Pennsylvania SedgeCarex Pennsylvanica
From Minnesota
Flower: A scaly purplish-brown spike, ½ to about 1 inch long, at the top of a slender stem. This is actually 2 spikes, the upper with thread-like creamy yellow stamens that turn brown with age, the lower with dull white pistils, also thread-like and about as long as the stamens. Most plants have both spikes, the pistillate spikes blooming before the staminate spikes. A fertile plant typically has several flowering stems, though not all plants flower.
Leaves and Stem: There is a small tuft of basal leaves, erect to spreading, and a few alternate leaves on each stem (culm). Each leaf is up to 1/8 inch wide and may be longer than the flowering stem but usually shorter. The roots are reddish brown; the base of the leaves and stems are reddish as well. Remnants of leaves from the previous year can persist and are somewhat fibrous. Stems are slender, smooth and 3-sided.