SafePlants

Carex tenera - Quill Sedge

Carex tenera, commonly known as quill sedge or slender sedge, is a native perennial sedge found in various habitats across North America. It is often referred to as delicate quill sedge, marsh straw sedge, or narrowleaf oval sedge.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant can be found in wet areas, and as a densely tufted sedge, it can commonly form tussocks (or hummocks).
• Other sedge varieties have spiky or delicate leaves.

Considerations for Children

• This plant can be found in wet areas, and as a densely tufted sedge, it can commonly form tussocks (or hummocks).
• Other sedge varieties have spiky or delicate leaves.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex tenera Dewey
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
• Genus: Carex L.
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms: slender sedge, marsh straw sedge, narrowleaf oval sedge
• Subspecies: Carex tenera var. echinodes (Fernald) Wiegand, Carex tenera var. tenera

Distribution and Habitat

• Carex tenera is found throughout New England and is common on moist open ground.
• It grows in dry to wet fields, meadows, and forest openings.
• In northwestern Vermont, a variety known as prickly quill sedge is very rare, occurring only in swamps and lacustrine forests.
• It can be found in moist to wet soil.
• Also grows East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington.

Morphological Characteristics

• Carex tenera is a densely tufted perennial sedge that commonly forms tussocks (or hummocks) in wet areas.
• The slender flowering stems (culms) grow to approximately 2 feet in height.

Quirky Facts

• The plant's leaves are sometimes described as "quill-like" in appearance.
• The natural segmentation of stripped mallard quill can be used for abdomens.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex tenera.