Carex acutiformis
Ehrh.
Swamp sedge
(c) Natalia Pashkevych, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Natalia Pashkevych
(c) Sebastian J. Dunkl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sebastian J. Dunkl
(c) Thomas Gyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Gyselinck
What to Eat
Edible parts: Root, Seeds
The root can be eaten cooked. The seed is also edible, though it is small and fiddly to work with; no further preparation details are given.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It grows in swamp areas and wet grasslands. In Pakistan it grows between 100-2,200 m altitude.
Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Central Asia, Europe, Germany, Iran, Luxembourg, Middle East, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Siberia, Tajikistan, USA, Turkey, Türkiye,
How to Identify
A sedge. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. It develops stolons or runners. The stems are 60-120 cm high. The stems are sharply triangle shaped. They are rough along the edges. The leaves are as long as the stems. The leaf sheaths are 15 cm long. The leaf blades are 4-6 mm wide and can be flat or have their edges rolled under. Bracts extend over the flowering head. The male flower spikes are 20-40 mm long and the female spikes are 25-60 mm long. The nut is about 2 mm long by 1 mm wide.
How to Grow
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country and also in saline soils. There is some doubt about the validity of this name. The original report on the plants uses is for a species called C. acutifolia. Ehrh. which is said to be native to Europe but is not in 'Flora Europaea'. We feel that this name is probably a misprint for C. acutiformis. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a damp to wet soil in full sun or shade. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation: Sow seed in situ in spring in moist soil in light shade. If seed is scarce, sow in a cold frame and plant out in summer. Seed typically germinates in 2–6 weeks at 15°C. For division, split clumps in spring; larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller ones are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until well rooted before planting out in summer or the following spring.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
Used as bedding material.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Carex acutiformis, the lesser pond-sedge, is a species of plant in the Carex, or sedge family.
Notes
There are about 2000 Carex species. There are 200 species in tropical America.
References (4)
- Beitr. Naturk. 4:43. 1789
- Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Simpson, D. A. & Inglis, C. A., 2001, Cyperaceae of Economic, Ethnobotanical and Horticultural Importance: A checklist. Kew Bulletin Vol. 56, No. 2 (2001), pp. 257-360
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