[Sedges: The Genus Carex East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Water Sedge

Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis

Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis

- Inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Close-up of the inflorescence of water sedge as seen in a ditch alongside Forest Service Road 16 in Summit Prairie, Malheur National Forest........August 2, 2011.

Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Lateral female spike of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Lateral spike of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Chestnut-colored plant base of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Perigynia, stigmas and scales of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Additional close-up photos of water sedge as seen in a ditch alongside Forest Service Road 16 in Summit Prairie, Malheur National Forest.........August 2, 2011. Note that the scales subtending each perigynia are reddish-margined with a broad, light-green central band. The scales are longer but much thinner than the perigynia. Note also the chestnut-brown base of the culm and rhizomatous nature of this plant.

Perigynia of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Water sedge as seen along the shore with silvery sedge (Carex canescens) at Hoffer Lake, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.........July 25, 2013.

Close-up of the inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Lateral female spike of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Perigynia of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Water sedge as seen along the shore at Crawfish Lake, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.......July 26, 2013.

Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

The inflorescence of water sedge as photographed at Bathtub Meadows on the northern slopes of Mt. Adams........September 28, 2008. Note that the individual spikes are ascending or erec and are not pendant (the result of a long stalk below each lateral spike) as in the similar Sitka sedge. Bathtub Meadows can be found at the southwest corner of Roads #23 and #2390.

Perigynia of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

The photo above shows a close-up of the perigynia, scales and lateral spikes of water sedge as photographed at Bathtub Meadows on the northern slopes of Mt. Adams..........September 28, 2008. Note that the scales subtending each perigynia are reddish-margined with a broad, light-green central band. The scales are longer but much thinner than the perigynia.

Inflorescence of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis) - Perigynia of Water Sedge: Carex aquatilis var. aquatilis (Synonyms: Carex acutinella, Carex aquatilis ssp. altior, Carex aquatilis var. altior, Carex aquatilis var. substricta, Carex interimus, Carex pachystoma, Carex substricta, Carex suksdorfii, Carex variabilis)

Water sedge observed in wet meadows around Hanks Spring on the northwestern shoulder of Twelvemile Peak and along the Fremont National Recreation Trail, Fremont-Winema National Forest.......August 2, 2020.

Paul Slichter