Carex comosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carex comosa
Scientific classification
Genus:	Carex
Species:	comosa

Carex comosa is a type of sedge plant. People often call it longhair sedge or bristly sedge. This plant grows naturally across North America. You can find it in both western and eastern parts of Canada and the United States, and also in some areas of Mexico.

It loves to grow in very wet places. This includes damp meadows and many kinds of wetlands. Carex comosa can even grow in deeper water than most other sedges. This makes it useful for places like retention basins, which are areas designed to hold extra water.

What Does Longhair Sedge Look Like?

This sedge grows in clumps. It has stems that are shaped like triangles. These stems can grow quite tall, reaching up to 100 to 120 centimeters (about 3 to 4 feet) high. They grow from short underground stems called rhizomes. Rhizomes help the plant spread and store food.

Flowers and Seeds

The plant's flower part, called an inflorescence, can be up to 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. It has a long leaf-like part called a bract that is even longer than the flower spikes themselves. The inflorescence is made up of several cylinder-shaped spikes.

The small coverings over the fruits are called scales. These scales have long, thin, bristle-like tips. These tips are known as awns.