Carex stricta Lam. var. strictior (Dewey) Carey
Carex stricta Lam.
Tussock sedge, upright sedge
Tussock sedge is native to eastern North America.
|
Desperately Seeking Carex With close to 800 species in North America, and 2000 worldwide, many Carex species are difficult to identify. You might want to consult this quick guide to Carex anatomy. |
Plants: Tussock sedge is so-called because it forms dense tussocks 5′ tall ⨉ 2′ wide (1.5 m ⨉ 60 cm). Each culm has alternate leaves along its lower third. Culms are triangular in cross-section.
Leaves: Up to 3′ long ⨉ ⅛–3/16″ wide (91 cm ⨉ 4–6 mm), with flat or V-shaped cross sections.
Flowers: Inflorescences are usually erect or arched, and up to 1′ (30 cm) long. There are one to three staminate (male) spikelets, and two to four pistillate (female) spikelets; some spikelets may have staminate florets above and pistillate below. The staminate spikelets are ½–2½ ⨉ 1/16–⅛″ (1.3–6.3 cm ⨉ 3–4 mm). The pistillate spikes are cylindrical, and ⅝–4 ⨉ 1/16–3/16″ (1.6–10 cm ⨉ 3–5 mm). The carpellate scales on these spikes are smaller than the perigynia. The perigynia are 1/16–⅛″ (1.7–3.4 mm) long, somewhat flattened, and hairless. Flowers appear from mid-spring to early summer, lasting only about a week.
Fruits: Achenes are 1/32 ⨉ 1/32″ (1.5 ⨉ 1 mm).
Habitats: Wet swales, marshes, bogs, stream and pond margins.
 |
Similar species. |
Online References:
References:
Carex strictior Dewey
Carex stricta Lam. var. strictior (Dewey) Carey
Carex stricta Lam. var. strictior (Dewey) Carey
5/4/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 
ID is uncertain 
5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 5″ (17 × 13 cm) 
5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts 
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts 
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 12″ (21 × 31 cm) 
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) 
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm) 
5/18/2017 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
4/3/2026 · Powers Farm Community Park, Randolph, Massachusetts 
5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 7″ (13 × 17 cm) 
5/28/2015 · Bates Land and Blackman Land, Groton Conservation Trust, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 6″ (12 × 15 cm) 
5/14/2012 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
4/3/2026 · Powers Farm Community Park, Randolph, Massachusetts 
5/18/2017 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 8″ (18 × 21 cm) 
4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts 
5/7/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
5/23/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts 
4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts 
4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts 
5/18/2017 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 8.9 cm) 
4/15/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
5/18/2017 · Wildflower Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (8.7 × 13 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Commelinidae | Dayflowers and spiderworts, and several others |
| Order | Cyperales | Flowering plants including grasses |
| Family | Cyperaceae | Sedge family |
| Genus | Carex | The “true” sedges |
| Species | stricta | Upright |
Carex stricta description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.