Pendulous Sedge

Common Name: Pendulous Sedge

Scientific Name: Carex pendula

Family: Cyperaceae

Alternative Names:  Hanging Sedge, Drooping Sedge, Weeping Sedge.

Range: Throughout British Isles

Habitat: Damp woodlands particularly on clay soil

Key Identification Features: Perennial, forming dense clumps of broad grass like leaves up to 20mm wide and 1 m long. Produces tall flower spike up to 2m tall with triangular cross section. Drooping catkin like flower spikes appear in May and June.

Confusion Species: Grasses are superficially similar but have round, hollow flower stems. May be mistaken for other sedges but only Pendulous Sedge has the drooping flowers and seeds.

Edible Uses: The ripe seeds can be stripped from the seed heads. Winnow to remove the husks to reveal the small brown seeds.  They can be toasted and added to breads and salads or ground into flour.

Medicinal Uses: 

Other Uses: The leaves can be used intact or thinned into strips, dried and twisted into strong cordage and rope. They can also dried and pounded and used to stuff clothing as insulation.

References

Graves, Richard. “Bushcraft” (Warner Communications Company, 1978)

Mears, Ray. “Bushcraft” (Hodder & Stoughton, 2002)

Mears, Raymond. “Outdoor Survival Handbook” (Random Century Group, 1992)

Links

• Pendulous Sedge