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Capitate sedge grows 1-2' tall in dense colonies. Each culm (= stem) is triangular in cross section and has an inflorescence about 1.5 cm. long and 1.0 cm. across at its tip. At the base of the inflorescence is a thin leaf (bract) up to 1.5 cm. long. The inflorescence looks like a collection of 5-8 spikey, tightly-clustered tapering stacks (spikelets) of flattened, oval structures sharply pointed at their distal end (the perigynia or florets). Each spikelet measures about 5x5 mm; it contains the actual (highly modified) florets. The male (staminate) florets are located toward the apex of each spikelet (see inflorescence at far left in the image), while the female (pistillate) florets are lower in the spikelet. (Cylindrical clusters of florets are called spikes; ovoid clusters are termed spikelets. Individual sedge flowers — a perigynium or utricle — are usually ovoid, with either 2-3 feathery stigmas or 3 stamens with anthers sticking out of one end. Bisexual flowers do not occur in sedges.)

Carex

Carex cephalophora

capitate sedge [Blooms: May-Jun]

Gray's sedge is the most easily identifiable sedge in Jackson Park — the large, pistillate (female) spikelet (reminiscent of the head of a medieval mace) is unmistakable. Fertile culms of Gray's sedge may reach up to 3' tall, but most plants don't exceed 2.5'. The culms are triangular in section ("three-angled"), light green and unbranched, with a few alternate, dark green leaves (each 5-14" long and 4-10 mm wide) along its length. The leaves have a deep groove along their midline and, usually, secondary folds on either side, producing a V- or W-shaped cross section in the leaves. Fertile culms produce an Inflorescence at their apex consisting of one or more globoid (mace-like) pistillate spikelets (1-1.5' diameter spiky clusters of perigynia that radiate in all directions) and a single staminate spikelet up to 2.5" long and 1-4 mm wide. Each pistillate spikelet has a 3-10" long leaf at its base. Each perigynum in the pistillate spikelets is quite large (12-18 mm long, 4-8 mm wide), an elongate teardrop (lanceolate) shape, with stigmas emerging from the pointed end. The staminate spikelet is at the tip of the culm on the end of a short pedicle, usually yellow-brown in color. The male and female spikelets are labeled; the long, tan-colored anthers (male) and white stigmas (female) are clearly visible in this image.

Carex

Carex grayi

Gray's sedge [Blooms: May-Jul]