True fox sedge

Description

Loosely tufted perennial with slender rhizome. Culms trigonous, usually scabrous above, 8–35 cm high, 0.8–1.1 mm diam.Leaves quite thick and stiff, often broadly keeled, shorter than or equalling culms, 2–3.5 mm wide.Inflorescence ± dense, 0.8–2.5 cm long including male portion 6–11 mm long. Female glumes deciduous, acute, faintly few-nerved, 4–5 mm long, straw-coloured to yellow-brown, often tinged red-brown on sides, membranous, with narrow hyaline margins. Stamens 3. Perigynia utricles obliquely spreading at maturity, trigonous, ovoid to ellipsoid, tapering to base and apex, 4.5–5 mm long, 1.8–2 mm diam., smooth and shining, shorter than or equalling glumes.Nut obovoid, c. 3 mm long, c. 2 mm diam., dark brown, glistening, minutely pusticulate