Carex species
caric sedges

Native to Florida

There may be 70 species of Carex in Florida, mostly in the northern half of the state, growing in the water, in wetlands or on drylands (Wunderlin, 1998). Their identification can be difficult. Caric sedges are heavily utilized by many kinds of wildlife, including birds and large mammals. The various species are widely distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada (Kartesz, 1999).


Caric sedges are sedges. Clump-forming, with fibrous roots or single plants or small clumps from rhizomes; stems solid, triangular, unbranched, 6 in. to 4 ft. tall; leaf blades in 3 rows, mostly from the base, flat to folded slightly inward; inflorescence a single terminal spike or cluster of spikes, each spike comprised of spikelets, each spike having a leaf-like bract; flowers often arranged spirally around the axis; fruit a 2-3 sided achene (nutlet) is always hidden in perigynium (sac that envelops flower parts)


View the herbarium specimen images of the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HERBARIUM DIGITAL IMAGING PROJECTS.

Carex acidicola not native to Florida	Carex brysonii not native to Florida	Carex calcifugens	Carex comosa	Carex gholsonii	Carex godfreyi	Carex lutea not native to Florida	Carex paeninsulae not native to Florida