occurs in a variety of sites on well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky 

 soils at elevations of from about 1,000 up to 10,000 feet. Although 

 most prominent on exposed hillsides, it grows well on open grass- 

 lands and open timber types and sometimes also in fairly dense tim- 

 ber. This species, on parts of its range, appears typically in open 

 ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine stands, frequently being inter- 

 mixed with pinegrass ( C aLawiagrostis rubescens). It commonly 

 forms a heavy sod in almost pure stands on open hillsides and burns, 

 which it readily invades. 



Elk sedge withstands grazing exceptionally well, because it 

 reproduces from woody, elongated, creeping rootstocks, forming 

 dense, almost inseparable tufts. This plant is very drought-resist- 

 ant, being close to the van among sedges in ability to withstand 

 adverse moisture conditions. 1 



It abounds over much of its range and is one of the earliest forage 

 plants on the lower ranges. Early in the season this foliage is 

 eaten to some extent on most ranges when the leaves are relatively 

 tender, although livestock prefer other forage, if such is available. 

 The forage value of elk sedge for domestic livestock varies greatly, 

 because it is considered worthless on many ranges, although, due to 

 its abundance, early appearance, and its ability to remain green the 

 entire season its average palatability rating is from poor to fair for 

 sheep and from fair to fairly good for cattle and horses. In parts 

 of the Pacific Northwest, where elk sedge occurs in great abundance, 

 it is considered a valuable forage plant, with a palatability of from 

 fair to good for sheep and from fairly good to very good for cattle 

 and horses. In this same region, where elk sedge is found inter- 

 mixed with pinegrass, livestock seek the former species but reject 

 the pinegrass. Sheep, apparently, graze elk sedge more readily on 

 those ranges where the more palatable weeds and browse species are 

 rather deficient. The palatability for elk is fair to good but some- 

 what lower for deer. 



Elk sedge and pinegrass are sometimes confused, perhaps because 

 they grow in similar sites and have somewhat similar leaves. When 

 flower or seed heads are in evidence, the sedge, with its short, narrow, 

 cylindrical, terminal, brownish flower cluster borne on 3-angled, 

 pithy stems, is not readily mistaken for the grass with its 3 to 6 

 inch long, spikelike, reddish or pale green heads borne on hollow, 

 round stems. It is rather characteristic of pinegrass, especially 

 when growing in timber, rarely to produce flower heads, and, of 

 course flower heads of the sedge are usually undeveloped in the 

 spring and may largely disappear later in the season. However, 

 the leaves of elk sedge are 3-ranked, erect, thick and rough on the 

 edges, whereas those of pinegrass are mostly gracefully drooping, 

 harsh or rough on both surfaces, and with a ring of stiff hairs at the 

 collar (junction of blade and sheath). 



1 Sampson, A. W. IMPORTANT EANGB PLANTS : THEIR LIFE HISTORY AND FORAGE VALUE. 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bull. 545, G3 pp., illus. 1917. 



