Carex vaginata
Carex vaginata is a species of sedge known by the common name sheathed sedge. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout the northern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs in Alaska, throughout most all of Canada to Greenland and in Eurasia. In North America it occurs as far south as Minnesota and New York.[1]
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| Species: | C. vaginata |
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| Carex vaginata Tausch | |
This sedge produces stems up to 60 centimeters tall, growing from a long rhizome. The stem just below the inflorescence is sheathed in the base of the bract, the characteristic that gives the plant its name. The inflorescence contains a terminal spike and usually at least one lateral spike. The plant reproduces by seed and by sprouting from the rhizome and the stolons, and from buds at the bases of the stems.[1][2]
This sedge grows in many types of moist and wet habitat. It is present on tundra and in boreal forests. It grows in sandy, calcareous, and acidic, peaty soils.[1] It may be found growing in snow, which might help to protect it from dry and cold conditions.[3]
References
- Walsh, Roberta A. 1994. Carex vaginata. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
- Carex vaginata. Flora of North America.
- Aiken, S.G., et al. 1999 onwards. Carex vaginata. Archived 13 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine ‘Cyperaceae of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval.’ Version: 6 November 2000.
External links
Further reading
- Schmidt, L. J. Conservation Assessment for Carex vaginata, Sheathed Sedge. USDA Forest Service. September 2003.