Carex acutiformis

Carex acutiformis, the lesser pond-sedge,^[1] is a species of plant in the Carex, or sedge family.

Carex acutiformis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Species:	C. acutiformis
Binomial name
Carex acutiformis Ehrh.

Description

Carex acutiformis is a tuft-forming, rhizomatous plant growing up to 150 centimetres (59 in) tall. Stems are slender and three angled. Leaves are narrow, with a tendency to droop at the tips, and measuring up to 160 cm (63 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. Inflorescence consists of 2 to 3 male and 3 to 4 female spikelets. Male spikelets measure 1 to 4 cm, and are generally purple-brown in colour. Female spikelets measure between 2 and 5 cm, and are cylindrical in shape, erect and short-stalked.^[2][3]

Ecology

It is native to parts of northern and western Europe, where it grows in moist spots in a number of habitat types. In its native European range this species is often associated with the Juncus subnodulosus–Cirsium palustre fen-meadow habitat.^[4] It is also a dominant plant in the Carex acutiformis swamp plant association.^[5]