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The Lentoid sedge (Carex phacota) belongs to Cyperaceae (the Sedge family). It is a perennial herb that is distributed throughout Japan, as well as in Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, China, the Indochinese Peninsula, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka. It grows along pond edges, in wetlands, and on damp roadsides, reaching a height of 20 to 60 cm. The rhizomes are short and grow in clumps. The leaves are pale green and linear, 2-6 mm wide. From around March to May, it extends a flower stalk bearing 3 to 5 spikelets. The terminal spikelet is male, linear, and 2-5 cm long. The lateral spikelets are female, cylindrical, and 2-6 cm long; the lower ones have stalks and hang down. The fruit is obovate, about 2 mm long, with a lenticular cross-section. It is called "鏡子薹" in Taiwanese Chinese and "鏡子薹草" (jing zi tai cao) in Chinese.
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