Carex bulbostylis facts for kids

Carex bulbostylis, also called the false hair sedge, is a type of plant known as a sedge. Sedges are grass-like plants that often grow in wet areas. This particular sedge is found naturally in the southcentral and southeastern parts of the United States.

The plant was first officially described and given its scientific name by a scientist named Kenneth Kent Mackenzie in 1915. Besides "false hair sedge," it has other common names like "eastern narrowleaf sedge," "thick style sedge," and "globose sedge."

In the past, some scientists thought Carex bulbostylis was just a different type, or variety, of two other sedges: Carex amphibola and Carex grisea. However, it is now recognized as its own unique species.

Where Does the False Hair Sedge Grow?

The false hair sedge is found only in the southern United States. It grows from eastern Texas and Oklahoma all the way to Mississippi. There is also a separate group of these plants in southwestern Tennessee.

What Kind of Places Does It Like?

This sedge can live in many different kinds of environments. You might find it in open grasslands called prairies or in forests where trees lose their leaves in the fall. It also grows in floodplains, which are flat lands next to rivers that can flood, and on the slopes next to them.

You can even spot Carex bulbostylis in places that have been changed by people, like along roadsides or in fields where animals graze. It especially likes areas where the soil has a lot of calcium, which makes it "calcareous."