SafePlants

Beaked Sedge and Short-Beaked Sedge: A Detailed Look

This page provides information on several sedge species, including beaked sedge and short-beaked sedge. Sedges are grass-like plants often found in wet environments.

Considerations for Pets

• Some sedges have rhizomes, which are underground stems.
• Some sedges have sharp edges.
• Moose, elk, and deer graze on common beaked sedge.

Scientific and Common Names

• Beaked Sedge: Carex rostrata
• Analogue Sedge: Carex simulata
• Short-Beaked Sedge: Carex brevior

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
• Synonyms:
  • Rhynchospora corniculata syn R laxa (for short bristle horned beaksedge / beak sedge)
  • short-beaked fen sedge (Carex simulata Mackenzie)

Distribution and Habitat

• Beaked sedge is a common riparian species.
• Carex simulata (analogue sedge) is native to the western United States and western Canada.
• Short-beaked sedge is found in soils that are wet year-round, such as edges of wetlands.
• Mentioned as part of various habitat types, including Wet Meadow, Shrubland, and sloped hummocky marsh.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Short rhizomes develop to produce a tuft of many shoots.
• Short, stout rhizomes and long creeping runners are present.
• Some sedges grow in bunches with flowering stems from 6-48 inches tall.
• Some sedges stay green well into fall in moist habitats.
• Perigynia (a sac-like structure enclosing the achene) is beaked with two short points.
• Roots are whitish to orange.
• Some sedges have ornamental seed heads and clump-forming nature.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Common beaked sedge is grazed by moose (Alces alces), elk (Cervus elaphus), and deer (Odocoileus spp.).

Resources and Further Information

• Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (www.mass.gov/nhesp)
• USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
• TERMIUM (Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank)
• Dave's Garden
• New England Plant Conservation Program