Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

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Carex dioica L.

dioecious sedge (Cyperaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadStrong tendencyN
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Carex dioica is, unusually, a dioecious sedge and is found in bogs, mostly in the northern half of the British Isles; its female stems have several scabrid-beaked utricles (fatter than those of Carex pulicaris) and no male flowers.

Glenshee (VC92: South Aberdeenshire); 2020-07-20

 dioecious sedge / Carex dioica: _Carex dioica_ is, unusually, a dioecious sedge and is found in bogs, mostly in the northern half of the British Isles; its female stems have several scabrid-beaked utricles (fatter than those of _Carex pulicaris_) and no male flowers.

Male spikes are more inconspicuous; where they have a few female flowers at the base, they can resemble the ecologically similar Carex pulicaris.

Glenshee (VC92: South Aberdeenshire); 2020-07-20

 dioecious sedge / Carex dioica: Male spikes are more inconspicuous; where they have a few female flowers at the base, they can resemble the ecologically similar _Carex pulicaris_.

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