Course: Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes: Identifying Common Species

This beginner course will help you begin your journey into identifying UK grass, sedge, and rush species. We will delve into the unique botanical characteristics of the three families and use floristic and vegetative features to identify some key common UK species.

This course will include:

• Understanding the botanical features and structures of grasses, sedges, and rushes and learning the terminology used to describe them.
• Learning how to use distinctive characteristics to differentiate between grasses, sedges, and rushes.
• Practical experience identifying some of the most common grass, sedge, and rush species with an expert tutor.

Grasses, sedges, and rushes can tell us a lot about the habitats in which they are found. This makes the ability to correctly identify them essential for ecologists completing habitat surveys, such as UKHab and NVC. Getting to know grasses, sedges, and rushes also opens up a new and exciting world for enthusiasts who want to expand their botanical knowledge.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Recognise and identify key features of grasses, sedges, and rushes that can help with identification.
• Identify 5-10 common species of grasses and 5 common species of both rush and sedge.
• Understand what common grass, sedge, and rush species can tell us about the habitat in which they are found.

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use the discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.

Please refer to the Field Studies Council website for further information and to book.