Sedge- a mini, spendored thing.

Sedges are a stunning form of botany, best identified when in flower or fruit. Some would say these plants in the genus Carex are small and insignificant, however the "fans" of Ohio Sedges know they are a mini, splendored thing.

Carex communis, Beech Sedge (Rick Gardner's tips for recognizing this sedge: Look for persistent, broad, dried leaves at the base. This sedge grows in a clump, unlike its relative Pennsylvania Sedge, which grows in a spreading colony.)

Our group gathered round to study and admire Adams County's Carex eburnea, Bristle-leaved sedge. Sedge-heads in clockwise order- Ned Keller, your Weedpickin' blogger, Tricia West, Andrew Gibson, and our fearless leader: Dan Boone. Photo taken by Julian Campbell.
...

Our visiting botanist, Julian Campbell, keeping us on the straight and narrow of binomial nomenclature.

Carex tonsa, Low sand sedge. This was a new one for my "Life Sedge List". And look- it is in flower.. why those blossoms are at least the diameter of a #2 pencil's lead. Stunning!

...

Ok, so you might have to have your interest piqued before you can appreciate the subtleties of these little guys, but there are so many shape, form and sizes.. it really is a worthy challenge to even learn the most obvious of these mini, splendored things!