FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Carex saxatilis, Russet Sedge = Rock Sedge, Hrafnastör

Carex saxatilis; The Russet Sedge = Rock Sedge is a medium-sized sedge growing up to 35cm tall. The leaves appear from short rhizomes.
  - The plant has loosely cespitose basal leaves. The leaves are channelled with rough edges which are often involute. The lowest bract (the leaf under the lowest spike) is usually half the size to almost as long as the whole inflorescens. However, culms with just one female spike may have just a short bract just a little longer than the spike itself.
  - The inflorescence consists of one male spike on top and several female spikes. Occasionally, culms of plants with reduced fertility may have just one female spike. Both scales and utricles are very dark brown to black. The female flowers have two stigma's. Unlike many other sedges with two stigma's the utricles are not lens-shaped but somewhat globose-shaped. They have short but pronounced beaks.
  - It is a rather common species on Iceland. It grows on wet to humid soils and wet rocky grounds, often found at higher altitudes.
  - The Russet Sedge = Rock Sedge (C. saxatilis) is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Hrafnastör.

Carex saxatilis is one of three species on Iceland which have very dark spikes. One is   Carex atrata. This species however does not have seperate male and female spikes. The other is   Carex lyngbyei. This species has female spikes on drooping pedicels and narrow pointed scales with a lighter (reddish-green) midrib.