CyperaceaeThe Sedge Family

• 70-115 genera• 3600-5000 species• Herbs• Monocots • Annual, biennial, or perennial• Flowers are arranged in spikelets somewhat as in

grasses, and these again in larger spike-like or panicled inflorescences

• Flowers are often unisexual, are wind-pollinated• Widely distributed throughout the earth• Found mainly in wetlands and poor soils• Stems are triangular

Carex Genus

• Est. 1500-2500 species• One of the largest and most widespread

genera of angiosperms• Male flower consists of 3 stamens, female

flower consists of 2-3 carpels• Perennials• panicles of flower heads in short spikes

Carex interior: Inland sedge

• 1.5 feet• Blooms mid Spring• 3-5 leaves/stem

Carex lasiocarpa: woolyfruit sedge

• Most dominant in wetlands, forming huge stands• Leaves permanently folded along mid rib

Carex stipata: awlfruit sedge

• 3.5 feet• Course leaves often elongate• Low, wet grounds

Carex trisperma-threeseeded sedge

• Adapted to fine- and meduim-textured soils.• Stems very slender and weak.• Mostly near the coast.

Carex intumescens- greater bladder sedge

• Moist to wet woods.• 3 feet.• Blooms late spring

Carex retrorsa-knotsheath sedge

• Found in swampy woods and wet meadows.• Stems densely clustered on short rhizomes.

Carex gracillima-graceful sedge

• Blooms late spring.• Strongly purple-tingedat base.• Leaves sheathed and and glabrous.

Carex limosa-mud sedge

• Stems arising singly or few together from long rhizomes.• Few leaves

Carex pseudocyperus-cypress-like sedge

• Stout stems• Pistillate spikes drooping.• Swamps and bogs.

Eriophorum Genus

• Scales spirally arranged.• Flowers perfect, each in the axil of the a scale.• Mature spiklet forms a dense, cottony tuft 2-

4cm.• Stamens 1-3• Perennial herbs of wet places• Grass like leaves• Found in northern hemispere.

Eriophorum polystachion- Coldswamp Cotton-grass

. • Flowering June-August• Habitat: bogs.• Leaves Elongated, flat, rough along the edges.

Eriophorum vaginatum- tussock cottongrass

• Leaves clustered at base.• Bogs and open conifer swamps.

Eriophorum virginicum- tawny cottongrass

• Stems stiff and erect to 1 meter.• Solitary of few from together from freely rooting base.• Swamps and bogs.

References• http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/Cyperace.htm• http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Cyperaceae• http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=CAIN11• http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/photos/CARRET1_RF.jpg• http://www.prairiemoon.com/images/D/Carex-gracillima-Purple-sheathed-

Graceful-Sedge-plant.jpg• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/

Carex_limosa_korseby.jpeg• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Carex_pseudocyperus.jpeg• http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florane/species/3/eriopoly.htm• Cronquist, Arthur., Gleason, Henry A. Manual of vascular Plants of Northeastern

United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Edition. Ney York Botanical Garden. 1991.