Three Square Sedge (Cyperaceae)

Three Square Sedge - Cyperaceae is a member of the bulrush family. Three Square Sedge stands approximately 1.5 to 4 feet tall. The stem, also known as the culm, holds between 1 and five erect leaves. The stalk is medium green to bluish-green and is smooth and thick. The culm has three angles and is concave in between each one of those. If you were to open the stem, the inside would appear as a white spongy substance. The leaf blades are found close to the base of the stem and usually differ in length.

Three Square Sedge could be 2-30 inches long.

They could be from 2-30 inches long and up to 9 mm. Across. These are shaped like a V toward their bases and flatten as you reach the tip. They are also a medium to bluish green and shorter than the blades. The inflorescence is the small hairy head of several spikelets that vary in color. They can be anywhere from bright orange, red, purple, or translucent. This plant sexually reproduces by seed and will colonize through vegetative reproduction. The Three Square Sedge is very popular among Native Americans, as it is used for food, making goods like baskets and hats.

Three Square Sedge blooms from spring to fall.

The Three Square Sedge blooms from spring to fall and is sporadically distributed from Nova Scotia to Washington state and south to South America; it can typically be found growing in fresh water to brackish marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The Three Square Sedge is hight palatable to the muskrat, Canada and snow goose, but is moderately used for cattle grazing. The submerged portions of these plants provide habitats for many micro and macroinvertebrates, which in turn, are food for fish, reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife species.

USDA Climate Zones: 2-9