How do you distinguish grasses from sedges?
The stems of grasses are hollow and either round or flat with swollen nodes or joints along the stems. Their leaf blades are flat and their leaf sheaths are open. The stems of sedges, on the other hand, are generally solid and triangular (note the mnemonic “Sedges have edges”).
Do you cut back sedge?
Sedges resent being cut back too hard, so if the foliage lasts through the year untattered, just leave it alone. If the older foliage looks messy, or the tips have been burned by winter cold, trim the sedge back modestly, by no more than a third at most, in March or April.
What are rushes and sedges?
Rushes are round, Grasses have nodes from the top to the ground. Grasses and bamboos are in the Graminaceae family, sedges are in the Cyperaceae family, and rushes are in the Juncaceae family. When you look at a grass or sedge, what you see are the stems, leaves, and flowers.
How can you tell the difference between grasses?
Grass types vary in the width of their blades and whether blade tips are sharp-pointed, rounded or boat-shaped. The arrangement of grass leaves in new shoots, called vernation, may be V-shaped and folded or circular and rolled. Your grass’s growth habit also provides grass I.D. clues.
What is a sedge grass?
Sedge is a grass-like plant in the genus Carex. Sedge grass is a mostly evergreen, shade plant that adds dramatic form and blend texturally with most plants. Many sedges are US native plants and are easy-to-grow shade perennials for the woodland garden.
How do I know if I have rushes?
If the stem is hollow it is likely a grass, as there are few grasses that have solid stems. If the stem is solid, peel the leaves back if the plant has leaves, and roll the stem between your fingers. If it rolls easily between your fingers, it’s a round stem and is most likely a rush.
Do sedges spread?
It spreads by rhizomes, but not densely, to form a low, open sod 8 to 14 inches tall. Exceptionally durable and flexible, Pennsylvania sedge flourishes in dry shade and in soil that is moist and rich in organic matter.
Will sedge grow in full sun?
Fox sedge is a wetland species that will grow in any garden soil with full sun. This gorgeous sedge is perfectly rounded in overall form, about 24 inches tall and two feet across. Palm Sedge (above) is a versatile, adaptable wetland species that makes an excellent garden plant. It tolerates sun or shade, dry or wet.
What causes sedge grass?
This could be from overwatering with a sprinkler system, a lot of rain, or a combination of both. The best way to minimize nutsedge is to grow and maintain dense and healthy turf to outcompete nutsedge for space, food, and moisture. Low spots in the lawn that hold water also contribute to the proliferation of nutsedge.
What is sedge used for?
Sedges are traditionally used for their strong, fibrous leaves and stems for weaving household items, such as baskets and mats and in the construction of boats and houses, for thatching, fencing and rope making. Some species are used in perfumery and pot pourri and several species for their medicinal properties.
How tall does a Cyperaceae sedge plant get?
Stems: Round stemmed sedge species, 35 to 75 cm tall, lead to inflorescence. Leaves: Flat, long leaves are 2-5 mm wide and lower leaves are reduced to sheaths. [5] Inflorescence: These wind pollinated flowers lack showy corolla parts.
What kind of plants are in the Cyperaceae family?
Alternative Titles: sedge, sedge family. Cyperaceae, sedge family of monocotyledonous flowering plants, a division of the order Poales. The Cyperaceae are grasslike herbaceous plants found especially in wet regions throughout the world.
How many species of graminoids are there in Cyperaceae?
To the untrained eye, Sedges may appear to be grasses, but these graminoids are their own distinctive family, playing an important role in wetland ecosystems. Cyperaceae is a large family, with 104 genera and about 5000 species with worldwide distribution. [1]
What kind of stems do sedges have?
Rush stems (Juncaceae) are generally circular in cross section, while the stems of sedges (Cyperaceae) are typically three-sided (triangular). Cross-section of a sedge, ―Sedges have edges‖. Grasses are round in cross section and generally have hollow internodes. Family Poaceae (grasses): 1