Description

Slender Sedge is a grass-like plant that forms patches in boggy places due to its wide-spreading underground stems, or rhizomes. The aerial stems are triangular in cross-section and may grow to 3 feet (1 m) in height (0.6 m). The leaves have sheathing bases and very narrow (1/16 inch, or 2 mm), folded, elongated blades that taper to extremely slender tips. The flowers, appearing from May to July, are minute and are grouped in male or female clusters, with 1 or 2 stalked and slender male clusters at the top of the stem and the 1 to 3 unstalked and broader female clusters farther down the stem. The female cluster consists of individual inflated sac-like structures, or perigynia, which are about 3.5 mm in length, hairy, with 2 slender teeth at the tip, and contain the three-sided fruit. This species often does not produce many flowering and fruiting stems, yet may still be identified by its rhizomatous growth habit and very narrow vegetative leaves with their very slender tips.

Rank Justification

Vulnerable in the nation or state due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation.

The PA Biological Survey (PABS) considers Slender Sedge to be a species of special concern, based on the moderate number of locations recently confirmed and the wetland habitat. It has a PA legal rarity status and a suggested rarity status of Rare.