Carex laxiflora Lam.

Broad loose-flowered sedge

Similar species

	Carex blanda	You are here Carex laxiflora
Common Name	common woodland sedge	broad loose-flowered sedge
Plant	Dense tufts of leafy culms are up to 1½′ tall ⨉ 1½′ around (53 ⨉ 45 cm), sometimes erect, sometimes sprawling. Culms are triangular in cross-section, and slightly winged.	Dense tufts of culms, each 1–1½′ ⨉ 1/32–1/16″ (39–47 cm ⨉ 0.8–2 mm).
Leaves	Leaves are flat or somewhat Ｗ-shaped in cross section, and 1/32–⅜″ (1–10 mm) wide. They extend past the flowers. They have a raised midrib on the undersides.	Flat, 7–10 ⨉ ⅛–1″ (19–25 cm ⨉ 5–26 mm).
Flowers	Inflorescences usually have four spikes per stem. At the top is a staminate (male) spikelet, with 2-4 pistillate (female) spikelets below. The staminate spikelet is ⅛–¾″ (6–20 mm) long, and narrow. The pistillate spikes are ¼–⅝ ⨉ ⅛″ (8–18 ⨉ 5 mm). They have bracts up to 6″ (15 cm) long. (The bracts resemble the leaves, but the leaves are basal.) The rachis, or stem of the inflorescence, is light green, triangular in cross-section, and slightly winged. Flowers appear in late spring.	Inflorescence has a staminate (male) flower at the top, and usually 3 pistillate (female) spikes loosely spaced below. Staminate spikes are ⅞–15/16 ⨉ 1/32–⅛″ (2.3–2.4 cm ⨉ 1.5–3 mm), with scales that are 1/16–⅛ ⨉ ~1/32″ (3–3.5 ⨉ 1–1.5 mm). Pistillate spikes are ¼–1¼ ⨉ ~⅛″ (9–33 ⨉ 3.2–4 mm), with scales that are 1/16–⅛ ⨉ ~1/32″ (2.5–3 ⨉ 1.2–1.5 mm).
Fruit	Achenes are 1/16–⅛″ long ⨉ 1/32–1/16″ wide (2.1–3.2 ⨉ 0.8–1.8 mm).	Achenes are ~1/16 ⨉ ~1/32″ (1.8–2.2 ⨉ 1–1.4 mm). Fruit appears from spring to early summer.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Upland and bottomland woodlands, woodland openings, powerline clearances in wooded areas, savannas, thickets, degraded prairies, weedy meadows, lawns and gardens (particularly in shaded areas), vacant lots, and waste areas.	Deciduous to mixed upland forests, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes, at elevations below 3281′ (1 km).

Carex laxiflora description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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