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Carex rostrata Stokes

Beaked sedge, Swollen beaked sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

USDA Symbol: CARO6

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a 1-4 ft., light green sedge with a loosely clumpy growth form. Leaves and culms arise from stolons and a short rootstock. Shiny culms are thick and spongy with grayish to reddish sheaths at the base. Culms are shorter than the uppermost leaves but the leaflike bracts are longer than the inflorescence. The topmost, staminate spikes are erect and narrow; the lower pistallate spikes are cylindrical and droop with age. Swollen beaked sedge is a perennial.

 

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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
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Spike
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period for Carex spp.

Distribution

USA: AK , ID , IL , MI , MN , MT , WA , WI
Canada: BC , NB , NL , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Greenland to AK, s. to DE, WV, TN, SD, NM & CA
Native Habitat: Stream and lake margins, swamps & wet meadows
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), GL(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Wet soil to shallow water.
Conditions Comments: Stems arising from creeping rhizomes can form a dense sod.

Propagation

Description: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

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

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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