Scientific Name
Carex geyeri Boott
Common Name(s)
Geyer's sedge, elk sedge
Tribe / Family Name
Cyperaceae
Flowering Period
May to August
Symbol
CAGE2
Description
Geyer’s sedge is a cool-season native perennial grass-like plant that is clustered or loosely cespitose from a system of branching scaly rhizomes; reproduction is from seeds and rhizomes. Culms range from 12–50 cm in height and has a stiffly erect growth habit with sharply triangular (3-angeled) stems that are very rough to the touch on the upper part of the plant. Inflorescences are terminal spikes on solitary stems, 10–35 mm long, and androgynous: staminate portion up to 25 mm long, linear, cylindric, light brown, and well-separated from the 1- (sometimes 3) perigynia. Bracts are lacking. Perigynia are usually 5–7 mm long, 1.8–2.8 mm wide, oblong-obovoid, rounded and abruptly contracted at the tips, glossy, glabrous, green to brown, and 2-ribbed (otherwise nerveless); beaks are small or obsolete, bidentate or nearly so. Pistillate scales are persistent, narrowly oblong, brownish to greenish with paler midrib and margins; the lower are short-awned and longer than the perigynia; the upper are reduced and more acuminate or obtuse at the apices. Stigmas 3. Fruit is an achene and trigonous. Leaves are 1.5–3 mm wide, commonly 2 per culm, flat, stiff, medium to dark green, scabrous along the margins, often withered at the tips, and more or less the same height or longer than the culms. Sheaths are tight and truncate at mouth.
General Info
Geyer’s sedge can be found in open woodlands, dry meadows, and on slopes.
Similar Species
Geyer’s sedge looks similar to pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens), especially in the vegetative state, and can normally be found together in forested areas. Geyer’s sedge has leaves that are basally arranged, dark green, coarse, and triangular, while pinegrass has lighter green leaves that are not basally arranged, but have purplish or reddish stem bases. Geyer’s sedge also has solitary spike inflorescences, and pinegrass has spike-like panicle inflorescences.
Picture of growth habit.
Inflorescences are terminal spikes on solitary stems.
Close-up picture of perigynium.
Illustration of Geyer's sedge. Glen Cole, 2017.