Carex ornithopoda Bird's-foot Sedge RRR DD N
This very little sedge could be confused with Carex digitata but that is also rare, more of a woodland species and in any case has not been recorded in this area. C. ornithopoda is occasionally to be found in the short grassland of the some Derbyshire limestone valleys. It is very easily obscured- even by the open, short grassland such that it is sometimes impossible to see it by looking from a standing position.
No prizes though, for guessing why it's called Birds-foot sedge.
Carex ornithopoda grows in very few places. Most records are from east Cumbria in England and there is a little in Derbyshire where this one was found. There are no records from Wales, Scotland or Ireland.
Cressbrookdale, Derbyshire 13th May 2004
Added on January 18th 2005, updated 24th November 2008, updated 11th March 2010 updated Se3 April 29th 2010