About Carex pulicaris L.
Carex pulicaris L. is a small sedge with stiff stems that grow 10–30 centimetres (4–12 inches) tall. Its leaves measure 5–25 centimetres (2–10 inches) long and are less than 1 millimetre (0.04 inches) wide. The inflorescence is made up of a single spike: 3–10 female flowers grow toward the base, and male flowers grow toward the tip. As the utricles mature, they bend away from the spike axis and become sensitive to touch. This behavior causes seeds to appear to jump from the stem, which is how the plant got its common name. Before the utricles bend away from the spike axis, Carex pulicaris looks very similar to Carex rupestris, and the two species often grow together. It can also be mistaken for Carex pauciflora, which typically produces only 2–3 fruits per stem. In terms of distribution and ecology, Carex pulicaris occurs across most of Europe, ranging from Spain to Estonia, and north to Iceland and Fennoscandia. It is not found in the Mediterranean region. It grows in a range of wet habitats, including bogs, fens, and wet flushes.
