GL1 



(2 leaves) 

 SEDGES 



Ca'rex spp. 



The sedges vie with the groundsels (Seneeio spp.) for the honor 

 of being the largest genus of flowering plants in the world. It is 

 true that more species of hawkweeds (Hieraciwn\ spp.) have been 

 described than for any other plant genus, but, on a conservative 

 nomenclatural basis, there is little question but that Caress and 

 Seneeio outrank all others. Sedges are herbs of world-wide distribu- 

 tion, occurring on all continents, especially in temperate climates. 

 On western ranges they lead all other genera in number of species. 



As a group, these plants resemble the grasses somewhat, having 

 flat, grasslike leaves, and, frequently, similar growth habits. On 

 this account the members of the genus Carex, as well as other genera 

 of the sedge family (Cyperaceae) and the rushes (Juncaceae), are 

 commonly referred to as grasslike plants. The sedges, however, 

 have a number of characteristics which distinguish them definitely 

 from other genera. For example, they are perennial by rootstocks, 

 have solid, unjointed, and usually three-angled stems, mostly basal, 

 closed sheaths, and leaves arranged in three ranks corresponding to 

 the angles of the stem. The flowers are small, solitary in the axils 

 of scales, without floral parts (perianth), and are always aggregated 

 into a spike or spikes at or near the end or upper third of the stem. 

 The grasses (Gramineae) growing on the ranges have cylindrical, 

 jointed, and mostly hollow stems and the sheaths of the 2-ranked 

 leaves are split or open. The flowers, however, are similar morpho- 

 logically, being small, irregular, and subtended by a scale (glume) ; 

 the fruit (achene) is dry and one-seeded. 



The differences between the sedges and the rushes, however, are 

 not always so obvious as these fundamental distinctions between the 

 sedges and grasses. The stems of the rushes may be simple or 

 branched, spongy-pithed or hollow, and naked or leafy. The leaves 

 likewise vary, being round, flattened, or flat. The significant and 

 constant difference is in the flowers, which, although brownish, and 

 somewhat sedgelike in aspect, are lilylike in structure. They have 

 a floral envelope (perianth) composed of six glumelike and regular 

 segments. The stamens are six or sometime three, and the fruit is 

 a three-celled capsule containing many small seeds. 



The form of the aerial growth of a sedge depends largely on the 

 character of its root system. Such a. species as ovalhead sedge (C. 

 festivel'la) , which has very short rootstocks, produces stems and 

 leaves at very short intervals, becomes tufted and looks much like a 

 bunchgrass. Others, like the Douglas sedge (C. dougla'sii) , have run- 

 ning rootstocks, from which a single group of stems and leaves arise 

 at intervals of several inches, with each one having the appearance 

 of a separate plant. Either type may develop a sodlike cover in 

 dense stands, such as threadleaf sedge (C. filifo'lid) produces on dry 

 sites, a condition particularly common in sedge meadows. 



Sedge leaves are usually rather long, thin, and narrow. Some 

 species, such as threadleaf sedge and its allies, have very fine, thread- 

 like foliage, and a few species, typified by the eastern white-bear 



