SafePlants

Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes

This page provides an overview of various grasses, sedges, and rushes, highlighting their characteristics and distributions. These plant types can sometimes be difficult to distinguish, requiring careful identification.

Considerations for Pets

• Several rushes, sedges and grasses are mentioned and may commonly occur in gardens or natural areas frequented by pets.

Considerations for Children

• Several rushes, sedges and grasses are mentioned and may commonly occur in gardens or natural areas frequented by children.

Specific Plants Mentioned:

• Silver Hair-grass: Aira caryophyllea
• Early Hair-grass: Aira praecox
• Sea Club-rush: Bolboschoenus maritimus (Synonym: Scirpus maritimus)
• New Zealand Hair Sedge: Carex comans
• Spring Sedge: Carex caryophyllea
• String Sedge: Carex chordorrhiza
• Tufted Hair-grass: Deschampsia cespitosa

Taxonomy and Nomenclature:

• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge, Club-rush, and Spike-rush family)

Distribution and Habitat:

• New Zealand Hair Sedge (Carex comans) is native to New Zealand.
• Hair Sedge (Carex capillaris) is fairly widespread in the Scottish Highlands but is very rare elsewhere.
• The plants listed are found across the British Isles, including the Scottish Highlands and other specific habitats like heath, moorland, and wet areas.
• Bolboschoenus maritimus is found in coastal environments.

Morphological Characteristics:

• Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) is a tall, tufted plant.
• Rushes, unlike grasses, often have stout stems.
• Sedges often have solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves, and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers.
• New Zealand Hair Sedge is an evergreen foliage plant.

Quirky Facts:

• Sweet Rush was historically used by snuff manufacturers and to scent hair-powders.
• Deschampsia caespitosa (tufted hair-grass) leaves can be so rough that they cannot run a blade across.

Ecological Role:

• Tufted Hair-grass can be considered undesirable in some contexts, such as in Harnham Water Meadows.
• These plants often dominate specific habitats, indicating their importance in the ecosystem.

Further Information:

• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a resource for taxonomic information.
• UKWILDFLOWERS.com may provide additional information.