FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Carex capillaris, Hair Sedge, Hárleggjastör

Carex capillaris; - The Hair Sedge is a smalle sedge maximally up to 20cm tall.
  - They grow in small tufts with both grond-based leaves and leaves and leaf-like bracts along the culm. The leaves are 2mm wide narrowing to an acute point at the apex.
  - The top spike is all male, below are two or three female spikes. All sit on slender long pedicels beset with small bristles. Especially the lower spikes drooping downwards. The female flowers have three stigma's and the utricles have long beaks. Their color varies from brown (especially while in fruiting stage) to light green (especially while in flowering stage).
  - It grows on rather moist soils in heathers and grasslands. It is a common species.
  - It is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Hárleggjastör.

It is similar to a few other species occuring on Iceland. For differences see the page on Carex limosa.