Slender tufted-sedge (Carex acuta, Sp. Pl.: 978 (1753))

Family: Cyperaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 978 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Carex

Vegetable: False

Observations: Azores, Europe to Mongolia and W. Iran

Description

Slender tufted-sedge, scientifically known as Carex acuta and described in the “Species Plantarum” on page 978 by Linnaeus in 1753, is a notable member of the Cyperaceae family. This versatile plant is observed across a wide geographical range encompassing the Azores, mainland Europe, extending towards Mongolia, and reaching as far as Western Iran.

Carex acuta thrives in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, riverbanks, and wet meadows. As an adaptable species, it can often be found forming dense, tufted clusters that contribute significantly to the stabilization of soil in these moist environments. This characteristic clumping growth habit assists in preventing erosion and maintaining the ecological integrity of its native wetlands.

The plant features slender, grass-like leaves that can grow quite long, blending seamlessly with other vegetation in its habitat. Its flowers are typically borne on elongated spikes, which facilitate wind pollination. The reproductive strategy of Carex acuta relies heavily on its ability to propagate via both seeds and vegetative means, allowing it to spread efficiently within suitable habitats.

Ecologically, Carex acuta plays an important role by providing essential habitat and food sources for various insects, birds, and other wildlife. Its physical structure offers shelter and nesting material for birds, while its presence in wetlands supports diverse aquatic life forms.

In addition to its ecological functions, Carex acuta is sometimes utilized in habitat restoration projects due to its hardiness and ability to establish quickly. Its resilience to varying water levels makes it a valuable species for improving the hydrological stability of wetland areas.

Overall, the slender tufted-sedge stands out for its ecological contributions and adaptability across a broad geographical range. Its presence enhances biodiversity and supports the functioning of wetland ecosystems from the Azores and Europe to Mongolia and Western Iran.

Common Names

Dan: nikkende star
Deu: schlank-segge, schlanke segge
Nob: kvass-starr
Nno: kvass-storr
Fra: laîche aiguë
Nld: scherpe zegge
Swe: vasstarr, viiltosara, skarpstarr
Fin: viiltosara
Eng: slender tufted-sedge, acute sedge
Sme: ruovdelukti, ruovdeguodja
Ita: carice palustre
Cym: hesg tywysennau main, hesgen eiddil dywysennog, hesgen tywysennau main
En: Slender Tufted-sedge, Acute Sedge, Slender Tussock-sedge
Ar: سعادي مدبب
Be: Асака вострая
Bg: Остра острица
Ca: Càrex agut
Cs: Ostřice štíhlá
Da: Nikkende star
Nl: Scherpe zegge
Et: Sale tarn
Fi: Viiltosara
Fr: Laîche Aiguë, Laiche aiguë, Laiche grêle, Laîche grêle, Laiche pointue, Laîche pointue
De: Schlank-Segge, Schlanke Segge, Zierliche Segge
Hu: Éles sás
It: Carice Palustre
Lv: Slaidais grīslis
Lt: Lieknoji viksva
Se: Ruovdelukti, Ruovdeguodja
Nb: Kvass-starr
Nn: Kvass-storr
Fa: کارکس آکوتا
Pl: Turzyca zaostrzona
Ru: Осока острая
Sv: Vasstarr, Viiltosara, Skarpstarr
Uk: Осока гостра
Cy: Hesgen tywysennau main, Hesg Tywysennau Main, Hesgen Eiddil Dywysennog
: Slender tufted-sedge

Synonyms

• Carex acuta var. chlorostachya (Rchb.)
• Carex acuta subsp. ruffa ((L.) Ehrh.)
• Carex personata ((Fr.) C.B.Clarke)
• Carex rufa subsp. rudis ((Wimm.) K.Richt.)
• Carex acuta f. zygostachya (Rchb.)
• Carex acuta f. touranginiana ((Boreau) Sanio)
• Vignea acuta ((L.) Rchb.)
• Carex rufa var. seminuda (Beck)
• Carex acuta f. fluviatilis ((Hartm.) Almq.)
• Carex tricostata (Fr.)
• Vignantha moenchiana (Schur)
• Carex gracilis subsp. tricostata ((Fr.) Suess.)
• Carex acuta var. nardifolia (Hartm.)
• Carex prolixa var. protensa (Fr.)
• Carex gracilis var. humilis (Kük.)
• Carex echinata subsp. intermedia (Čelak.)
• Carex acuta var. stenophylla (Rouy)
• Carex corynophora (Peterm.)
• Carex moenchiana (Wender.)
• Carex gracilis subsp. intermedia ((Čelak.) Soó)
• Carex gracilis f. brachystachya (Kük.)
• Carex gracilis f. vaginata ((Peterm.) Soó)
• Carex acuta var. amblylepis ((Peterm.) Nyman)
• Carex gracilis f. seminuda ((Beck) Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. major (Gray)
• Vignantha acuta ((L.) Schur)
• Carex dichroandra (V.I.Krecz.)
• Carex gracilis f. furcata (Junge)
• Carex acuta var. anomala (Hartm.)
• Carex vulgaris var. tricostata ((Fr.) Boott)
• Carex acuta f. vaginata (Peterm.)
• Carex gracilis subsp. corynophora ((Peterm.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Carex gracilis f. graciliflora ((Legrand) Soó)
• Carex rufa subsp. moenchiana ((Nyman) K.Richt.)
• Carex brunnea var. minor ((Boott) Kük.)
• Carex strictifolia (Rchb.)
• Vignea strictifolia ((Rchb.) Opiz)
• Carex tricostata var. fluvicola (Fr.)
• Carex acuta var. ruffa (L.)
• Carex gracilis var. mucronata (Maire)
• Carex gracilis f. podperae (Soó)
• Carex gracilis f. protensa ((Fr.) Kük.)
• Carex gracilis var. chlorotica ((Čelak.) Kük.)
• Carex gracilis var. strictiformis (Podp.)
• Carex fuscovaginata (Kük.)
• Carex acuta subsp. intermedia (Čelak.)
• Carex gracilis var. fluviatilis ((Hartm.) Kük.)
• Carex graciliformis (V.I.Krecz.)
• Carex virens (Thuill.)
• Carex pratensis (Hosé)
• Carex recurva (Willd. ex Kunth)
• Carex gracilis f. corynophora ((Peterm.) Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. nutans (Čelak.)
• Carex gracilis var. approximata (Kük. ex Junge)
• Carex podperae (Otruba)
• Carex acuta subsp. personata ((Fr.) P.Fourn.)
• Carex gracilis var. angustifolia (Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. moenchiana (Nyman)
• Carex gracilis f. personata ((Fr.) Lindm.)
• Carex acuta var. tricostata ((Fr.) Crép.)
• Carex acuta f. gracilis ((Curtis) Sanio)
• Carex gracilis f. pedicellata ((Peterm.) Soó)
• Carex acuta var. chlorotica (Čelak.)
• Carex schummelii (Siegert)
• Carex gracilis var. strictifolia ((Rchb.) Asch.)
• Carex cespitosa var. gracilis ((Curtis) Fiori)
• Carex gracilis f. rudis ((Wimm.) Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. intermedia (Čelak.)
• Carex vulgaris subsp. tricostata ((Fr.) K.Richt.)
• Carex acuta var. monstrosa (Gray)
• Carex acuta f. pedicellata (Peterm.)
• Carex acuta var. graciliflora ((Legrand) Rouy)
• Carex rudis (Wimm.)
• Carex acuta f. tricostata ((Fr.) Almq.)
• Carex gracilis subsp. erecta (Kük.)
• Carex acuta f. amblylepis (Peterm.)
• Carex cunninghamii (Boott)
• Carex touranginiana (Boreau)
• Carex gracilis f. angustiglumis (Podp.)
• Carex acuta subsp. colorata (F.Nyl.)
• Carex acuta var. sparsiflora (Dewey)
• Carex gracilis f. zygostachya ((Rchb.) Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. colorata ((F.Nyl.) Nyl. & Saelán)
• Carex acuta f. personata ((Fr.) Almq.)
• Carex acuta var. sphaerocarpa (R.Uechtr.)
• Carex acuta var. integrirostris (Regel)
• Vignantha touranginiana ((Boreau) Fourr.)
• Carex gracilis var. tricostata ((Fr.) Asch.)
• Carex acuta var. polystachia (Lej.)
• Carex wimmeri (Steud.)
• Carex rufa subsp. wimmeri ((Steud.) K.Richt.)
• Carex virginica (Steud.)
• Vignea moenchiana (Rchb.)
• Carex lilibaea (Lojac.)
• Carex acuta var. fluviatilis (Hartm.)
• Carex acuta f. graciliflora (Legrand)
• Carex acuta subvar. graciliflora (Legrand)
• Carex gracilis subsp. eugracilis (Kük.)
• Carex gracilis f. amblylepis ((Peterm.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Carex tricostata var. schummelii ((Siegert) Nyman)
• Carex gracilis var. personata ((Fr.) Kük.)
• Carex gracilis var. sphaerocarpa ((R.Uechtr.) Kük.)
• Carex acuta subsp. nutans (Čelak.)
• Carex acuta var. dioica (Peterm.)
• Carex sareptana (V.I.Krecz.)
• Osculisa acuta ((L.) Raf.)
• Carex gracilis var. rudis ((Wimm.) Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. touranginiana ((Boreau) Rouy)
• Carex gracilis var. libanotica (Kük.)
• Carex acuta var. personata (Fr.)
• Carex gracilis var. minor (Boott)
• Carex ambigua (Moench)
• Carex miliacea (Krock.)
• Carex virginiana (Wood)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2000 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jul 16, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Mar 13, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Benjamin BOULAIRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2022 by Dr. Markus Woitke (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 26, 2020 by romain perez (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2022 by Jutta Kemmer (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken May 1, 2021 by phil m (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2020 by Graham Howie (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2019 by Jonas Nelsen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 13, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Benjamin BOULAIRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 16, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 15, 2012 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken May 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Apr 10, 2005 by Tela Botanica − Augustin ROCHE (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 16, 2018 by desplis (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2021 by Мозговой Роман (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 21, 2022 by Edwin Schramm (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jun 19, 1851 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2722833)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30197372-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Carex acuta L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Rhizomatous

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Slow

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Soil nutriments: 6