SafePlants

Carex blanda: Eastern Woodland Sedge

Carex blanda, commonly known as Eastern Woodland Sedge, Creek Sedge, or Common Wood Sedge, is a perennial graminoid found in eastern North America.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex blanda Dewey
• Common Names: Eastern Woodland Sedge, Creek Sedge, Common Wood Sedge
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Rank: Species
• Genus: Carex

Distribution and Habitat

• Eastern Woodland Sedge is native to eastern North America.
• It is found in New England states such as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
• This species is adapted to grow in shaded areas that are somewhat drier than what most sedges prefer.
• It thrives in terrestrial habitats.

Morphological Characteristics

• Eastern Woodland Sedge is a perennial species that grows in bunches.
• It forms a tuft of ascending to sprawling leafy culms, typically around 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide.
• The flowering stems (culms) are triangular in cross-section and can range from 5.5 to 20 inches high.
• The stem leaf blade width measures approximately 0.8-8 mm.
• The foliage is green, and the flowers are green, yellow, or brown.

Ecological Role

• Eastern Woodland Sedge has potential as a woodland groundcover or lawn substitute.
• It is a component of various woodland ecosystems, including bottle sedge woodland and Alder-tussock sedge woodland.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The caddisfly genus Lype (Dark Eastern Woodland Sedges), specifically Lype diversa, is associated with sedges and is significant to anglers.

Further Information

• USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
• Dave's Garden
• Discover Life
• Riveredge Nature Center Plant Field Guide
• iNat taxon page