strong root systems are well adapted to supply water and nutrients, 

 as well as to hold the plant in position and to bind the soil. Seed 

 production is obviously unnecessary for the maintenance of such 

 species. The tufted, bunchlike species, characterized by threadleaf 

 and ovalhead sedges, do not resist close use as well. Although the 

 fibrous feeding roots are numerous and long, they do not bind the 

 soil compactly unless the individual plants are so numerous as to be 

 crowded. Seed production is probablv at least occasionally neces- 

 sary for satisfactory reproduction of the species in this group, 

 although the very short rootstocks increase the size of the parent 

 plant and, under proper management practices, should maintain the 

 stand satisfactorily during the life of the parent plants. 



Sedges are frequently important to wildlife. In Alaska they 

 supply forage during both summer and winter for reindeer. 1 Elk 

 graze sedges rather freely, especially on the summer ranges at higher 

 altitudes, and they are also generally grazed by moose. In most 

 localities deer, apparently, do not utilize sedges very much. 2 



Various species of moist- and wet-meadow sedges comprise a large 

 percentage of the hay crop in such western areas as the agricultural 

 mountain valleys, where livestock are winter fed. Although natural 

 in most of the hay meadows, the sedges have, in many instances, in- 

 creased greatly as a result of overirrigation. Conversely, on some 

 swampy lands drainage has sometimes resulted in their replacement 

 by grasses. Most species cure well and make a palatable hay, but, 

 because of their light weight and short, smooth leaves and stems, are 

 more difficult to handle than grain hays. Experimental work indi- 

 cates that sedges deteriorate less than grasses as a result of late cut- 

 ting. 3 They also show a less rapid decline in protein content than 

 the common, associated, and introduced bluegrasses and bromes. An- 

 other interesting discovery is that the nutritional value of sedges, at 

 least so far as crude protein and nitrogen-free extract (carbohy- 

 drates) are concerned, apparently increases with altitude more than is 

 the case with grasses. Comparative chemical analyses of various 

 species of Ccvrex and of grasses show that their nutritive properties 

 are similar in most cases, the sedges tending to produce less crude 

 fiber and ash and more crude protein and nitrogen-free extract. 4 5 



Sedges are generally very effective in soil protection. The dense stands, both 

 on dry and moist sites, prevent erosion and soil loss. The intertwining of the 

 rootstocks and roots on meadows and swampy areas is usually so complex and 

 thick that it resists even the passage of a shovel. This matlike layer, unless 

 undermined, as from a gulley head or side, will usually protect and build up the 

 soil and prevent washing. 



The Indians formerly used sedge roots in basketry production. 6 



1 Hadwen, S., and Palmer, L. J. REINDEER IN ALASKA. U. S. Dept. Ascr. Bull. 1089, 

 74 pp., illus. 1922. 



2 Bixon, J. S. A STUDY OF THE LIFE HISTORY AND FOOD HABITS OF MDLB DEER IN CALI- 

 FORNIA. PART 2, FOOD HABITS. Calif. Fish and Game 20(4) : [315]-354. illus. 1934. 



8 Roberts, E. N. WYOMING FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; STUDIES 



NO. 7. EFFECT OF ALTITUDE, SEASONAL VARIATIONS, AND SHADING EXPERIMENTS. WyO. 



Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 146, 89 pp., illus. 1926. 



4 Knight, H. G., Hepner, F. E., and Nelson, A. WYOMING FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR 

 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION ; STUDIES <NO. 2. Wyo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 70, 75 pp., illus. 

 iyoo. 



5 Knight, H. G., Hepner, F. E., and Nelson, A. WYOMING FORAGE PLANTS AND THBIR 

 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; STUDIES NO. 3. Wyo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 76, 119 pp., illus. 

 1908. 



6 Merrill, R. E. PLANTS USED IN BASKETRY BY THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS. Calif. Univ. 

 Pubs., Amer. Archeol. and Ethnol. 20 : 215-242, illus. 1923. 



