Scientific Name
Carex hoodii Boott
Common Name(s)
Hood's sedge
Tribe / Family Name
Cyperaceae
Flowering Period
June to August
Symbol
CAHO5
Description
Hood’s sedge is a native cool-season perennial bunched grass-like plant. Culms range from 20–80 cm in height and has an erect growth habit with sharply triangular (3-angled) stems that exceed the leaves. Inflorescences are up to 2 cm long with several sessile spikes that are densely crowded together into oblong-cylindric to often ovoid green to brown heads; spikes are androgynous. The lowest bracts are up to 1.5 cm long and shorter than the inflorescences, while the upper ones are inconspicuous. Perigynia are 3.2–5 mm long, up to 2.5 mm wide, ovate, strongly plano-convex, glossy with a coppery-brown center and green margins, obscurely nerved or nerveless, and serrulate along the margins distally; beaks are abruptly contracted and evidently bidentate (teeth 0.3–0.6 mm long). Pistillate scales are up to 4.3 mm long, equaling or somewhat shorter and narrower than the perigynia, coppery brown with a green midrib and hyaline margins, and acute or short-awned. Stigmas 2. Fruits are achenes, lenticular, and yellowish brown. Leaves are 1–3.5 mm wide, 2–3 per culm, flat or nearly so, green, and borne at the lower part of the stems. Sheaths are tight, green, hyaline, and truncate at mouth.
General Info
This robust, densely bunched plant can be found along roadsides and rocky hillsides, in grasslands, mountain meadows, open forests, parklands, plains, valleys, and montane to low subalpine sites.
Similar Species
Hood’s sedge is very distinctive and probably won’t be confused with other grass-like plants. Remember to look for the broad green margins on glossy, coppery-brown perigynia.
Picture of growth habit.
Inflorescences have 4-8 sessile spikes that are densely clustered together into an oblong-cylindric to often ovoid green to brown head.
Close-up picture of perigynium and stigmas.
Illustration of Hood's sedge. Glen Cole, 2017.