Carex stricta - (image 1 of 6)
Taxonomy
Family: Cyperaceae
Habitat
Sedge meadows and fens. Also swales and marshes, especially on ground that is seasonally flooded.
Associates
Distribution
Quebec and Nova Scotia west to MN and Manitoba, south to VA and TX.
Morphology
Clump forming, rhizomatous perennial to 1.4 m. The lowermost sheaths bladeless, tinged deep red or purple; ligule longer than the width of the blade, forming a sharp "V"; lowest bract not exceeding the inflorescence; foliage leaves 3-6 mm long, inversely "W" shaped in cross section. Spikelets pedunculate; staminate spikelets terminal; staminate scales tinged purple; stigmas 2; perigynia broadest at or below the middle, more than 2.3 mm long, tapering to the tip and noticeably nerved. Achenes lenticular.
Notes
Flowers late April to June.
Wetland indicator: Obligate
A common tussock-forming sedge in wetlands. It has been my experience that botanists who are not well-acquainted with sedges (including myself) will assume this species when they come across a tussock forming sedge in the field. There are, however, several species with this growth habit.
References
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 2004 |