SafePlants

Spike Sedge Varieties and Relatives

This page provides information on various plants referred to as "spike sedge" or closely related species. These plants belong to the Cyperaceae (Sedge) family.

Considerations for Pets

• Several Spike sedge species have sharp edged leaves.
• Various plants in the Sedge family possess triangular stems.

Considerations for Children

• Several Spike sedge species have sharp edged leaves.
• Various plants in the Sedge family possess triangular stems.

Scientific Names and Common Names

• Accepted Scientific Name: Varies depending on the specific species (e.g., Carex nardina, Eleocharis intermedia, Eleocharis halophila, Eleocharis kuroguwai, Eleocharis macrostachya, Eleocharis acuta, Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis obicis, Kyllinga nemoralis, Eleocharis palustris ssp. palustris, Eleocharis sphacelata, Carex scirpoidea, Kyllinga brevifolia).
• Common Names: Spike sedge, Intermediate Spike-sedge, Canada spikesedge, saltmarsh spikerush, pale spike-sedge, bamboo spike sedge, tall spike sedge, giant spike rush, sharp spike sedge, dwarf spike sedge, Whitehead Spike Sedge, dry spike sedge, hay sedge, hillside sedge, running savanna sedge, sandbank sedge, Fernald's haysedge, jointed spike sedge, jointed spikerush, knotted spikerush, knotted spike rush, horsetail spike rush, Canadian Single Spike Sedge, Short Leaf Spike Sedge.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
• USDA Symbol (Carex nardina): CANA2
• Synonyms:
  • For Eleocharis parvula: Scirpus parvulus

Distribution and Habitat

• Eleocharis acuta inhabits swampy ground throughout New Zealand.
• Canadian single-spike sedge is a boreal and subalpine species of high-pH bedrock, occasionally found in Maine and New Hampshire.
• Necklace spike sedge has a distribution restricted to northeastern North America.
• Carex nardina is native to L48 (Contiguous United States), AK (Alaska), and CAN (Canada).
• Records in the Natural Heritage Database of Massachusetts (1984-2009).

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Dioecious, rhizomatous.
• Stems are erect, 5-40 cm tall, and tufted.
• Leaves are basal and cauline or basal bladeless blades, 1-3 mm wide.
• Inflorescence is a solitary spike bract.
• Some species are leafless, with erect dark-green hollow stems, 30-90 cm in height, spreading to more than 2 m.
• Flowers are dark brown spikelets 3 cm long and 3-7 mm.
• Spikes can be separate male and female, gynecandrous or androgynous.
• Spikes can be upright, sessile, or peduncled.
• Spikelet: a small spike with reduced flowers on a central axis.
• Perigynia can vary in length, and be pubescent.

Ecological Role

• Eleocharis acuta spreads from swampy grounds.
• Some spike sedges may compete with other species.

Quirky Facts

• The specific epithet scirpoidea means like Scirpus, which is a different genus of sedges.
• Some spike sedge spikelets are aggregated into a special inflorescence type called the "spikelet".
• Kuta (Eleocharis sphacelata) is the sedge most widely used in Northland.

Further Information

• USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database: Field guide by Hurd, E.G., N.L. Shaw, J. Mastrogiuseppe, L.C. Smithman, and S. Goodrich (1998).
• Discover Life page on Carex nardina.
• Biological flora of New Zealand 11. Eleochairs spacelata, kuta, paopao, bamboo spike sedge. Research Commons, University of Waikato.