Hall's Sedge

Plants colonial; rhizomes long-creeping. Culms central, trigonous, 10–40(–50) cm, smooth, base with remains of previous year’s leaves. Leaves: basal sheaths straw colored to dark brown, the youngest tinged reddish purple, apex of inner band glabrous; ligules 0.8-1.6 mm; blades M-shaped distally, channeled proximally; 2–5.5 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescences 8–25 cm; peduncle of terminal spike 0.7–3 cm; proximal 2–4 spikes pistillate or, sometimes, androgynous, erect; terminal 1–3 spikes staminate. Pistillate scales ovate, apex otuse to acute, glabrous or scabrous-margined apically. Perigynia ascending, 12–20-veined, ovoid, 3.5–5.5 × 1.6–2.2 mm, pubescent; beak hyaline, 1.2–1.7 mm, ciliate, bidentulate, teeth straight, 0.2–0.6 mm.

Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Fruiting Jun–Sep.

Dry, sandy, gravelly or rocky meadows, shores, other open habitats; 1400–2000m.

Carex oregonensis Olney ex L. H. Bailey