Common Name: Sand Sedge

General Information

Carex arenaria is a clump-forming, perennial plant with a vigorous spreading rootstock. It forms clusters of grass-like leaves around 10 - 50cm tall, the plant spreading to form colonies.
The plant 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 western Europe from Portugal and Spain to Norway and Finland, and also the Adriatic coast.

Habitat

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

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses 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[].

We have no more specific information for this species, but the young shoots and tender leaf bases of almost all species in this genus have a sweet flavour[]. They furnish a tasty nibble and make an excellent emergency food in the wild since they are widely available[].

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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The long creeping rootstock is valuable for binding sandy soils and stabilizing sand dunes[, , , ].

Other Uses

The leaves of most species in this genus can be used to make a soft, insulated bedding for sleeping on when camping etc[].

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[]. Species in this genus, when started from seed tend to stay diminutive for over a year, with plant leaves remaining stunted and fragile for a considerable period of time[].
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.