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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Carex stipata

Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd.

Awlfruit Sedge, Awl-fruited Sedge, Stalk-grain Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CAST5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

A slender, bunchgrass-like plant, this perennial sedge grows 2-3 ft., or more, tall, with a cluster of brown seed capsules clinging high on each stem. Leaves are coarse and elongate.

Makes up 25% of the diet of the swamp sparrow (Kershaw).

 

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period.

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Transcontinental Canada, s. to FL, LA, KS & CA
Native Habitat: Low, wet grounds

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Wet soil to standing water.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native plants to stop pond bank erosion
June 04, 2008
I recently purchased a home with a small pond in which a nearby stream daylights. The former owner placed large field stone around the pond and the small stream; however, the area around the pond and...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

North American Native Plant Society - Etobicoke, ON
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Carex stipata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Carex stipata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex stipata

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-02
Research By: TWC Staff

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