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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Carex grayi

Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge

Scientific Name:

Carex grayi

Genus:

Carex

Species Epithet:

grayi

Common Name:

Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge

Plant Type

Grass/Sedge/Rush

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

1-3 ft.

Light:

Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist, Wet

Bloom Time:

May, June

Growing Area:

Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Bottomland forests, tidal swamps. Common in NC piedmont and coastal plain.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate, Basal

Leaf Retention:

Semi-evergreen

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Important for Wildlife

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G4 - Apparently Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Fruit spikes round and ornamental. Leaf sheath reddish-purple.

Staminate inflorescence in early May

Garden in Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Carex grayi. You will likely hear them called Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge. This picture shows the Staminate inflorescence in early May of Carex grayi

Bettina Darveaux

Male spikelet with shriveled anthers and female spikelet beneath

Garden in Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Carex grayi. You will likely hear them called Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge. This picture shows the Male spikelet with shriveled anthers and female spikelet beneath of Carex grayi

Bettina Darveaux

Developing achenes enclosed in a sac (perigynium)

Garden in Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Carex grayi. You will likely hear them called Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge. This picture shows the Developing achenes enclosed in a sac (perigynium) of Carex grayi

Bettina Darveaux

All Carex share the feature of a perigynium (an outer covering) which completely surrounds the achene (seed).

Randolph Co., NC- cultivated

The Scientific Name is Carex grayi. You will likely hear them called Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge. This picture shows the All <em>Carex</em> share the feature of a perigynium (an outer covering) which completely surrounds the achene (seed). of Carex grayi

Judy West

Achenes

Randolph Co., NC -cultivated

The Scientific Name is Carex grayi. You will likely hear them called Asa Gray's Sedge, Gray's Sedge, Bur Sedge. This picture shows the Achenes of Carex grayi

Judy West

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record

Vascular Plants of NC: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php

Native Plant Trust Go Botany: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/carex/grayi/

Illinois Wildflowers: https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/gray_sedge.htm

https://nc.audubon.org/700



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