This species has shortly creeping rhizomes bearing shoots in small tufts. It reaches between 30 and 120 cm in height. Stems are rough towards the top but not lower down. The leaves may reach a metre in length or more, they are narrow, rigid, pleated with fine toothed edges and fine points. The fruits are inflated, shiny and erect.

other sedges

Records from this species should be confirmed by a County Recorder for botany.  It is on the VC55 Rare Plant Register, and therefore a specimen should not be taken.  Take detailed field photos and submit to NatureSpot as soon as possible; and if you think you have found it in a new location, inform the County Recorder as soon you can. (RPR)

Only in wetland habitats, pond margins etc.

Flowering May or June.

Carex vesicaria is found dotted throughout Britain without being abundant anywhere.

Scarce in Leicestershire and Rutland.

In the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi & Evans, 1988) it was only found in 5 of the 617 tetrads.

In the VC55 Checklist (Jeeves 2011) it is listed as Rare, with records from 25 tetrads.

It is on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward, 2022) as locally scarce, but increasing; possibly better recorded than in the past.