Genus Carex, the true sedges, form a fascinating and diverse group of plants. An evolutionary success story, Carex is the most species-rich genus in Wisconsin with over 150 species. This introductory talk will focus on field identification characteristics of widely ranging Carex species of wet open ground (wet prairie, sedge meadows, fen, marsh). The content will focus on subgenus Carex and will be useful for anyone looking to build upon their knowledge of common species.