arrangement of spikelets in heads; roots without tubers.....Sedge, Cyperus grayii
(CYPGRY).
- 1c. Flowers or flower clusters are lined vertically along the stem.
- 5a. Inflorescence club-shaped, 2 cm. long, brown to reddish-purple in color;
leaves fibrous, red at base.....Sedge, Carex pensylvanica
(CRXPNS).
- 5b. Inflorescence narrow and asymmetrical.
- 6a. Inflorescence 9 cm. Iong; spikelets oblong, each with a long bristle-like bract; base of stem shows puckering.....Sedge, Carex vulpinoidea
(CRXVLP).
- 6b. Inflorescence shorter (?) with 3-6 often distant spikes, 6 mm. thick.
round and egg-shaped.....Sedge, Carex festucacea
(CRXFST).
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