Carex vaginata; The Sheathed Sedge is a medium-sized sedge that grows up to 45 cm maximum (20 cm minimum). Leaves and culms sprout from long rhizomes.
- The leaves are rather broad (½cm) and flat. Quite characteristic is the long sheath of the bracts under the female spikes. They can be up to 2cm long. The leaf blade of the bracts are rather small to absent. The stem is smooth.
- The inflorescence consists of one male spike on top of the culm and a few female spikes below. These are on slender but normally upright stalks (but see note below). The female flowers have 3 stigmas. The scales are purple tinged with a green midrib, pointed. The globose utricles are bright green, clearly visible behind the smaller scales. They have short but pronounced beaks.
- It is common from western Iceland, northern Iceland and eastern Iceland - but rare in southern Iceland and the interior deserts. It grows in a range of habitats on rather moist to dry soils.
- The Sheathed Sedge (C. vaginata) is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Sliðrastör.
Note: I have noticed that the lowest spike as well as the top male spike sometimes droop (disease?). Also, the male spike is often missing due to grazing. That can lead to growth aberrations.