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Old 21-05-2007, 09:39 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
K K is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,966
Default Plant ID if someone would be so kind!

Stewart Robert Hinsley writes
In message , Sumgod
writes
Hello One & All!

Greeting from Nether Lurking, Mid-Wales.

Briefly, an unknown plant popped up in the side of a pot a while ago (season
before last) and out of curiosity I potted it on. I now have a catkined
curiosity. Anyone any ideas what it might be?

Pics he http://preview.tinyurl.com/367d8t

Apologies if I've screwed up with the pics, made 'em too big or whatever,
but I'm only ham-fisted bloke!

Many thanks - Chris




Try Carex pendula.

Description from Stace is "Densely tufted; stems to 1.8m, trigonous
(i.e. three-angled), smooth; lowest bract usually shorter than
inflorescence ("catkin"), with long sheath; ...", and from the key
"Female spikes 3mm wide, with peduncle (i.e. stalk of "catkin") more
or less entirely sheathed".

Sedges (e.g. Carex) are "easily told from" grasses "by the absence of a
bract (palea) *above* each flower and usually solid, often trigonous or
triquetrous stems".


Grows into quite a big clump, about 4ft high, and looks quite striking.
Seeds itself around with enthusiasm - worth uprooting the seedlings if
you don't want to be over-run.

Will grow in almost total shade - I have one under a medlar tree, which
has remained at about 18 inches tall.
--
Kay