BWSR NRCS Wetland Plant ID Training T aining 2009 Sedges and Rushes
Carex - True Sedges (F il : C (Family Cyperaceae))
► Triangular
stems
►3
leaves ► Bisexual or unisexual Both male and female on same spikelet Male and female on different spikelets Male and female on different plants ► Florets
terminal or lateral ► Achenes enclosed in a perigynium
Male
Female Androgynous Male and Female flowers separate
Gynecandrous
Questions to ask yourself when IDi Carex IDing C spp. ► Sheath: S eat
g glabrous ab ous o or pubesce pubescentt ► Sheath: Lattice of fibers or papery ► Sheath: color? (g (green,, purplish, p p , brown,, etc.)) ► Spikes: Separate male and female, gynecandrous or androgynous ► Spikes: upright, sessile, peduncled ► Perigynia: length ► Perigynia: pubescent b or glaucous l ► Achene: 2 or 3 sided
Lake Sedge C Carex lacustris l ti ► ► ►
► ►
Leaves coarse,, MM-shaped, p , bluebluegreen Lower sheath red to purplish with lattice of fibers Pistillate spikelets attach directly to the stem or have short stalks 2-4 staminate spikelets Perigynium gy has no hairs, distinctly ribbed, and tapers into a beak. 33-angled nutlet
Lake Sedge Carex C lacustris l ti
Slough Sedge
C Carex atherodes th d ► ► ►
Hairs present on leaves and sheaths!! h th !! Purplish at base with lattice of fibers Perigynium has no hairs, distinctly ribbed, and tapers into a beak. 33-angled nutlet
Hummock sedge C Carex stricta t i t OBL ► Stems
usuallyy longer g than the leaves (slender) ► Leaves are V shaped ► Forms large hummocks ► Lower sheath with lattice of fibers ► Perigynia are relatively flat and lack beaks
Hummock sedge C Carex stricta ti t
Stalk--grained sedge Stalk Carex stipata OBL
► ► ► ►
►
Winged g triangular g stems Coarse MM-shaped leaves are usually shorter than the stem Whitish thin wrinkled sheaths at the base Perigynium is lance lance--shaped with ith a beak b k less l than th twice t i as long as the body. Inflorescence appears pp prickly p y
Stalk-grained sedge StalkCarex C stipata ti t
Fox Sedge
Carex vulpinoidea OBL ►C Clump Clumpu p-forming o g ► Leaves
generally longer than the stem ► Bristle Bristle--like bract at base of some spikelets ► Stems St are fi firm with ith whitish, thin wrinkled sheaths ► Perigynia are lancelance-ovate and taper into a beak.
Fox Sedge C Carex vulpinoidea l i id
Scirpus - Bulrushes (Family : Cyperaceae)
► Solid
stem; some round, some triangular ► Leaves present ► Florets usually whorled ► Florets are bisexual in same seed head
stem ► Stems spongy and easily compressed ► More than 10 spikelets p ((less than 10mm long)
Hardstem Bulrush S i Scirpus acutus t OBL
River Bulrush Scirpus fluviatilis OBL ► Sharply
triangle
stem ► Terminal spike ► Spikelets 11-3 cm long ► Peduncle and sessile
Green Bulrush Scirpus atrovirens ► Rounded
triangle
stem t ► Terminal spike ► Spikelets 22-8mm long ► Peduncle P d l and d sessile spherical clusters of spikelets ► Sheaths green or brown (no red)
Green Bulrush Scirpus atrovirens OBL
Woolgrass
S i Scirpus cyperinus i OBL ► Nearly
round stem ► Terminal spike ► Spikelets 33-8mm long ► Peduncled ► Sheaths green or brown b o ((no o red) ed) ► Appearing woolly – long g bristles Andrew Hipp
Woolgrass S i Scirpus cyperinus i
Yellow Nutsedge Cyperus C esculentus l t ► Triangle g
stem ► Leaves light yellowishyellowishgreen, mostly basal ► Terminal inflorescence ► Spikelets are bright yyellow,, extending g perpendicular to the main stem. ► Each spikelet “branch” branch is 3 3--12cm long ► Scales are 22-3mm long Illus: Weeds of the North Central States
Yellow Nutsedge Cyperus esculentus
Eleocharis - Spikerushes (Family : Cyperaceae) All FACW or OBL
