GL1 

 (leaf 2) 



sometimes important in soil formation, especially on very boggy 

 or wet sites, where the ungrazed and rank growth accumulates year 

 after year. Many of the organic and peatlike mountain meadows 

 and lake shore soils have been developed largely in that manner. 



Despite that most sedges grow in full sunlight, there are various 

 examples, both in dry and moist situations, of species which are 

 shade enduring. The elevational range of Carex is probably as 

 great as for any plant genus, species occurring from near sea level 

 to the highest extension of flowering plants above timberline. 



A common tendency exists to underrate the forage value of sedges 

 on the western ranges. This is due, in part, to the difficulty of 

 identifying the numerous species of sedges, and also to the fact 

 that many species are mistaken for grasses, as may be noted in the 

 erroneous use of such common names as hairgrass for threadleaf 

 sedge and elkgrass for elk sedge. A common practice, even among 

 technically trained men, is to group the sedges in one to several 

 large classes according to leaf width or moisture requirements, but 

 without regard to taxonomic relationships. Such treatment is con- 

 venient and often desirable, but has the obvious tendency to per- 

 petuate inaccurate generalities. Furthermore, under such condi- 

 tions, the characteristics and forage value of individual species are 

 not accurately observed or recorded. 



The discussions of several species of Ccerex in this handbook 

 emphasize some of the forage and habitat variations within the 

 genus. Elk sedge is representative of a small group of slope- and 

 timber-inhabiting species, which ordinarily start growth, early and 

 remain green until fall and, although grazed season-long, are usually 

 most valuable as spring and fall feed. The small-leaved, rather low, 

 dry land species represented by threadleaf sedge, the similar short- 

 hair sedge (G. exser'ta) and other species are often abundant and 

 provide an important source of forage on many ranges. They start 

 growth early and ordinarily mature before midsummer, and hence 

 are most palatable in the spring. However, depending on local 

 conditions, their use in certain cases may be either seasonlong or 

 chiefly in the fall. The moist-meadow species, such as ovalhead 

 sedge, are probably the most palatable of the genus, usually provid- 

 ing fine, green, and comparatively tender foliage, which remains 

 succulent until fall, and is relished by sheep and even more so by 

 cattle. Some of the wet-site species, including Nebraska sedge and 

 the like, are generally good forage for cattle, but ordinarily are 

 located in situations too wet for sheep. The more robust, large- 

 leaved, and wet-site .sedges, as beaked sedge, are of low palat ability 

 to sheep, and only fair forage for cattle. Because of favorable 

 moisture conditions, they generally remain green longer than most 

 range plants, and also show a marked tendency to produce replace- 

 ment growth when grazed, which is relished by livestock especially 

 after midsummer. This recurrent harvesting improves, as a rule, the 

 palatability of the species. 



The sedges, such as Douglas and Nebraska sedge, which commonly 

 reproduce by rootstocks, withstand close use unusually well. Their 



