About Carex sprengelii Dewey ex Spreng.
This species is commonly called long-beaked sedge, with the scientific name Carex sprengelii Dewey ex Spreng. Its flowering stems (culms) grow 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 ft) long. The leaves are 2.5 to 4 mm (0.10 to 0.16 in) wide, and are shorter than the flowering stems. Each flowering stem holds 1 to 4 spikes of flowers. While flowering, these spikes are crowded at the tip of the stem. The terminal spike is either entirely male, or male with a few female flowers at its base. Each female spike contains 10 to 40 female flowers, positioned about 1 mm (0.04 in) apart from each other. Every spike grows on its own stalk (pedicel), and each successive spike is shorter than the previous one. As female flowers develop into seeds (achenes), the stalk droops or nods downward. The bract enclosing the seed has a long tapered tip called a beak, which gives the plant its common name.
