SafePlants

Heavy Sedge (Carex gravida)

Heavy Sedge, scientifically known as Carex gravida, is a perennial sedge belonging to the Cyperaceae (Sedge) family. It's a grass-like plant found in various habitats and known by several common names.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a sedge, which can have sharp edges.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is a sedge, which can have sharp edges.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex gravida L.H. Bailey
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
• Order: Cyperales (Grasses/Sedges)
• Synonyms: Heavy-fruit caric sedge, Long awned bracted sedge
• Subspecies: Carex gravida L.H. Bailey var. gravida

Common Names

• Heavy Sedge
• Heavy Fruited Sedge
• Long-awned Bracted Sedge

Distribution and Habitat

• Carex gravida is a Kansas native.
• It is adapted to mesic soils that are not too acidic.
• It is tolerant of a wide range of soils and pH.
• Prefers ancient woods on clay and heavy soils.
• Sedge meadows where this plant is found most often have standing water during the spring and after heavy rains.

Morphological Characteristics

• This perennial sedge grows to about 1 to 3 feet tall (approximately 30 inches or 70 cm).
• Culms (stems) are erect or ascending, slender, prominently triangular, light green, and rough beneath the inflorescences (flowering parts).
• The fertile culm is light green, 3-angled, hairless, and slightly rough along the edges.
• Grows from a horizontal rhizome and thick fibrous roots.
• Forms compact tufts of arching, dark green leaves, each edged with white

Ecological Role

• In pastures, navua sedge is unpalatable and provides little feed value
• Heavy grazing is likely to encage proliferation and spread of the plant.
• Purple nut sedge&#39s extreme competitive nature is a heavy consumer of plant nutrients and robs rivals of important compounds necessary for plant growth.
• Tussock sedge is dif&#64257cult to control on arable land because its large leaf bases makes ploughing ineffective unless heavy implements are used.

Quirky Facts

• The text references Heavy Sedge in the context of fly tying (Heavy Wire Buzzer, Sedge Pupa).

Additional Information

• Heavy Sedge flowers in April-June.
• It is tolerant of seasonally wet sites and performs well in heavy clay soils.