Which statement best describes a sedge?

Which statement best describes a sedge?

• A. A creeping plant with tubers.
• B. Triangular with solid stems.
• C. Deciduous woody vine; causes skin irritation.
• D. Do not develop woody stems, leaf veins netted, flower parts in fours or fives.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is recognizing sedges by their stem shape. Sedges have edges, meaning their stems are triangular in cross-section and solid rather than hollow. This solid, triangular stem is the hallmark that sets sedges apart from many other plants, so a description stating triangular stems with a solid core fits best. Other descriptions don’t fit sedges: creeping plants with tubers describe a totally different growth habit; a woody deciduous vine describes a vine, not a grass-like sedge; and dip into dicot traits—netted leaf veins and flower parts in fours or fives—reflects broadleaf plants, whereas sedges are monocots with typically parallel leaf veins and floral parts arranged differently.

The main idea is recognizing sedges by their stem shape. Sedges have edges, meaning their stems are triangular in cross-section and solid rather than hollow. This solid, triangular stem is the hallmark that sets sedges apart from many other plants, so a description stating triangular stems with a solid core fits best.

Other descriptions don’t fit sedges: creeping plants with tubers describe a totally different growth habit; a woody deciduous vine describes a vine, not a grass-like sedge; and dip into dicot traits—netted leaf veins and flower parts in fours or fives—reflects broadleaf plants, whereas sedges are monocots with typically parallel leaf veins and floral parts arranged differently.