Carex spicata Spiked Sedge

A densly tufted sedge which occurs on roadsides and other ruderal habitats. It can be confused with lots of other sedges such as Grey Sedge (Carex divulsa), Prickly Sedge (Carex muricata) and small forms of False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae). Good field characters are the long, acute ligule, the bulbous base and a narrow beak of the utricles and the long-pointed (acuminate) female glumes. It is widespread and fairly common in southern Britain and south Wales. In West Glamorgan, it is uncommon in Gower but scattered in roadside and trackside habitats elsewhere, particularly in Neath Port Talbot.

Native