Native Plants

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Carex nardina

Carex nardina Fr.

Spike Sedge

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CANA2

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

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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: Terminal
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 6 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period for Carex spp.

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , MT , NV , OR , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC , NL

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Sand

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		FACU	FACU			FACU				FACU

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.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
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 nardina in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Carex nardina in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex nardina

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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