Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Carex chordorrhiza Ehrh. ex L. f.

String-root Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

General Description: A grass-like perennial with 1-several stems, 10-30 cm tall, arising from creeping rhizomes that are often hidden just beneath a moss-covered surface. The flowering stems have 1-3 narrow leaves, 1-5 cm long, at the base. Non-flowering stems have longer leaves. The terminal, egg-shaped inflorescence is about 1 cm long and comprised of 3-8, few-flowered, closely aggregated spikes which are staminate above and pistillate below. The pistillate flowers have 2 stigmas, and the many-nerved, egg-shaped perigynia are 2.5-3.5 mm long.

Field Identification Tips: A distinctive sedge because of its growth habit of extensive, creeping decumbent shoots. It is also one of the few peatland sedges with a small head.

Phenology: Fruits mature in July.

Similar Species: It is often found with C. limosa and C. paupercula. Both of these species have nodding female spikes below the terminal, more erect male spike. Carex simulata looks similar, but has smaller, shiny perigynia, and more than 5 pistillate flowers per spike.

Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Habitat: Wet, organic soil of Sphagnum fens in the montane zone.

Global distribution: Circumpolar in boreal and arctic regions. In North America it occurs across Canada, in the east as far south as Pennsylvania and some Midwestern states, and in the west in Idaho and Montana.

Idaho distribution: The Panhandle region in Boundary, Bonner, and Kootenai counties.

References:

Montana Natural Heritage Program. Montana rare plant field guide. Available at: http://nhp.nris.state.mt.us.

Page, S. E., and J. O. Rieley. 1985. The ecology and distribution of Carex chordorrhiza L. fil. Watsonia 15:253-259.

Roberts, A. 1983. A field guide to the sedges of the Cariboo Forest Region, British Columbia. Land Management Report Number 14. ISSN 0702-9861. Victoria, BC: Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Forests. 89 pp.