sedges

Sedges are a group of grass-like flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae. They are distinguished from true grasses by often having solid, triangular stems and leaves arranged in three ranks around a stem. The largest genus is Carex, which contains more than 1000 species; other common genera include Cyperus, Eleocharis, and Schoenoplectus. A common mnemonic notes that sedges have edges, distinguishing their stems from the typically round stems of grasses and the round, hollow stems of rushes.

Most sedges have tough, hollow or solid culms varying in height, with leaves that wrap around the stem in sheath-like bases. They reproduce by wind-pollinated flowers arranged in dense spikelets; many species are dioecious or monoecious. They may form dense clumps or spread via rhizomes and stolons, enabling them to stabilize soils and colonize wetlands.

Sedges occur worldwide, especially in wetlands, marshes, fens, and damp woodlands, but many also inhabit dry grasslands and edge habitats. They play important roles in water filtration and shoreline stabilization, provide habitat for invertebrates and birds, and contribute to wetland structure and function.

Carex is the largest and most diverse genus, with many species used in ecological restoration. Other notable genera include Cyperus (umbrella sedges), Eleocharis (bog sedges or spikerushes), and Schoenoplectus (club-rushes).

Humans use sedges for erosion control, basketry and thatching, and ornamental plantings. Some species become weedy or invasive outside their native range and can alter local communities; habitat loss and drainage threaten many sedge-rich wetlands. Conservation and restoration projects often emphasize preserving native sedge communities to maintain ecosystem services.