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Common Name: Sand Sedge

General Information

Carex arenaria is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.50 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Coastal areas of Europe, including Britain, the Black Sea, Siberia and N. America.

Habitat

Sandy sea shores, especially on fixed dunes and wind-blown sand[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Best grown in a sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Tolerates maritime exposure[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[].
Seed[]. No further details are given, but the seed is small and fiddly to use[].

Medicinal

The root is diaphoretic and diuretic[, , , , ]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of bronchitis and catarrhs, abdominal and stomach disorders, liver complaints, arthritis and rheumatism and skin conditions such as eczema and pruritus[]. It has been used as a substitute for the tropical plant sarsaparilla[]. The root is harvested in the spring and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

The long creeping rootstock is valuable for binding sandy soils[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring in a moist soil in light shade. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame and be planted out in the summer. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[].
Division in spring[]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.