Ovalhead sedge, a rather common, tufted, and green-leaved sedge, 

 which occurs from Alberta to New Mexico and westward to Arizona, 

 the Sierra Nevadas of California, eastern Oregon and British Co- 

 lumbia, is one of the most important forage sedges in the western 

 mountains. It grows in moist situations but not in shallow water 

 or swamps. This species prefers such sites as meadows and springy 

 slopes, especially at higher elevations, growing on usually deep, 

 loamy soils in the meadows, but it is also common on shallow arid 

 rocky soils on slopes and about springs. Occasionally, this sedge 

 even grows in rock crevices, if the moisture supply is adequate. 

 Where it appears to be growing in bogs and swampy areas, a closer 

 examination usually shows that the sedge really is confined to ele- 

 vated and moist areas such as hummocks and on the sides of rocks 

 and logs. It normally grows in the full sunlight, although fair 

 stands sometimes occur in the shade. The elevation*] range is great 

 because of the wide distribution of this plant. Strange to say, in 

 the Northwest and Canada this species grows within several hundred 

 feet of sea level, yet in the southern Rockies it occurs at timberline 

 (12,000 feet). Although sometimes abundant in the meadows of the 

 ponderosa pine belt, it is most common in the high mountain 

 meadows between the upper edge of that belt and timberline. 



In general, ovalhead sedge is classed as fairly good for sheep and 

 good to very good for cattle, although its palatability apparently 

 varies widely with locality. It has relatively fine and tender, bright- 

 green leafage which normally remains green until fall. It is usually 

 entirely available to both sheep and cattle, growing on moist but 

 solid soils, a feature particularly important to sheepmen, whose 

 flocks and bands intuitively avoid wet and miry range. Although 

 often abundant, this sedge does not ordinarily grow in pure stands, 

 the tufted individuals usually being well-distributed among various 

 other sedges and such grasses as bluegrasses and redtops. 



Ovalhead sedge will not withstand close use. It has a tufted or 

 bunch habit of growth, because of its very short rootstocks which 

 increase the size of the parent plant but do not, as a rule, extend 

 far enough to produce new plants. As a result, reproduction is al- 

 most wholly from seed (achenes) ; if this plant is grazed so closely 

 that seed production is prevented, the stand soon succumbs. Over- 

 grazing, leading to the ultimate destruction of the grasses and seri- 

 ous range depletion, gradually reduces the vitality of the clumps of 

 this sedge until eventually they die. This sedge is frequently an 

 important constituent of the meadow hays harvested in the moun- 

 tain valleys for winter feeding, because it cures well, is light but 

 bulky, and is eaten readily. 



Ovalhead sedge is a member of a large group of closely related 

 sedges (O vales section), including C. ciJbrurpta, C. ebenea, C. /estiva, 

 and C. microptera. On the range many of these species are so similar 

 in form, color, and habitat that few grazing men are able to dis- 

 tinguish between them. Even some botanists maintain that the 

 slight differences in the fruit and other characters which separate 

 these forms are doubtfully sufficient to warrant the recognition of 

 many of them at least as separate species. 



