Spiked Sedge - Carex spicata

Description

This sedge grows in pronounced tufts with the spikes curving outwards and upwards to 80 cm. The fruit spikes at first appear similar to those of False Fox Sedge, but at maturity the individual fruits are very spiky with pronounced beaks as the name suggests.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation. 

Habitat

Rough grassy places, roadsides and railway verges.

When to see it

Fruiting July and August.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread in England and Wales, becoming less common further north.

VC55 Status

Locally frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 108 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Spiked Sedge
Species group:
Grasses, Rushes & Sedges
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Poales
Family:
Cyperaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
18
First record:
08/07/2009 (Katie Field;Neill Talbot)
Last record:
17/06/2023 (Mabbett, Craig)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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