Long-stalked yellow sedge

Carex flava Linnaeus var. elatior Schlechtendal, Fl. Berol. 1: 477. 1823

Culms 2–85 cm. Leaves of flowering stems much shorter than culms, to 19 cm × 1–5.4 mm; ligules of distal cauline leaves truncate or rounded. Inflorescences: peduncles of terminal staminate spikes to 25 mm; proximal pistillate spikes 1–4, 5.4–11 mm wide; terminal staminate spikes 5.1–25.3 × 1.3–3.6 mm. Perigynia (2.7–)3.2–4.5 × 1–2 mm; beak forming an angle of (5–)15–40(–58)° with body. Achenes 1.2–1.8 × 0.9–1.4 mm.

Fruiting Jul–Aug. Moist to wet fens and runnels, on lime-rich soils, maritime in North America; 0–500 m; N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Que.; Europe (from Norway and w Russia to France and Greece).