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Editor’s note: this “theme” issue focuses on
sedges. We'd like to publish at least one issue a
year on specific topics like native gardening, the
We
spread of exotic species, Idaho botanists.
want to know your preferences—please contact
Sage Notes editor Sarah Walker at
[email protected] or by writing her at P.O.
Box 69, Peck, ID 83545.
In this issue
Rare Sedges ofIdaho, M. Mancuso
1
Cyper Fiber and OtherTwists: Sedge Textiles ofthe Palouse and Snake River—s,
J. Mastrogiuseppe
Why Bother? or. The Importance ofKnowing Which Sedge It Is, B. Weddell —
Notes on the Taxonomy and Nomenclatural Changes in Carex A.Yen and F.
,
Weinmann
—
The True Carexrostrata in the American Rockies, A,. Reznicek
Common Names, F. Johnson —
-
Dates are Set for the 1998 Rare Plant Conference 14
Chapter News 14
Arkansas Postcard: Grasses Among the Trees, W. Owen 15
News and Notes 16
Letters to the Editor 17
Thanks to Karen Gray forcarving and printing linoleum blocks forour cover and other artwork in this
issue.
November 1997 SAGE NOTES A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19(4)
Rare Sedges of Idaho
Michael Mancuso, Idaho Conservation
Data Center
With more than 1,000 species, Carex (sedge) is one
ofthe largest genera offlowering plants in the
world. Although it has a cosmopolitan distribution,
it is most abundant in moist regions ofthe North
Temperate Zone and the Arctic. Here in Idaho, there
are about 90 sedge species, making it one ofthe
most diverse groups in the state. Fifteen sedge
species are considered rare in Idaho and listed on
the Idaho Native Plant Society's (INPS) Rare Plant
List. Another nine species are on the INPS Rare
Plant Review List (Table 1), indicating they may be
ofconservation concern, but at the present time not
enough is known about their abundance,
distribution, and threats in Idaho. Additionally,
there is one species, Indian Valley sedge (Carex
aboriginum), believed to be extinct.
Table 1. Sedge species on the INPS Review List.
Scientific name Common name
C. abrupta abrupt sedge
C. aenea bronze sedge
C. crawei Crawe sedge
C. ebenea sedge
C. lacustris lake-bank sedge
C. luzulina
var. atropurpurea woodrush sedge
C. misandra short-leafsedge
Reprintedfrom FrederickJ. Hermann, Manual
C. occidentalis western sedge
of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and
C. xerantica dryland sedge Colorado Basin, 1970, USDA Handbook
Most ofIdaho's rare sedges are widespread and these is Idaho sedge (Carexidahoa). This species
common elsewhere, with Idaho populations being was rediscovered in Idaho during the summer of
disjunct or peripheral to the species' main range. 1997. Prior to this year, it was known in Idaho
The primary distribution ofIdaho's rare disjunct only from the type collection (the plant collection on
sedges is to the west, usually west ofthe Cascade which the species' formal taxonomic naming and
crest. Most ofIdaho's rare peripheral sedges have a description are based) made in 1896 by Per
boreal or circumpolar distribution, so they are Rydberg at BeaverCanyon (north ofSpencer) in
mainly found further north. The rare disjunct Clark County. It is now known from about four
sedges are located predominately in the central or sites in Clark County, along with about 20 places in
eastern parts ofIdaho, while the rare peripheral nearby areas ofMontana, where its distribution and
species occurin the Panhandle, with some species conservation status have been more thoroughly
also extending further south in the state. investigated. The taxonomy ofIdaho sedge
probably needs clarification as some regional floras
A
few ofIdaho's rare sedge species have a more consider it a variety ofParry sedge (as Carex
limited geographic distribution, however. One of parryana var. idahoa). Idaho sedge occurs in
mountain meadows, mostly in the transition zone
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19(4)
between wet and dry areas. to this main range. It is presently known from
fewerthan ten sites in the Panhandle, where it is
I have summarized below distribution and habitat restricted to peatland fen habitats. String-root sedge
information for 15 other sedge species on the INPS can be a very inconspicuous plant because ofits
rare plant list (excluding those on the Review List). low, creeping habit with branching stems often
The identification ofmany sedge species can be lying horizontaljust below the moss surface.
difficult, but several on the rare plant list are
relatively distinct. Mature plants are often required Carexcomosa (bristly sedge)—This is a more
for positive identification ofboth common and rare eastern species, extending from Quebec to
species. You can learn to distinguish many species Minnesota and then south in a variety ofwet
with a bit ofpractice and experience. Good luck! habitats. It is disjunct and uncommon in the Pacific
Northwest. The few Idaho populations are
Carexaboriginum (Indian Valley sedge)--This restricted to peatlands in the Panhandle.
species has not been relocated since Marcus Jones
collected it in Indian Valley, Adams County, in July Carexflava (yellow sedge)—This is a relatively
of 1899. Taxonomists have been unanimous over distinctive sedge found in swampy or boggy places
the years that this is a distinct species. Jones' and along streams and lakes throughout boreal
original description notes that it occurs on "dry portions ofthe Northern Hemisphere. In Idaho, it
gumbo soil which is wet in the spring." Most of occurs in the Panhandle. There is also a single
Indian Valley has been converted to agricultural historical collection from the west side ofthe
land, and little ifany local habitatforthis species Sawtooth Mountains.
remains unaltered. No Indian Valley sedge was
found during a survey in 1990, and at this time, the Carexhendersonii (Henderson's sedge)—Idaho
best available information indicates it is extinct. It is populations ofthis robust sedge are found in the
the only Idaho endemic plant species believed to be forested, lower rivercanyons ofthe Middle Fork
extinct. and North Fork Clearwater, Selway, Lochsa, and
St. Joe drainages. They are disjunct from the main
Carexbreweri var. paddoensis (Brewer's sedge)- range ofthe species tothe west ofthe Cascades.
Idaho populations in the White Cloud Range are
disjunct from the species' main range to the west. It Carex incurviformis var. incurviformis (maritime
occurs in wet ordry soil ortalus at high elevations sedge)—This small-statured species is endemic to
in the mountains, near orabove timberline. alpine areas in the northern Rocky Mountains. The
one known Idaho population at Kane Lake cirque in
Carexbuxbaumii (Buxbaum's sedge)—This species the PioneerMountains is disjunct by over 150 miles
is distributed throughout boreal regions ofthe from populations in Montana.
Northern Hemisphere, with Idaho located along the
A
periphery ofits range. It occurs in peatlands and Carexleptalea (bristle-stalked sedge)— widely
marshes and along streams in four separate areas of distributed species across North America, most
Idaho-Island Park and the Teton River in eastern Idaho populations are confined to peatland habitats
A
Idaho, the Sawtooth Valley, east ofMcCall in in the Panhandle. handful ofpopulations are also
Valley County, and the Panhandle. known from southern Clearwaterand adjacent
Idaho counties. Bristle-stalked sedge is easily
Carexcalifomica (California sedge)-This species' overlooked because ofits tendency to grow in the
main range is west ofthe Cascade crest from understory ofother sedge species.
Washington to California. Disjunct populations in
the Clearwater, Coeur d'Alene, and Nez Perce Carexlivida (pale sedge)—This is an interruptedly
National Forests in northern Idaho typically occur circumboreal species that occurs in wet habitats that
in dry subalpine openings along ridgelines, but also generally have a peat substrate. It is known from
along wet meadows above the Lochsa River several areas in Idaho: the Sawtooth Mountains of
(Bimerick Meadows). central Idaho, Texas Creek in the east-central part of
the state, the Yellowstone National Park vicinity,
Carexchordorrhiza (string-root sedge)-This is a and the Panhandle.
circumboreal species, principally of boreal and
subarctic regions. Idaho populations are peripheral Carexpaupercula (poor sedge)—This species occurs
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19(4)
throughout boreal regions ofthe Northern
Hemisphere, but is rare in the Pacific Northwest Carexstraminiformis (Mt. Shasta sedge)—
Peripheral in Idaho, it is known from peatlands in Populations in the central Idaho mountains are
the northwestern part ofthe Panhandle. disjunct from the species' main distribution
westward. This densely tufted plant occurs on
Carexrostrata (beaked sedge)--This is a name many rocky and gravelly slopes high in the mountains,
folks may be surprised to see on the rare plant list. often near or above timberline.
This is because for many years there was a case of
sedge mistaken identity. Relatively recentfield and Carex tumulicoh (foothills sedge)—This species
otherstudies have revealed that C. rostrata in North occurs west ofthe Cascade Mountains in open,
America is actually comprised oftwo distinct often grassy meadows. It is known from a couple
entities. (See "The True Carexrostrata in the ofdisjunct populations in southeastern Idaho and
American Rockies," p. 11.) The real C. rostrata one in Owyhee County.
may occurin the Panhandle in peatland habitats.
Cyper Fiber and Other Twists:
Sedge Textiles of the Palouse and
Snake Rivers
Joy Mastrogiuseppe, Curator, Washington State
University Museum ofAnthropology
Illustrations by Sarah Moore
Each year more ofthe Columbia Plateau is bulldozed,
plowed, irrigated, and fertilized into a scene bearing little
resemblance to the region as it was shaped by natural forces.
The native people ofthe area did not cultivate crops but were
gatherers and hunters who traveled from place to place
following the seasonal availability offoods and fibers.
During the past 1,500years or so the people along the lower
Palouse and lower Snake Rivers in southeast Washington
began spending theirwinters in "permanent" villages; this
was possible because they preserved and stored food during
seasons ofabundance. Dry caves and rockshelters provided a
good place forfood caches, and such caves are common
along these rivers due to the geologic events which formed
the channeled scablands.
Beginning about 17,000 years ago, landforms in eastern
Washington were profoundly changed during several
episodes in which raging torrents ofwater were released by
the breakup ofa glacial ice dam which had blocked the Clark
Fork River nearthe Washington/Idaho border. One ofthe
majordrainage channels forthese floods was along the lower
Palouse River into the Snake River. The force ofthe water
flowing from the Palouse into the Snake was so tremendous Reprinted from Frederick J. Hermann, Manual
that great waves moved up the Snake's channel for many of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and
miles before losing momentum. The scouring action ofthe Colorado Basin, 1970, USDA Handbook
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES APublication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19 (4)
Spokane Floods scooped out caves and rockshelters in
weak spots such as the interfaces between basalt layers.
These caves and rockshelters were used by people
during at least the past 2,500 years to store food
reserves.
To store dried fish, roots, fruits, and meat, cache pits
were dug into the rockfall which accumulated on the A
Figure 1.
floors ofthe rockshelters. These pits might be 3-9feet in shuttle used
diameter and were lined with grasses, sections ofworn for making
matting, and pieces of wood, cordage, and basketry.
nets, from a
Sometimes mats were also used to separate layers in the cave along the
storage pit. It appears that these people did not store lower Snake
food in baskets but rather wrapped it in pieces ofmatting River. The
before adding it to the cache. This may have been string wound
because mats are made more quickly and easily than on the shuttle
baskets and materials used in mat-making were locally is made from
abundant. Most ofthe textiles remaining in the dogbane,
rockshelters are fragments, but they give us a good idea Apocynum
ofthe manufacturing techniques and materials used.
cannabinum.
The basic techniques used to create textiles from raw
plant fibers have been similar throughout western North
America, but the designs and plant materials used vary.
To some extentchoice ofmaterials is controlled by
geography and local availability, but even in areas where
the same orclosely-related plants are available there are
sometimes considerable differences in which plants are
chosen to make textiles. On the basis ofdata so far
available, the preferred plant materials along the lower
Palouse and Snake Rivers appearto be different from
those favored in other regions.
This is not to say that the people ofthe Palouse/Snake
drainages used completely different plant materials from
those used in, for example, the Great Basin. Dogbane
{Apocynum cannabinum was used to make thread,
)
string, and nets (Fig. 1); tules {Scirpus acutus), cattails
(Typha latifolia), and reedgrass (Phragmitesaustralis)
were used for mats, and bark of sagebrush Artemisia
(
tridentata) was made into cordage, baskets, and probably
clothing. What is unusual about the material from the
Palouse/Snake rockshelters is the high percentage of
grasses and sedges used. For example, in one Palouse
River cave 83% ofthe pieces ofcordage found by
archaeologists were made from graminoids, 63% with
Carex as the sole or primary material In another cave
!
nearly 75% of the cordage recovered was made of
Care.x. We don't know ifthe proportions of plant
materials present in the caves accurately represent the Figure 2. Cordage made from
actual proportions ofmaterials used by these people, but Carex stems and leaves.
such preponderance ofgraminoids has not been reported
elsewhere.
4
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x
November 1997 < SAGE NOTES ** A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19 (4)
Palouse/Snake River Care. cordage ranges from
twine 2 mm in diameterto rope as much as 4cm in
diameter (Fig. 2), representing a wide variety of
potential uses. The sedge cordage was made by
twisting together whole vegetative stems of Carex
pellita (called C. lanuginosa in the regional floras)
and/or C. vesicaria complete with attached leaves.
,
Usually the twisted strands were used to make a
ravel-resistant two-ply cordage which had very
good tensile strength.
Sometimes mats were made entirely ofCarex—
bundles ofsedge stems/leaves were twined
together with Carex cordage. More commonly,
though, mats were fashioned from tules sewn
togetherwith Carex twine (Fig. 3). Tule mats were
general-purpose textiles—used forfood trays and
floor mats, stacked up for sleeping, hung for room
dividers, and even used to roofpit houses and mat
lodges. Tules make good roofing because the
stems arefilled with spongy aerenchyma and swell
when wet, forming a water-resistantfabric. The
mats were placed with the tule stems oriented to
channel water down to the ground. When dry, tule
(Scirpus acutus). The tule stems were
stems shrink slightly, allowing good ventilation of
the dwelling and cooling on warm days. sewn together with Carex cordage.
The manufacture ofarchaeological textiles
involved atremendous investmentoftime and effort, butthe results went beyond strict utilitarianism. The
weavers expressed theirindividual artistry in their use ofcoloring agents, patterns ofweaving, and
combinations ofdifferent materials. Then, as now, designs expressed not only cultural beliefs but also the
individual artist's creativity. For example, contemporary Wasco artist Pat Courtney Gold often uses a
traditional sturgeon design in her Sally bags, but she always includes a "Hanford sturgeon." Lookfor it if
you have a chance to see her work.
Why Bother? or, The Importance of Knowing Which Sedge
It Is
Bertie Weddell, White Pine Chapter
A few years ago, on a break during an excellent they all pretty much found in wet places?"
wetland plant identification course given by former
CDC Botanist Rob Bursik, I overheard the Well, no, it's a little more complicated than that.
following conversation in the bathroom between They aren't all found in wet places. And, yes, it is
two members ofafederal agency that will remain importantto know which species you are dealing
nameless. Rob hadjust given a lucid explanation of with because sedges are important indicators of
whata perigynium is, the difference between wetland status, and the delineation ofwetland
lenticular and trigonous achenes, how to distinguish boundaries has tremendous importance for the
the different kinds ofCarex styles, etc.: "Why do conservation and regulation ofthese ecosystems.
we need to know which sedge it is? Isn't it enough
just to know it's a sedge?" "Yeah, I mean aren't Until recently, wetlands in this country were
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19 (4)
viewed as places to be drained—to make room for wildlife, and plants, wetlands perform many other
agriculture and development and to get rid of useful functions such as storing floodwaters,
mosquitoes. In the mid-1800s the federal improving waterquality by trapping pollutants and
government passed a series ofSwamp Lands Acts other sediments, and facilitating groundwater
that gave 65,000,000 acres ofwetlands to 15 states recharge. All ofthis eventually led the federal
for reclamation. This and similarpolicies worked so governmentto do an aboutface regarding wetlands
well that today less than 50% ofour nation's policy. With the passage ofthe Clean WaterAct, it
original wetlands remain. By the 1930s it began to became illegal to place dredged orfill material in the
be obvious that while this widespread destruction of nation's waters, including wetlands, without
wetlands might have some short-term economic permission from the US Army Corps ofEngineers
advantages, there was a down side too. Wetland (USACE). With this legislation, wetlands became
loss combined with widespread drought caused the only type ofecosystem to be comprehensively
waterfowl populations to plummet, and the federal regulated, regardless ofland ownership, throughout
government began purchasing wetlands to protect the nation.
habitatfor migratory birds. People gradually
realized that in addition to providing habitatforfish, The Clean WaterActalso made itimperative tohave
a method formapping wetland boundaries, so that
when a developercauses the loss ofa given amount
ofwetland, he can be required to compensate, or
"mitigate," forthat loss by creating, enhancing, or
restoring an equivalent or larger area ofwetlands. It
is importantto have a delineation procedure that will
neitheromitareas thatare wetlands nor incorrectly
identify uplands as wetlands.
Several procedures have been proposed by various
federal agencies fordetermining the boundaries of
wetlands. The one that is currently required by the
USACE, as well as by many local governments,
was published by the USAGE in 1987. The
procedure requires the use ofthree types of
indicators: hydrology, soils, and vegetation. To
determine whether wetland vegetation is present,
the indicatorstatus ofeach dominant species is
recorded. The indicator statuses reflect the
probability that a species will occur in wetland. This
is determined by referring to the "National List of
VascularPlant Species that Occur in Wetlands"
(NLVPS), * which was compiled by panels of
experts for each region in the United States.
Obligate wetland species (OBL) virtually always
occur in wetlands; upland species (UPL) virtually
always occur in uplands. Common cattail Typha
(
latifolia and yellow monkey-flower (Mimulus
guttatus have indicatorstatuses ofOBL, meaning
)
they are pretty much restricted to growing in wet
places, whereas Japanese brome Bromus
(
japonicus and spotted coral-root Corallorhiza
) (
maculata) are found in uplands and have indicator
statuses of UPL. The picture is complicated,
Reprinted from FrederickJ. Hermann, Manual however, by facultative (FAC) species: those that
of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and can grow, reproduce, and compete under a variety
Colorado Basin, 1970, USDA Handbook ofconditions ofsoil moisture ranging from well
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19 (4)
drained to saturated. Utah honeysuckle (Lonicera lanuginosa), bristle-stalked sedge (C. leptalea),
utahensis) and black hawthorn (Crataegus inflated sedge (C. vesicaria), and C. utriculata are
douglasii) are examples ofFAC species in our obligate wetland species in our region, so places
region. Facultative species are further divided into where they grow are probably going to be
facultative wetland species (FACW), which usually wetlands. But elk sedge (Carexgeyeri), northwest
occur in wetlands but are not restricted to them, and sedge (C. concinnoides and Ross sedge Carex
), (
facultative upland species (FACU), which usually, rossii), occur in coniferous forests or prairies and
but not always, are found in uplands. Even further do not even appear on the NLVPS. Still other
refinements are added by pluses and minuses, with carices are intermediate in theirecological niches,
pluses indicating the wetter end ofa category and including big-leafsedge, C. amplifolia (FACW+),
minuses indicating the drier end. Communities in black alpine sedge, C. nigricans (FACW), smooth-
which more than 50% ofthe dominant species have stem sedge, C. laeviculmis (FACW), soft-leaved
indicator statuses ofOBL, FACW, or FAC sedge, C. disperma (FACW), inland sedge, C.
(excluding FAC-) are considered to have wetland interior (FACW-), Mertens’ sedge, C. mertensii
vegetation. (FAC), and Dewey's sedge, C. deweyana (FACU).
Sedges, because there are so many ofthem and they Ofcourse INPS members know that the real reason
vary so widely in theirecological amplitudes, are for learning your sedges is because it is fun. But if
enormously useful forthe purpose ofwetland that isn't reason enough, now you know a strong
delineation, provided that they are correctly practical (and political) reason why it matters which
identified and that they have been assigned sedge it is.
appropriate indicator statuses. Woolly sedge Carex
(
* The NLVPS can be obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory Center, Suite
101, Monroe Building, 9720 Executive Center Drive, St Petersburg, FL 33702-2440; phone (813) 570-5425; fax
(813) 570-5409; or via e-mail from [email protected]. Ask for the February 15, 1997 edition of the
"National List of Vascular Piant Species that Occur in Wetiands" compiled by Porter 8. (Buck) Reed, Jr. Not all
plants that occurin wetlands have been assigned indicatorstatuses; furthermore, some ofthe indicatorstatuses given
in the NLVPS do not accurately reflect a plant’s affinity for wetlands in our region. Since the list is revised
periodically and the submissionofcomments isencouraged, however, there is plenty ofopportunity forthe listto be
refined andimproved. Comments can be [email protected]. This providesa valuablechance for
anyone having experience with wetland plants in ourregion tohave inputintofuture iterationsofthe NLVPS.
Notes on the Taxonomy and Nomenclatural Changes in
Carex
Alan Yen University of Washington
,
Fred Weinmann, Environmental Protection Agency
Carex is the largest genus ofvascular plants in in delimiting major groups within the genus with
North America and the Pacific Northwest. There are specific reference to Hitchcock's "Flora ofthe
over600 Carex species in North America, more Pacific Northwest," and some nomenclatural
than 130 ofwhich are found in the Pacific changes since the publication ofHitchcock's
Northwest. Most people find Carexto be an "Flora."
intimidating group ofplants to learn, and there are
good reasons forthe general apprehension towards Briefhistory on Carex taxonomy
the genus. The differences among species are often
minute and the interpretation ofthe characters The genus Carex was named by Linnaeus and is
ambiguous. This article covers a briefoverview on characterized by having achenes enclosed in bracts
the taxonomy ofthe genus Carex, characters used called perigynia. There are about 2,000 Carex
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November 1997 SAGE NOTES > A Publication ofthe Idaho Native Plant Society Vol. 19 (4)
worldwide, most of which are in the temperate characterized by a single terminal inflorescence unit.
regions. However, there is a distinct group of Subgenus Carex is characterized by separate male
tropical Carexfound in the montane areas ofthe and female inflorescence units. Subgenus Vignea is
tropics. Carex belongs to the tribe Cariceae in the characterized by having male and female flowers on
family Cyperaceae, which comprises about 100 the same inflorescence unit.
genera and 4,000-5,000 species. Four other genera
are traditionally classified with Carex in the The following is a briefdescription ofeach ofthe
Canceae—Kobresia, Schoenoxiphium Uncinia, and eight groups in Hitchcock.
,
Cymophyllus.
Subgenus Primocarex
Carex traditionally is divided into three to four
subgenera and about 80 sections. Recognition of Group I: There are 17 species in group I, all of
subgenera within Carex is based entirely on which belong to the subgenus Primocarex.
phenetic similarity and may not necessarily reflect Common species in this group include C. geyeri,
evolutionary relationships. Subgenus Primocarex found in ponderosa pine forests, C. nigricans,
,
with 60 species, is characterized by a single found in wet meadows in the subalpine zone, C.
terminal inflorescence and is considered artificial by leptalea found in sphagnum bogs in mid-montane
,
most authors. Subgenus Carex with 1,400 species, areas, and C. scirpoidea, found in open places and
,
is a morphologically diverse group whose meadows at high elevation.
phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus and
to other subgenera are unclear. Subgenus Vignea, Subgenus Carex
with about 400 to 500 species, is generally
considered a natural group, although this Group II: There are eight species in group II, all of
hypothesis has not been tested. Subgenus which are large, robust plants. The most common
Indocarex, with about 100 mostly tropical species, species in this group include C. utriculata (C.
is considered the most primitive subgenus in Carex rostrata misapplied in Hitchcock) and C. vesicaria,
by most, but not all, authors. which are both common in freshwater wetlands.
The real C. rostrata is one ofthe rarest plants in the
The present classification ofCarex except for the U.S. The common plants called C. rostrata are
,
systematic position ofPrimocarex largely follows really C. utriculata. (See "The True Carexrostrata
,
the system ofGeorg Kiikenthal (1909), who in the American Rockies," p. 11.) C. comosa is a
organized Carex into four subgenera, based on rare sedge in this group. (See "Rare Sedges of
inflorescence structure. Kenneth Mackenzie (1931, Idaho," p. 1.)
1935) was the last person to complete a
comprehensive treatmentofthe North American Group III: There are nine species in group III, all
Carex. Most regional floras in the United States ofwhich have hairy perigynia. Two species, C.
follow the treatment of Mackenzie with some rossii and C. concinnoides are found commonly in
,
modifications. Because ofthe large size ofthe the forests east ofthe Cascades. C. luzulina is
genus, taxonomic keys to species of Carexare found in mid-montane wetlands. C. lanuginosa and
almost always divided into groups. Some floras C. lasiocarpa are found in wetlands from low to
(“Flora ofthe Northeastern United States and mid elevation.
Canada,” “Flora ofCanada”) divide species into
sections (such as Ovales, Atratae, Limosae, etc.), Group IV: There are 30 species in group IV, which
while others (such as “Flora of Pacific Northwest,” is subdivided into four subgroups. All members of
‘The Jepson Flora”) divide species into group IV have glabrous perigynia, separate male
morphologically similar groups. and female inflorescences, and three stigmas that
wither after maturation. This is a complex group.
All subgenera except Indocarex are present in the Many taxa are common in the mountains, including
Pacific Northwest. Cronquist, in Hitchcock's C. mertensii, found in disturbed areas along trails
“Flora ofthe Pacific Northwest,” divided Carex and roads, C. spectabilis found in mid-montane
,
into eight groups. Group I represents subgenus areas, C. luzulina (also in group III, for it
Primocarex Groups II-V represent members ofthe sometimes has hair on the perigynia), found in wet
;
subgenus Carex\ and Groups VI-VIII represent areas in mid-montane areas, and C. limosa, found
members ofthe subgenus Vignea. Primocarex is in bogs. C. amplifolia is found in low elevation
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