Carex pensylvanica Lam. - Common Oak Sedge


 

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Carex pensylvanica - (image 1 of 6)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Cyperaceae

 

Section Acrocystis     

Habitat

Dry woods, prairies, oak savannas. Fire adapted

Associates

 

Distribution

NY and southern ME south to VA and in mountain to TN and NC, west to southern Saskatchewan, British Columbia, WA, CA, OR, and NM.

Morphology

In small to large tufts, forming sizable colonies from long rhizomes, to 50 cm; leaves 1-3 mm wide, the margins scabrous; terminal spike staminate, 1-2.5 cm long; pistillate spikes 1-3, sessile or on short peduncles, to 1.5 cm; lowest bract 1-3 cm, exceeded by the terminal spike; pistillate scales purplish, brownish or straw-colored, obtuse to acuminate; perigynia to 4.5 mm, short-hairy, 2-keeled and nerved, subglobose, the beak short and straight, 0.2-1.0 mm, ending in two teeth; achene rounded-trigonous.

Notes

Fruiting early May to June

Wetland indicator: NA

One of the earliest woodland sedges to bloom in the spring. The bright yellow stamens are said to be quite showy, although I always seem to catch them after they have withered. The dry leaves of the previous year persist and serve to fuel surface fires. 

References

Curtis, L. 2006. Woodland Carex of the upper Midwest. Lake Villa, IL.

 

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 


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© Michael Hough 2010