Through The Woods
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography
    • 2021 Art Exhibition
  • Blog
  • Adventure
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Contact

Through The Woods
Explore the world around you.

What is it? Sedge, Rush, or Grass

7/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
It's summer, you're outside near a pond or wetland of sorts, and you notice an interesting looking plant, it may have a spike-y pod, it may have an array of cottony-looking flowers, it may have an interesting collection of seeds... what is it?
More often than not, if it's green, grass-like, and it's growing, it can be broken down into one of three main categories: Rushes, Sedges, and Grasses.

Sedges

Picture


​Sedges have edges, along their stems, if you hold the stem between your index finger and thumb you'll feel the triangular shape with which the sedge grows. These are often accompanied by seedpods which are rough and pointy.

Rushes

Rushes are round, or rather their long stems are perfectly round and have no leaves coming from said stem. Some instead have a basal rosette of leaves which the stem grows from.
Picture
Picture

Grasses

Picture
Grasses have skirts that go halfway around, the skirt in this case being the leaf which grows from the stem of the plant. There are many, many, many, types of grasses but we'll keep focusing on the wetlands. Much like the rush, the grass consists of a round stem but can be differentiated by the leaves and notches or joints that form along the stem. I often get the question, what about reeds? Reeds and cat-tails fall into the grasses category.

Let's put it all together, when you're out exploring and you come across a neat green plant but you aren't sure what it is, there's a nifty saying to help you remember...

Sedges have edges, Rushes are round, Grasses have skirts that go half-ways around!

Now go out and explore!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

      Email list
      ​Sign up

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    About

    Since 2015 we have been exploring and sharing all the amazing things we’ve found in nature.
    From great and unique places to explore, to learning about new and interesting plant species, to understanding the earth’s cycles.
    Follow us and discover new and interesting things about the world around you. 

    Author

    Emily is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who is most often found out in the woods. 

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography
    • 2021 Art Exhibition
  • Blog
  • Adventure
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Contact