 Photo ©
Carl Farmer |
Common in saltmarshes Inflorescence c 1.5-3 cm long Skye ID: The spike consists of c 7-15 spikelets each containing c 5-8 fruits. Each spikelet is enclosed by a dark brown bract, looking rather like the glume of most sedges, but containing all the flowers/fruits with their own glumes, which are similar in colour to the bract but smaller. Other features: Also has a green lower bract which may be longer than the whole spike (pic on left), equal to it (below right) or very often no longer than any of the other bracts (below left). Most populations have a mix of all types, the variation in this feature being quite striking. Forms dark green patches in saltmarshes when seen from a distance. |
