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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 flava (Yellow sedge)
Smith, R.W.

Carex flava

Carex flava L.

Yellow Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s): Carex flava var. fertilis, Carex flava var. gaspensis, Carex flava var. graminis, Carex flava var. laxior, Carex flava var. rectirostra, Carex nevadensis ssp. flavella

USDA Symbol: CAFL4

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

Spiky retrorse heads. Attracts insects and other small wildlife. (Ontario Native Plants 2002)

 

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Flowers inconspicuous. Bloom time refers to fruiting period.

Distribution

USA: AK , CT , ID , IN , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , VA , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE
Native Habitat: Prairie/Meadow/Field,Rocky Bluff,Lakeshores

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High

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

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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