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by Erin Albrecht on November 13th, 2005

Erin Albrecht

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What is the difference between sedges, rushes, and grasses?

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  • by Erin Albrecht on November 13th, 2005

    Erin Albrecht

    When I was an undergraduate, one of my professors shared a little ditty with the class: "Sedges have edges/Rushes are round/Grasses have nodes from the top to the ground" (or "Grass is what we smoke when the prof's not around").

    Sedges (Cyperaceae) are monocots with a solid stem that appears triangular in cross-section (hence the "Sedges have edges" part). They have tiny flowers in spikelets and 3 ranks of alternately arranged narrow leaves.

    Rushes (Juncaceae) are also monocots and have solid round stems ("Rushes are round"). The leaves are tufted and the flowers are small and green, with 3 sepals and 3 petals.

    Grasses (Poaceae) are monocots with stems that are hollow between nodes ("Grasses have nodes from the top to the ground"). The leaves are long and narrow and clasp the stem where they are attached.

    See these websites for more details:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperaceae
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncaceae
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaceae

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  • by Anonymous on March 15th, 2008

    Anonymous

    sedges have angled stem

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