Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Cyperaceae ⟩ Carex spicata / spiked sedge

Carex spicata Huds.

spiked sedge (Cyperaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Carex spicata is a tuft-forming sedge, similar in overall appearance to Carex muricata or Carex divulsa.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-06-23

 spiked sedge / Carex spicata: _Carex spicata_ is a tuft-forming sedge, similar in overall appearance to _Carex muricata_ or _Carex divulsa_.

Carex spicata grows in woodland clearings and roadsides, mostly in England and Wales.

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-06-20

 spiked sedge / Carex spicata: _Carex spicata_ grows in woodland clearings and roadsides, mostly in England and Wales.

Wine-coloured staining around the ligule, if present, immediately identifies the plant as Carex spicata; the longer ligules and corky-based utricles also separate it from Carex muricata and Carex divulsa.

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-06-21

 spiked sedge / Carex spicata: Wine-coloured staining around the ligule, if present, immediately identifies the plant as _Carex spicata_; the longer ligules and corky-based utricles also separate it from _Carex muricata_ and _Carex divulsa_.

Normal inflorescence (above) and one infected by the fly Wachtliella caricis (below)

Manchester (VC59: South Lancashire); 2007-06-30

 spiked sedge / Carex spicata: Normal inflorescence (above) and one infected by the fly _Wachtliella caricis_ (below)

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne