Carex utriculata

Localities documented in Tropicos sources

Carex rostrata var. utriculata (Boott) L.H. Bailey:
Canada (North America)
Greenland (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

References:

Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA

Distribution

Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., S.Dak., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Mexico; Eurasia.

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

National Distribution

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

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NatureServe

Global Range: North America and Eurasia.

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

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NatureServe

Morphology

Description

More info for the terms: forbs, oligotrophic

This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g., [50,133]).

A grasslike perennial [65], beaked sedge is strongly rhizomatous [1,42,133] and colonial [50], sometimes forming a dense sod [31,50,68,78]. Creeping rhizomes are long, slender or stout, and deep-seated [31,50,62,65,66,73,93,101,157,158], ranging from 0.4 inches to 8 feet (1 cm to 2.5 m) long [67]. Rhizomes generally lack roots, but roots occasionally do grow from the preceding year's rhizomes [67]. In greenhouse experiments, beaked sedge adjusted its rooting depth to groundwater depth (maintained at 4, 19, and 35 cm) [142].

Beaked sedge culms grow singly or a few together from rhizomes [31,61,65,68,73,78,93,159]. These thick culms grow 12 to 55 inches (30-140 cm) tall [25,31,61,62,65,66,68,73,78,93,141,157,158,159]. Slender to stout stems are obliquely ascending, 19 to 47 inches (50-120 cm) tall [42,50,133]. Thick and stiff, beaked sedge leaves are 1 to 12 mm wide [31,50,61,65,66,93,101,133,141,159].

The beaked sedge inflorescence is 6 to 18 inches (15-45 cm) tall and composed of several elongate spikes (typically 4-10), erect or nearly erect [65,159]. The 2 to 4 upper spikes are staminate and 0.4 to 2.4 inches (1-6 cm) long, and the lower 2 to 5 spikes are pistillate, 1 to 1.5 cm long, and densely flowered [31,61,65,66,141,159]. Beaked sedge perigynia are 4 to 10 mm long and horizontal or spreading at maturity [31,42,61,62,66,101,133,141,153,159].

Swollen beaked sedge and Northwest Territory sedge can be differentiated by some morphological characteristics. Swollen beaked sedge has narrow, involute, glaucous leaves with stomata on the upper surface, while Northwest Territory sedge leaves are broad, flat, and green on both sides with stomata below [42,50,83]. Northwest Territory sedge has different leaf anatomy and a different leaf shape in cross-section. Plants from the western and northern portions of the range often have perigynia strongly tinged with purple, though that coloration can also occur elsewhere, albeit rarely [41].

Stand structure: Beaked sedge is infrequent and local in large portions of its range, often forming large colonies [41]. It may grow in nearly pure stands [25,52,68,116,161], covering broad valley bottoms [68], riparian areas [116,161], and wetlands [25]. It can form dense mats when growing on saturated sites [58,155], often precluding the establishment of competing grasses and forbs [52]. Beaked sedge can form a loose floating mat in oligotrophic lakes [45].

References:

50. Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. New York: New York Botanical Garden. 910 p. [20329]
93. Lewis, Monte E. 1958. Carex -- its distribution and importance in Utah. In: Brigham Young University Science Bulletin: Biological Series. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 1(2): 1-4. [18788]
1. Allen, Douglas R.; Marlow, Clayton B. 1994. Shoot population dynamics of beaked sedge following cattle grazing. Journal of Range Management. 47(1): 64-69. [22923]
25. Cooper, David J. 1990. Ecology of wetlands in Big Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Biological Report 90(15). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 45 p. [16106]
31. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6: The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
42. Ford, Bruce A.; Ball, Peter W.; Ritland, Kermit. 1993. Genetic and macromorphologic evidence bearing on the evolution of members of Carex section Vesicariae (Cyperaceae) and their natural hybrids. Canadian Journal of Botany. 7(3): 486-500. [68339]
45. Foster, David R.; King, George A. 1984. Landscape features, vegetation and developmental history of a patterned fen in south-eastern Labrador, Canada. Journal of Ecology. 72(1): 115-143. [66061]
52. Hall, James B.; Hansen, Paul L. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Tech. Bull. No. 97-11. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry, Riparian and Wetland Research Program. 381 p. [28173]
58. Hansen, Paul L.; Pfister, Robert D.; Boggs, Keith; Cook, Bradley J.; Joy, John; Hinckley, Dan K. 1995. Classification and management of Montana's riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Missoula, MT: The University of Montana, School of Forestry, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station. 646 p. [24768]
61. Hermann, Frederick J. 1970. Manual of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agric. Handb. 374. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 397 p. [1139]
62. Hickman, James C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1400 p. [21992]
65. Houston, Kent E.; Hartung, Walter J.; Hartung, Carol J. 2001. A field guide for forest indicator plants, sensitive plants, and noxious weeds of the Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-84. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 184 p. [40585]
66. Hulten, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
67. Hultgren, A. B. Christina. 1989. Above-ground biomass variation in Carex rostrata Stokes in two contrasting habitats in central Sweden. Aquatic Botany. 34(4): 341-352. [16327]
68. Hurd, Emerenciana G.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Smithman, Lynda C. 1994. Cyperaceae and Juncaceae--selected low-elevation species. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., compilers. Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 380-383. [24314]
73. Johnson, W. M. 1964. Field key to the sedges of Wyoming. Bulletin 419. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming, Agricultural Experiment Station. 239 p. In cooperation with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. [7651]
78. Kinney, John W.; Clary, Warren P. 1994. A photographic utilization guide for key riparian graminoids. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-308. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 13 p. [29111]
83. Kovalchik, Bud. 1992. Noteworthy collections: Washington. Madrono. 39(1): 80-81. [17537]
101. Mason, Herbert L. 1957. A flora of the marshes of California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 878 p. [16905]
116. Padgett, Wayne George. 1981. Ecology of riparian plant communities in southern Malheur National Forest. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 143 p. Thesis. [14933]
133. Roland, A. E.; Smith, E. C. 1969. The flora of Nova Scotia. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Museum. 746 p. [13158]
141. Standley, Paul C. 1921. Flora of Glacier National Park, Montana. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 22, Part 5. Washington, DC: United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution: 235-438. [12318]
142. Steed, James E.; DeWald, Laura E.; Kolb, Thomas E. 2002. Physiological and growth responses of riparian sedge transplants to groundwater depth. International Journal of Plant Science. 163(6): 925-936. [47632]
153. Voss, Edward G. 1972. Michigan flora. Part I: Gymnosperms and monocots. Bloomfield Hills, MI: Cranbrook Institute of Science; Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Herbarium. 488 p. [11471]
155. Walford, Gillian; Jones, George; Fertig, Walt; Mellman-Brown, Sabine; Houston, Kent E. 2001. Riparian and wetland plant community types of the Shoshone National Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-85. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Cody, WY: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cody Conservation District. 122 p. [40599]
157. Weber, William A. 1987. Colorado flora: western slope. Boulder, CO: Colorado Associated University Press. 530 p. [7706]
158. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2nd ed. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
159. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
41. Flora of North America Association. 2008. Flora of North America: The flora, [Online]. Flora of North America Association (Producer). Available: http://www.fna.org/FNA. [36990]
161. Young, Richard P., compiler. 1980. A riparian community classification study. Final report. Logan, UT: Utah State University, Department of Range Science. 77 p. [Cooperative project between Utah State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 4]. [11734]

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Description

Plants colonial; rhizomes long. Culms trigonous in cross section, 25–100 cm, smooth or somewhat scabrous-angled distally. Leaves: basal sheaths brown or lightly tinged with pinkish red, spongy-thickened; ligules as long as wide; blades pale to mid green, flat to broadly V-shaped, widest leaves 4.5–12(–15) mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescences 10–40(–50) cm; proximal bract 12–55(–75) cm, exceeding but not more than 2.5 times longer than inflorescence; proximal 2–5 spikes pistillate, erect or the proximal ascending, ca. 20–150-flowered, cylindric; terminal 2–5 spikes staminate, well elevated beyond summit of separate pistillate spikes. Pistillate scales lanceolate ovate, 2.6–5.5(–7.6) × 0.8–1.7(–2.1) mm, mostly shorter than perigynia, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate, awnless (rarely acuminate-awned). Perigynia spreading, often green or straw colored, 9–15-veined, veins running into beak, ovate, (3.2–)4–8.6 × 1.7–3 mm, apex contracted; beak (1–)1.2–2.7 mm, bidentulate, smooth, teeth straight, 0.2–1.3 mm. Stigmas 3. Achenes brown, symmetric, not indented, trigonous, smooth.

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

Diagnostic Description

Synonym

Carex laevirostris (Blytt ex Fries) Fries; C. rhynchophysa C. A. Meyer

Source:

License:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Rights Holder:

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

Habitat

Habitat characteristics

More info for the terms: frequency, peatland, shrub

Sites where beaked sedge commonly occurs include shrub heaths, open and wooded fens, wet meadows, bogs, peatlands, prairie potholes, seeps, wetlands, and riparian areas [1,2,21,27,43,44,49,51,68,69,71,84,93,96,100,104,131,133,137,144,146,153,158]. Beaked sedge stands typically colonize wet meadows and seeps with subsurface flow and are often associated with active or abandoned beaver complexes [52,103]. Beaked sedge is tolerant of seasonal flooding, shallow water table depths, and anaerobic soil conditions [39,91,144]. In the Northeast, Northwest Territory sedge may dominate areas in open sphagnum peatlands [3] or where an existing sphagnum mat has been disturbed [137]. Stands dominated by Northwest Territory sedge are common and characteristic of peatlands throughout the Rocky Mountains that have seasonal standing water up to 15 inches (40 cm) deep [26,30,122].

Site moisture: Beaked sedge grows on sites with high soil moisture, typically with the water table at or above the soil surface during the growing season [11,20,50,56,58,78,89,102,112,116,124,138]. A study of Saskatchewan peatlands found that beaked sedge attained its greatest frequency on sites where the water level was 0.4 to 7.5 inches (1-19 cm) above the soil surface [71]. Though beaked sedge often occupies sites inundated with a few inches of standing or slowly flowing water [52,132], it may also establish on somewhat drier sites lacking surface water for part of the year [52]. The beaked sedge habitat type in Montana occurs both in standing water and on sites that become relatively dry late in the growing season [56,58]. Depth to water table ranges from 0 to 39 inches (100 cm) during the summer [25,36,132,162].

On some beaked sedge sites, water tables are often above the surface year-long and rarely drop below the rooting zone [8,18,20,34,35,68,87,107,127,128]. These sites may have still pools or slow-moving water up to 18 inches (45 cm) deep [68,159] constantly recharged by flows from upstream [126]. Where overland flow is present, beaked sedge may form hummocks or tussocks that develop over time as individual clusters of sod resist the gradual erosion and downcutting of numerous associated micro-channels [52]. Stagnant water from flooding in the lower Fraser River Valley, British Columbia in summer 1948 top-killed beaked sedge, but new growth from rhizomes began soon after flood waters receded [14].

Soils: Beaked sedge occurs on a range of soil types, with textures from silt loams or silty clays to loamy sands [52,56,58,91,98,124,127,128,162]. Mature stands develop organic horizons up to 3.5 feet (1 m) deep [52,68,68,98,102,162], often as a result of low temperatures at high elevations and a generally anaerobic surface soil environment slowing decomposition [35,102]. Soil organic matter content commonly reaches 20% [124,127,128]. High water tables facilitate oxidation/reduction reactions that produce mottled or gleyed soil characteristics [52]. Beaked sedge typically occurs on acidic soils with thin, poorly decomposed organic surface layers [19,102,127,138]. The pH of sites supporting beaked sedge typically ranges from <5.0 [3,33,96,124] to 7.0 [36,56,58,71]. Rocky Mountain peatland sites often have pH as low as 3.75 [26]. Beaked sedge also grows on alkaline sites with higher pH and calcium levels [2,144]. Beaked sedge is moderately tolerant of salinity [144,156].

Elevation: The elevational distribution of beaked sedge ranges from lowlands [31,56,58,141] to high elevations [56,58,78] in the mountains of western North America. It is common at middle elevations but extends to near timberline [68], frequently occurring in or dominating alpine and subalpine wet meadows [138]. The following table, though not exhaustive, presents information on the elevational range of beaked sedge in various parts of its range.

Elevational range of beaked sedge by state State Elevation Arizona 7,500 to 9,500 feet (2,286-2,896 m) [77] California 3,400 to 7,120 feet (1,036-2,170 m) [62,128] Colorado 5,000 to 12,500 feet (1,524-3,810 m) [29,61,88,134] Idaho 6,000 to 9,800 feet (1,830-2,987 m) [152,162] Minnesota up to 1,000 feet (305 m) [146] Montana 2,320 to 7,800 feet (707-2,377 m) [52,58,58] Nevada 5,800 to 8,520 feet (1,768-2,597 m) [98] New Mexico up to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) [23,24] New York 1,486 to 1,640 feet (453-500 m) [84] Oregon up to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) [20] Utah 6,000 to 10,500 feet (1,830-3,200 m) [152,159] Washington 2,380 to 10,000 feet (725-3,048 m) [20,82,140] West Virginia 3,400 to 4,600 feet (1,036-1,402 m) [33] Wyoming 5,000 to 11,000 feet (1,524-3,353 m) [26,29,46,65,155]

References:

104. Melvin, Scott M. 2002. First breeding records and historical status of sandhill cranes in Maine and New England. Northeastern Naturalist. 9(2): 193-202. [68548]
50. Gleason, Henry A.; Cronquist, Arthur. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. New York: New York Botanical Garden. 910 p. [20329]
93. Lewis, Monte E. 1958. Carex -- its distribution and importance in Utah. In: Brigham Young University Science Bulletin: Biological Series. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 1(2): 1-4. [18788]
1. Allen, Douglas R.; Marlow, Clayton B. 1994. Shoot population dynamics of beaked sedge following cattle grazing. Journal of Range Management. 47(1): 64-69. [22923]
2. Anderson, Dennis S.; Davis, Ronald B.; Rooney, Sally C.; Campbell, Christopher S. 1996. The ecology of sedges (Cyperaceae) in Maine peatlands. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 123(2): 100-110. [27116]
3. Asada, Taro; Warner, Barry G.; Pojar, Jim. 2003. Environmental factors responsible for shaping an open peatland - forest complex on the hypermaritime north coast of British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 33: 2380-2394. [47401]
8. Benedict, Nathan B. 1984. Classification and dynamics of subalpine meadow ecosystems in the southern Sierra Nevada. In: Warner, Richard E.; Hendrix, Kathleen M., eds. California riparian systems: Ecology, conservation, and productive management: Proceedings of the conference; 1981 September 17-19; Davis, CA. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 92-96. [5829]
11. Boggs, Keith. 2000. Classification of community types, successional sequences, and landscapes of the Copper River Delta, Alaska. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-469. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 244 p. [38491]
14. Brink, V. C. 1954. Survival of plants under flood in the lower Fraser River valley, British Columbia. Ecology. 35(1): 94-95. [64483]
18. Calmes, Mary A. 1976. Vegetation pattern of bottomland bogs in the Fairbanks area, Alaska. Fairbanks, AK: University of Alaska. 104 p. Thesis. [14785]
19. Camill, Phillip. 1999. Patterns of boreal permafrost peatland vegetation across environmental gradients sensitive to climate warming. Canadian Journal of Botany. 77(5): 721-733. [51660]
21. Clary, Warren P.; Medin, Dean E. 1993. Vegetation, nesting bird, and small mammal characteristics--Wet Creek, Idaho. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-293. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 11 p. [21292]
23. Coop, Jonathan D.; Givnish, Thomas J. 2007. Spatial and temporal patterns of recent forest encroachment in montane grasslands of the Valles Caldera, New Mexico, USA. Journal of Biogeography. 34(5): 914-927. [68074]
24. Coop, Jonathan D.; Givnish, Tohmas J. 2007. Gradient analysis of reversed treelines and grasslands of the Valles Caldera, New Mexico. Journal of Vegetation Science. 18: 43-54. [67321]
25. Cooper, David J. 1990. Ecology of wetlands in Big Meadows, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Biological Report 90(15). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 45 p. [16106]
26. Cooper, David J.; Andrus, Richard E. 1994. Patterns of vegetation and water chemistry in peatlands of the west-central Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Botany. 72: 1586-1597. [25892]
27. Cooper, David J.; MacDonald, Lee H. 2000. Restoring the vegetation of mined peatlands in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. Restoration Ecology. 8(2): 103-111. [40142]
29. Costello, David F. 1944. Important species of the major forage types in Colorado and Wyoming. Ecological Monographs. 14(1): 107-134. [693]
30. Cottrell, Tom R. 1995. Willow colonization of Rocky Mountain mires. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 25: 215-222. [25467]
31. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6: The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
33. Darlington, H. Clayton. 1943. Vegetation and substrate of Cranberry Glades, West Virginia. Botanical Gazette. 104(3): 371-393. [64491]
34. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1979. Natural fire in subalpine meadows: a case description from the Sierra Nevada. Journal of Forestry. 77(8): 477-479. [7251]
35. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1984. Postfire succession in a Sierran subalpine meadow. The American Midland Naturalist. 111(1): 118-125. [6635]
36. Dirschl, H. J.; Coupland, R. T. 1972. Vegetation patterns and site relationships in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Canadian Journal of Botany. 50: 647-675. [7449]
39. Dwire, Kathleen A.; Kauffman, Boone; Brookshire, E. N. Jack; Baham, John E. 2004. Plant biomass and species composition along an environmental gradient in montane riparian meadows. Oecologia. 139: 309-317. [50917]
43. Fortney, Ronald H. 2000. Plant communities of West Virginia wetlands. West Virginia Academy of Science. 72(3): 41-54. [68447]
44. Fortney, Ronald H.; Rentch, James S. 2003. Post logging era plant successional trends and geospatial vegetation patterns in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, 1945 to 2000. Castanea. 68(4): 317-334. [52648]
46. Frank, Douglas A.; McNaughton, Samuel J. 1992. The ecology of plants, large mammalian herbivores, and drought in Yellowstone National Park. Ecology. 73(6): 2043-2058. [18434]
49. Gates, Frank C. 1942. The bogs of northern Lower Michigan. Ecological Monographs. 12(3): 213-254. [10728]
51. Green, Douglas M.; Kauffman, J. Boone. 1995. Succession and livestock grazing in a northeastern Oregon riparian ecosystem. Journal of Range Management. 48(4): 307-313. [25925]
52. Hall, James B.; Hansen, Paul L. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Tech. Bull. No. 97-11. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry, Riparian and Wetland Research Program. 381 p. [28173]
56. Hansen, Paul L.; Boggs, Keith; Pfister, Robert D.; Joy, John; Cook, Brad. 1994. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. In: Hamre, R. H., ed. Workshop on western wetlands and riparian areas: public/private efforts in recovery, management, and education: Proceedings; 1993 September 9-11; Snowbird, UT. Boulder, CO: Thorne Ecological Institute: 1-17. [27800]
58. Hansen, Paul L.; Pfister, Robert D.; Boggs, Keith; Cook, Bradley J.; Joy, John; Hinckley, Dan K. 1995. Classification and management of Montana's riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Missoula, MT: The University of Montana, School of Forestry, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station. 646 p. [24768]
61. Hermann, Frederick J. 1970. Manual of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agric. Handb. 374. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 397 p. [1139]
62. Hickman, James C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1400 p. [21992]
65. Houston, Kent E.; Hartung, Walter J.; Hartung, Carol J. 2001. A field guide for forest indicator plants, sensitive plants, and noxious weeds of the Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-84. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 184 p. [40585]
68. Hurd, Emerenciana G.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Smithman, Lynda C. 1994. Cyperaceae and Juncaceae--selected low-elevation species. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., compilers. Proceedings--ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-22; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 380-383. [24314]
69. Ingvason, P. A. 1969. The golden sedges of Iceland. World Crops. 21: 218-220. [14132]
71. Jeglum, John K. 1971. Plant indicators of pH and water level in peatlands at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Botany. 49: 1661-1676. [7450]
77. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock, Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2nd ed. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
78. Kinney, John W.; Clary, Warren P. 1994. A photographic utilization guide for key riparian graminoids. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-308. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 13 p. [29111]
82. Kovalchik, Bernard L.; Clausnitzer, Rodrick R. 2004. Classification and management of aquatic, riparian, and wetland sites on the national forests of eastern Washington: series description. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-593. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 354 p. [53329]
84. Kudish, Michael. 1992. Adirondack upland flora: an ecological perspective. Saranac, NY: The Chauncy Press. 320 p. [19376]
87. Langenheim, Jean H. 1956. Plant succession on a subalpine earthflow in Colorado. Ecology. 37(2): 301-317. [50443]
88. Langenheim, Jean H. 1962. Vegetation and environmental patterns in the Crested Butte area, Gunnison County, Colorado. Ecological Monographs. 32(3): 249-285. [18482]
89. Larsen, James A. 1980. Boreal communities and ecosystems: local variation. In: Larsen, James A., ed. The boreal ecosystem. New York: Academic Press: 281-350. [64914]
91. Law, Darin J.; Marlow, Clayton B.; Mosley, Jeffrey C.; Custer, Steve; Hook, Paul; Leinard, Bob. 2000. Water table dynamics and soil texture of three riparian plant communities. Northwest Science. 74(3): 234-241. [38851]
96. Locky, David A.; Bayley, Suzanne E.; Vitt, Dale H. 2005. The vegetational ecology of black spruce swamps, fens, and bogs in southern boreal Manitoba, Canada. Wetlands. 25(3): 564-582. [67524]
98. Manning, Mary E.; Padgett, Wayne G. 1989. Preliminary riparian community type classification for Nevada. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region. Preliminary draft. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 135 p. [11531]
100. Marlow, Clayton B; Pogacnik, Thomas M; Quinsey, Shannon D. 1987. Streambank stability and cattle grazing in southwestern Montana. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 42(4): 291-296. [2888]
102. Mattson, David John. 1984. Classification and environmental relationships of wetland vegetation in central Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho. 409 p. Thesis. [7348]
103. Medin, Dean E.; Clary, Warren P. 1991. Small mammals of a beaver pond ecosystem and adjacent riparian habitat in Idaho. Res. Pap. INT-445. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 4 p. [16003]
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License:

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Key Plant Community Associations

More info for the terms: alliance, association, bog, codominant, cover, fen, marsh, phase, presence, shrub, tussock

In western North America, beaked sedge occurs as a dominant herbaceous component of
riparian communities; subarctic, boreal, and north-temperate wetlands;
and wet subalpine meadows [1,9,23,24,36,41,65,116,122,128].
Common and potentially codominant sedge species include Nebraska sedge (C. nebrascensis),
leafy tussock sedge (C. aquatilis), smallwinged sedge (C. microptera),
wheat sedge (C. atherodes), woollyfruit sedge (C. lasiocarpa),
mountain sedge (C. scopulorum), analogue sedge (C. simulata), and
blister sedge (C. vesicaria) [1,20,21,23,24,102,103,118,119,122,123,128,131,138,144].
Other herbaceous associates include bluejoint reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis),
tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), spotted water hemlock (Cicuta
maculata), fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata), creeping bentgrass
(Agrostis stolonifera), Baltic rush (Juncus balticus), and
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) [1,21,100,102,103,119,128,144].
Beaked sedge is also common in willow (Salix spp.) and shrub fens [30,36].
A study of fen vegetation in Rocky Mountain National Park found that beaked sedge had a low
presence in treed fen areas but comprises 5% to 25% of cover in herbacous fen
areas [72].
East of the Rocky Mountain region, common associates of beaked sedge include
floating sphagnum mats (Spagnum spp.), woollyfruit sedge, leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne
calyculata), sheathed cottonsedge (Eriophorum vaginatum), and white
beaksedge (Rhynchospora alba) in fens [104]; leatherleaf, sheep
laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum),
and sweetgale (Myrica gale) in peatlands [137]; northern reedgrass
(Calamagrostis stricta), leafy tussock sedge, and American mannagrass
(G. grandis) in marshes [97,109]; and leafy tussock sedge,
tussock sedge (Carex stricta), and hairy sedge (C. lacustris)
in sedge meadows of the Midwest [111,146].
Beaked sedge forms nearly monospecific stands in some areas, comprising >90%
of standing vegetation [1,25,46,102,116]. Stands dominated by
Northwest Territory sedge are common and characteristic of peatlands throughout
the Rocky Mountains, where it may account for 95% of cover [26]. The site conditions
where beaked sedge is prevalent (seasonal flooding, shallow water table depths,
and anaerobic soil conditions) may often prohibit the establishment of other species,
reducing community diversity [39].
Vegetation classifications describing plant communities where beaked
sedge is a dominant species follow. Note that plant community names may not
reflect the currently accepted taxonomy and geographic distribution.
Alaska:

swollen beaked sedge community type [11]

California:

swollen beaked sedge association [53]

swollen beaked sedge meadow association [124,125]

swollen beaked sedge-primrose monkeyflower (Mimulus primuloides) association [125]

Geyer willow (Salix geyeriana)/swollen beaked sedge community type

willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge community type [99]

Colorado:

swollen beaked sedge wetland association

Drummond willow (Salix drummondiana)-park willow (S. monticola)/bluejoint
reedgrass-swollen beaked sedge association

Drummond willow-park willow-planeleaf willow (S. planifolia)-Wolf's willow
(S. wolfii)/bluejoint reedgrass-swollen beaked sedge association

Geyer willow-park willow/bluejoint reedgrass-leafy tussock sedge-swollen beaked sedge association

Geyer willow-park willow-planeleaf willow-Wolf's willow/bluejoint reedgrass-leafy
tussock sedge-swollen beaked sedge association

leafy tussock sedge-swollen beaked sedge-tufted hairgrass subalpine wetland association [5]

buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)-Northwest Territory sedge community

Northwest Territory sedge-silvery sedge (C. canescens) community [25]

Idaho:

bog birch (Betula glandulosa)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

Northwest Territory sedge plant association

white spruce (Picea glauca)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

Booth willow (S. boothii)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

mountain willow (S. eastwoodiae)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

Drummond willow/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

sageleaf willow (S. candida)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

Geyer willow/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

yellow willow (S. lutea)/Northwest Territory sedge plant association

planeleaf willow/leafy tussock sedge-Northwest Territory sedge plant association

Wolf's willow/Northwest Territory sedge plant association [70]

Drummond willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type

yellow willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type

swollen beaked sedge habitat type [52]

willow/swollen beaked sedge community type [148]

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

Wolf's willow/swollen beaked sedge community type [162]

Booth willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge community type [115,162]

Minnesota:

swollen beaked sedge-hairy sedge-blister sedge herbaceous vegetation [146]

Montana:

sageleaf willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type [58,59]

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type [12,58,59]

Drummond willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type [58]

yellow willow/swollen beaked sedge habitat type [59]

bog birch/swollen beaked sedge habitat type [12,58]

swollen beaked sedge habitat type [12,58,59]

bog birch/swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge/mountain sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge/variableleaf pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus) community type

swollen beaked sedge/purple marshlocks (Comarum palustre) commmunity type [120]

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge shrubland

yellow willow/swollen beaked sedge wetland shrubland

swollen beaked sedge semipermanently flooded herbaceous alliance [136]

sageleaf willow/swollen beaked sedge riparian site type

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge riparian site type

swollen beaked sedge riparian site type, swollen beaked sedge phase [60]

swollen beaked sedge dominance type [57]

Nevada:

swollen beaked sedge, Northwest Territory sedge seasonally flooded herbaceous alliance

yellow birch/Northwest Territory sedge shrubland [114]

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge community type [98,99]

New Mexico:

swollen beaked sedge alliance [110]

Oregon:

swollen beaked sedge riparian dominance type [116]

swollen beaked sedge-wet meadow plant association [64]

willow/swollen beaked sedge association

swollen beaked sedge association [81]

Utah:

Booth willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

Wolf's willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

swollen beaked sedge community type [115]

Washington:

swollen beaked sedge-sphagnum (Sphagnum squarrosum) community type [47]

Farr's willow (S. farriae)/Northwest Territory sedge association

willow/Northwest Territory sedge association

gray alder (Alnus incana)/Northwest Territory sedge association

Northwest Territory sedge association

swollen beaked sedge association [82]

Wyoming:

swollen beaked sedge-swollen beaked sedge habitat type

swollen beaked sedge-slender cottongrass (Eriophorum gracile) habitat type

swollen beaked sedge-tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) habitat type

swollen beaked sedge-swordleaf rush (Juncus ensifolius) habitat type [102]

Wolf's willow/swollen beaked sedge (riparian) community type [22,162]

Nebraska sedge-swollen beaked sedge community type [22]

Booth willow/swollen beaked sedge community type [155,162]

sageleaf willow/swollen beaked sedge community type

Geyer willow/swollen beaked sedge community type [155]

swollen beaked sedge community type [155,162]

swollen beaked sedge herbaceous wetland dominance type [161]

British Columbia:

McCalla's willow (S. maccalliana)-swollen beaked sedge fen association

swollen beaked sedge-leafy tussock sedge fen association [143]

Canadian Prairie Provinces:

swollen beaked sedge association in marsh areas of the northern parklands and
southern boreal forest [97]

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155. Walford, Gillian; Jones, George; Fertig, Walt; Mellman-Brown, Sabine; Houston, Kent E. 2001. Riparian and wetland plant community types of the Shoshone National Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-85. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Cody, WY: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cody Conservation District. 122 p. [40599]
162. Youngblood, Andrew P.; Padgett, Wayne G.; Winward, Alma H. 1985. Riparian community type classification of eastern Idaho - western Wyoming. R4-Ecol-85-01. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region. 78 p. [2686]
20. Chappell, Christopher B.; Crawford, Rex C.; Barrett, Charley; Kagan, Jimmy; Johnson, David H.; O'Mealy, Mikell; Green, Greg A.; Ferguson, Howard L.; Edge, W. Daniel; Greda, Eva L.; O'Neil, Thomas A. 2001. Wildlife habitats: descriptions, status, trends, and system dynamics. In: Johnson, David H.; O'Neil, Thomas A., managing directors. Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press: 22-114. Available online: http://www.nwhi.org/index/habdescriptions [2008, February 26]. [63870]
41. Flora of North America Association. 2008. Flora of North America: The flora, [Online]. Flora of North America Association (Producer). Available: http://www.fna.org/FNA. [36990]
114. Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nevada Natural Heritage Program. 2003. National vegetation classification for Nevada, [Online]. Carson City, NV: Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nevada Natural Heritage Program (Producer). 15 p. Available: http://heritage.nv.gov/ecology/nv_nvc.htm [2005, November 3]. [55021]
136. Schneider, Rick E.; Faber-Langendoen, Don; Crawford, Rex C.; Weakley, Alan S. 1997. The status of biodiversity in the Great Plains: Great Plains vegetation classification. Supplemental Document 1, [Online]. In: Ostlie, Wayne R.; Schneider, Rick E.; Aldrich, Janette Marie; Faust, Thomas M.; McKim, Robert L. B.; Chaplin, Stephen J., comps. The status of biodiversity in the Great Plains. Arlington, VA: The Nature Conservancy, Great Plains Program (Producer). 75 p. [Cooperative Agreement # X 007803-01-3]. Available: http://conserveonline.org/docs/2005/02/greatplains_vegclass_97.pdf [2006, May 16]. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [62020]
146. The Nature Conservancy. 1999. Classification of the vegetation of Isle Royale National Park, [Online]. USGS-NPS vegetation mapping program: Isle Royale National Park. [Minneapolis, MN]: The Nature Conservancy (Producer). 140 p. Available: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/ftp/vegmapping/isro/reports/isrorpt.pdf [2007, October 3]. [68269]
161. Young, Richard P., compiler. 1980. A riparian community classification study. Final report. Logan, UT: Utah State University, Department of Range Science. 77 p. [Cooperative project between Utah State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 4]. [11734]

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Habitat

Open swamps, wet thickets, marshes, sedge meadows, bogs, fens, stream, pond, and lakeshores; 0–3500m.

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Rights Holder:

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

Comments: Wet places, shallow water; <300 m.

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Rights Holder:

NatureServe

General Ecology

Fire Management Considerations

More info for the terms: bog, cover, fire exclusion, fire suppression, forbs, frequency, fuel, litter, low-severity fire, marsh, muskeg, prescribed fire, shrubs, tussock

Prescribed fire generally promotes beaked sedge. Prescribed burning reduces litter and increases productivity of beaked sedge [35,52,56,58,81]. Burning under relatively wet conditions would probably not result in long-term vegetation changes in mountain meadows [125]. A study of low- to moderate-severity prescribed fire in a Sierra Nevada alpine wet meadow found that, while fire resulted in increased bare ground and reduced plant litter, there was no change in plant community composition. Fire increased living sedge cover almost threefold by postfire year 1. Burning when plants are dormant and soil moisture is high enough to prevent burning of soil organic matter prevents change in meadow vegetation and allows rapid postfire recovery [13].

Encroachment of shrubs into wetlands is often attributed to fire exclusion or a combination of fire suppression and cattle grazing [106]. Frequent, low-severity fire may be used to prevent woody species establishment in open meadows [160]. Burning of open sedge-grass meadows in Wisconsin can slow woody species encroachment and is most effective when vegetation is actively growing [95]. A study by Middleton [106] found that winter burning was not effective in reducing woody species in a Wisconsin sedge meadow (dominated by tussock sedge, beaked sedge present). However, winter burning may be useful in maintaining species richness in ungrazed meadow areas by stimulating germination from seed banks [106]. In another Wisconsin sedge meadow study, prescribed fire removed plant litter, but litter returned to preburn levels within 2 years. After 7 years, burned and unburned meadow plots did not differ in live biomass, litter, or relative cover of plant life forms. Authors concluded that periodic burns do not cause a major shift in the relative dominance of sedges and grasses. However, because litter removal promotes the recruitment of shorter-lived forbs, prescribed fire can temporarily increase sedge meadow diversity. Periodic seed inputs of forbs to the wet meadow seedbank may also contribute to long-term sedge meadow diversity [80].

Several authors recommend excluding livestock from beaked sedge communities during the year prior to burning [35,52,56,58], perhaps to allow fuel accumulation. Residual cover burns well in spring prior to the growing season [35,52,56,58]. Beaked sedge communities can also be burned in late summer or in dry years when water tables drop below the surface [81]. After burning, grazing should remain restricted for 2 to 3 years to avoid damage to young regrowth [35,52,56,58].

Some authors have evaluated the effectiveness of using fire to reduce beaked sedge. Though details are not presented, Uhler [150] describes complete control of beaked sedge by means of "root burns" when marsh soil has been dried to a depth of 3 to 6 inches. Vogl [152] found that prescribed fire in an open sphagnum bog or muskeg reduced average percent frequency of beaked sedge.

References:

13. Boyd, Robert S.; Woodward, Roy A.; Walter, Gary. 1993. Fire effects on a montane Sierra Nevada meadow. California Fish and Game. 70(3): 115-125. [24152]
35. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1984. Postfire succession in a Sierran subalpine meadow. The American Midland Naturalist. 111(1): 118-125. [6635]
52. Hall, James B.; Hansen, Paul L. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Tech. Bull. No. 97-11. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry, Riparian and Wetland Research Program. 381 p. [28173]
56. Hansen, Paul L.; Boggs, Keith; Pfister, Robert D.; Joy, John; Cook, Brad. 1994. Classification and management of riparian and wetland sites in Montana. In: Hamre, R. H., ed. Workshop on western wetlands and riparian areas: public/private efforts in recovery, management, and education: Proceedings; 1993 September 9-11; Snowbird, UT. Boulder, CO: Thorne Ecological Institute: 1-17. [27800]
58. Hansen, Paul L.; Pfister, Robert D.; Boggs, Keith; Cook, Bradley J.; Joy, John; Hinckley, Dan K. 1995. Classification and management of Montana's riparian and wetland sites. Miscellaneous Publication No. 54. Missoula, MT: The University of Montana, School of Forestry, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station. 646 p. [24768]
80. Kost, Michael A.; De Steven, Diane. 2000. Plant community responses to prescribed burning in Wisconsin sedge meadows. Natural Areas Journal. 20(1): 36-45. [36045]
81. Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations: Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National Forests. R6 ECOL TP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 171 p. [9632]
95. Linde, Arlyn F. 1969. Controlled burning. In: Techniques for wetland management. Res. Rep. 45. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources: 90-101. [12116]
106. Middleton, Beth. 2002. Winter burning and the reduction of Cornus sericea in sedge meadows in southern Wisconsin. Restoration Ecology. 10(4): 723-730. [43888]
125. Ratliff, Raymond D. 1985. Meadows in the Sierra Nevada of California: state of knowledge. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-84. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 52 p. [20378]
150. Uhler, Francis M. 1944. Control of undesirable plants in waterfowl habitats. Transactions, 9th North American Wildlife Conference. 9: 295-303. [52696]
152. Vogl, Richard J. 1964. The effects of fire on a muskeg in northern Wisconsin. Journal of Wildlife Management. 28(2): 317-329. [12170]
160. Willard, E. Earl; Wakimoto, Ronald H.; Ryan, Kevin C. 1995. Vegetation recovery in sedge meadow communities within the Red Bench Fire, Glacier National Park. In: Cerulean, Susan I.; Engstrom, R. Todd, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective: Proceedings, 19th Tall Timbers fire ecology conference; 1993 November 3-6; Tallahassee, FL. No. 19. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 102-110. [25778]

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Plant Response to Fire

More info for the terms: cover, forbs, litter, peat, shrubs, wildfire

Beaked sedge sprouts from rhizomes [10,151]. Following a wildfire in a Sierra Nevada subalpine meadow dominated by beaked sedge, tufted hairgrass, Idaho bentgrass (Agrostis idahoensis), and Mexican rush (Juncus mexicanus), percent cover of beaked sedge was around 3% in the postfire years 1 and 2 but increased to around 12% in postfire years 3 and 4 [35].

A study following a severe wildfire in the North Fork of the Flathead River drainage described regrowth of beaked sedge on wet meadow sites as "dense and lush" by the 2nd postfire growing season [154,160]. Fires in sedge meadows typically burn surface litter; however, some of these meadows sustained areas with ground fires that burned organic layers to mineral soil. The wet meadows in the area have a layer of peat as thick as 12 to 18 inches (30-46 cm) overlying the mineral soil. The peat surface was generally charred but not consumed by the fire. In microsites where surface wood or woody vegetation was present, wood combustion ignited the peat, which burned to mineral soil. Most of the surface area of burned sedge meadows was revegetated in the 1st postfire year. Plant regeneration occurred primarily from existing rhizomes and roots. Where peat burned and mineral soil was exposed, rhizomes and roots were killed, slowing revegetation. By the 2nd postfire summer, beaked sedge had regrown from buried rhizomes, and it dominated the vegetation. Woody species encroachment was reduced, with many charred root crowns dead by posfire year 3 and no new woody establishment observed [160].

Average postfire ground and vegetative cover (%) for sedge meadow sites burned by the 1988 Red Bench fire, Glacier National Park [160] Vegetative cover 1989
(postfire year 1) 1990
(postfire year 2) 1991
(postfire year 3) Trees 0.1 0.1 0.0 Shrubs 0.3 0.5 0.1 Graminoids 64.0 68.0 77.1 Carex rostrata 55.7 68.7 68.7 Forbs 2.4 2.5 5.1

References:

10. Bernard, John M. 1990. Life history and vegetative reproduction in Carex. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68(7): 1441-1448. [14529]
35. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1984. Postfire succession in a Sierran subalpine meadow. The American Midland Naturalist. 111(1): 118-125. [6635]
151. Veikko, Salonen; Antti, Penttinen; Aila, Sarkka. 1992. Plant colonization of a bare peat surface: population changes and spatial patterns. Journal of Vegetation Science. 3(1): 113-118. [21040]
154. Wakimoto, Ronald H.; Willard, E. Earl. 1991. Progress report: Monitoring post-fire vegetation recovery in ponderosa pine and sedge meadow communities in Glacier National Park, NW Montana. Research Joint Venture Agreement INT-89441. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 17 p. [17635]
160. Willard, E. Earl; Wakimoto, Ronald H.; Ryan, Kevin C. 1995. Vegetation recovery in sedge meadow communities within the Red Bench Fire, Glacier National Park. In: Cerulean, Susan I.; Engstrom, R. Todd, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective: Proceedings, 19th Tall Timbers fire ecology conference; 1993 November 3-6; Tallahassee, FL. No. 19. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 102-110. [25778]

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Broad-scale Impacts of Fire

When soils with high organic matter content (like those of beaked sedge communities) are dry, heat from severe fires may penetrate the soil and/or consume organic surface layers, destroying beaked sedge rhizomes [81]. However, Debenedetti and Parsons [34,35] documented rapid recovery of beaked sedge in a Sierra subalpine meadow despite extensive destruction of soil organic matter and root biomass by the occurrence of fire during drought.

References:

34. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1979. Natural fire in subalpine meadows: a case description from the Sierra Nevada. Journal of Forestry. 77(8): 477-479. [7251]
35. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1984. Postfire succession in a Sierran subalpine meadow. The American Midland Naturalist. 111(1): 118-125. [6635]
81. Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations: Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National Forests. R6 ECOL TP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 171 p. [9632]

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Immediate Effect of Fire

There is little information in the literature regarding fire effects on beaked sedge; presumably, it is top-killed by fire. Severe fires may also destroy plant structures below the surface [81].

References:

81. Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations: Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National Forests. R6 ECOL TP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 171 p. [9632]

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Post-fire Regeneration

More info for the terms: graminoid, ground residual colonizer, rhizome, tussock

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [145]:
Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
Tussock graminoid
Ground residual colonizer (on site, initial community)

References:

145. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species comprising secondary plant succession in Northern Rocky Mountain forests. FEIS workshop: Postfire regeneration. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 10 p. [20090]

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License:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Fire Ecology

More info for the terms: fire occurrence, fire regime, fire severity, fuel, fuel moisture, hardwood, low-severity fire, marsh, natural, peat, severity, shrubs, top-kill

Fire adaptations: Beaked sedge sprouts from rhizomes [10,151], so it is likely to be able to sprout after top-kill by fire. However, peat soils like those common in beaked sedge communities can be flammable when dry, and heat from severe fires may penetrate the soil, destroying beaked sedge rhizomes [81]. There are reports of beaked sedge seeds in the soil seed bank up to 18 inches deep [92], so it may establish from on-site seed after fire.

FIRE REGIMES: Little research is available regarding FIRE REGIMES specific to beaked sedge. Fire regime and fire occurrence in mountain meadows or fens, where beaked sedge is often common or dominant, are in part the product of fire in surrounding forest vegetation, as is the vegetation composition of these areas over time [40]. Lower elevation meadows are likely more often impacted by forest fires than are higher elevation meadows, perhaps due to lighter fuel loads, greater fuel moisture, and more moderate burning conditions. Little is known about fires in meadows at high elevations; a low-severity fire across a meadow generally affects vegetative composition only slightly, but changes in herbaceous vegetation could result after a severe fire [125]. Meadows are not likely to burn when the herbage is grazed or in years of normal precipitation; however, they may burn when herbage is tall and dry or during droughts. A fire crossing a meadow with high soil moisture usually consumes only current growth and some mulch. Under very dry conditions, ground fires may occur that damage the meadow considerably [34,125], consuming the organic matter forming the bulk of many of these soils [125]. During periods of prolonged drought, plant communities dominated or co-dominated by beaked sedge may become susceptible to fire. During drought, green-up of the previous year's growth is reduced, resulting in an abundance of dry material that forms a continuous layer of matted surface fuel. Where these fuel conditions exist, they can contribute to greater fire severity [34].

Information about fire ecology in high-elevation meadows comes primarily from studies in the Sierra Nevada. Fires may play an important role in the evolution and maintenance of wet, sedge-dominated meadows of the Sierra Nevada, influencing the forest-meadow boundary [125] and reducing woody species invasion [20,125,160]. Natural fires are estimated to occur in mountain meadows at intervals of several hundred years [125].

The following table provides fire regime information that may be relevant to beaked sedge:

Fire regime information on vegetation communities in which beaked sedge may occur. For each community, fire regime characteristics are taken from the LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment Vegetation Models [86]. These vegetation models were developed by local experts using available literature, local data, and/or expert opinion as documented in the .pdf file linked from each Potential Natural Vegetation Group listed below. Cells are blank where information is not available in the Rapid Assessment Vegetation Model. Pacific Northwest California Southwest Great Basin Northern Rockies Northern Great Plains Great Lakes Northeast Southern Appalachians Pacific Northwest

Northwest Grassland

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Northwest Grassland Marsh Replacement 74% 7 Mixed 26% 20 Alpine and subalpine meadows and grasslands Replacement 68% 350 200 500 Mixed 32% 750 500 >1,000 California

California Grassland

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) California Grassland Herbaceous wetland Replacement 70% 15 Mixed 30% 35 Wet mountain meadow-Lodgepole pine (subalpine) Replacement 21% 100 Mixed 10% 200 Surface or low 69% 30 Alpine meadows and barrens Replacement 100% 200 200 400 Southwest

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Southwest Grassland Montane and subalpine grasslands Replacement 55% 18 10 100 Surface or low 45% 22 Montane and subalpine grasslands with shrubs or trees Replacement 30% 70 10 100 Surface or low 70% 30 Southwest Forested Riparian forest with conifers Replacement 100% 435 300 550 Riparian deciduous woodland Replacement 50% 110 15 200 Mixed 20% 275 25 Surface or low 30% 180 10 Stable aspen without conifers Replacement 81% 150 50 300 Surface or low 19% 650 600 >1,000 Great Basin

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Great Basin Grassland Mountain meadow (mesic to dry) Replacement 66% 31 15 45 Mixed 34% 59 30 90 Great Basin Forested Stable aspen-cottonwood, no conifers Replacement 31% 96 50 300 Surface or low 69% 44 20 60 Aspen with spruce-fir Replacement 38% 75 40 90 Mixed 38% 75 40 Surface or low 23% 125 30 250 Stable aspen without conifers Replacement 81% 150 50 300 Surface or low 19% 650 600 >1,000 Northern Rockies

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Northern Rockies Grassland Northern prairie grassland Replacement 55% 22 2 40 Mixed 45% 27 10 50 Mountain grassland Replacement 60% 20 10 Mixed 40% 30 Northern Rockies Shrubland Riparian (Wyoming) Mixed 100% 100 25 500 Northern Great Plains

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Northern Plains Grassland Northern tallgrass prairie Replacement 90% 6.5 1 25 Mixed 9% 63 Surface or low 2% 303 Northern Plains Woodland Northern Great Plains wooded draws and ravines Replacement 38% 45 30 100 Mixed 18% 94 Surface or low 43% 40 10 Great Plains floodplain Replacement 100% 500 Great Lakes

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Great Lakes Grassland Mosaic of bluestem prairie and oak-hickory Replacement 79% 5 1 8 Mixed 2% 260 Surface or low 20% 2 33 Great Lakes Forested Northern hardwood maple-beech-eastern hemlock Replacement 60% >1,000 Mixed 40% >1,000 Conifer lowland (embedded in fire-prone system) Replacement 45% 120 90 220 Mixed 55% 100 Conifer lowland (embedded in fire-resistant ecosystem) Replacement 36% 540 220 >1,000 Mixed 64% 300 Great Lakes floodplain forest Mixed 7% 833 Surface or low 93% 61 Great Lakes spruce-fir Replacement 100% 85 50 200 Minnesota spruce-fir (adjacent to Lake Superior and Drift and Lake Plain) Replacement 21% 300 Surface or low 79% 80 Eastern white pine-eastern hemlock Replacement 54% 370 Mixed 12% >1,000 Surface or low 34% 588 Northeast

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Northeast Grassland Northern coastal marsh Replacement 97% 7 2 50 Mixed 3% 265 20 Northeast Forested Northern hardwoods (Northeast) Replacement 39% >1,000 Mixed 61% 650 Eastern white pine-northern hardwoods Replacement 72% 475 Surface or low 28% >1,000 Northern hardwoods-eastern hemlock Replacement 50% >1,000 Surface or low 50% >1,000 Southern Appalachians

Southern Appalachians Forested

Vegetation Community (Potential Natural Vegetation Group) Fire severity* Fire regime characteristics Percent of fires Mean interval
(years) Minimum interval
(years) Maximum interval
(years) Southern Appalachians Forested Bottomland hardwood forest Replacement 25% 435 200 >1,000 Mixed 24% 455 150 500 Surface or low 51% 210 50 250 Eastern hemlock-eastern white pine-hardwood Replacement 17% >1,000 500 >1,000 Surface or low 83% 210 100 >1,000 *Fire Severities:
Replacement=Any fire that causes greater than 75% top removal of a vegetation-fuel type, resulting in general replacement of existing vegetation; may or may not cause a lethal effect on the plants.
Mixed=Any fire burning more than 5% of an area that does not qualify as a replacement, surface, or low-severity fire; includes mosaic and other fires that are intermediate in effects.
Surface or low=Any fire that causes less than 25% upper layer replacement and/or removal in a vegetation-fuel class but burns 5% or more of the area [54,85].

References:

10. Bernard, John M. 1990. Life history and vegetative reproduction in Carex. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68(7): 1441-1448. [14529]
34. DeBenedetti, Steven H.; Parsons, David J. 1979. Natural fire in subalpine meadows: a case description from the Sierra Nevada. Journal of Forestry. 77(8): 477-479. [7251]
40. Fall, Patricia L. 1997. Fire history and composition of the subalpine forest of western Colorado during the Holocene. Journal of Biogeography. 24(3): 309-325. [55979]
81. Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations: Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National Forests. R6 ECOL TP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 171 p. [9632]
92. Leck, M. A.; Schutz, W. 2005. Regeneration of Cyperaceae, with particular reference to seed ecology and seed banks. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 7(2): 95-133. [61210]
125. Ratliff, Raymond D. 1985. Meadows in the Sierra Nevada of California: state of knowledge. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-84. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 52 p. [20378]
151. Veikko, Salonen; Antti, Penttinen; Aila, Sarkka. 1992. Plant colonization of a bare peat surface: population changes and spatial patterns. Journal of Vegetation Science. 3(1): 113-118. [21040]
160. Willard, E. Earl; Wakimoto, Ronald H.; Ryan, Kevin C. 1995. Vegetation recovery in sedge meadow communities within the Red Bench Fire, Glacier National Park. In: Cerulean, Susan I.; Engstrom, R. Todd, eds. Fire in wetlands: a management perspective: Proceedings, 19th Tall Timbers fire ecology conference; 1993 November 3-6; Tallahassee, FL. No. 19. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 102-110. [25778]
20. Chappell, Christopher B.; Crawford, Rex C.; Barrett, Charley; Kagan, Jimmy; Johnson, David H.; O'Mealy, Mikell; Green, Greg A.; Ferguson, Howard L.; Edge, W. Daniel; Greda, Eva L.; O'Neil, Thomas A. 2001. Wildlife habitats: descriptions, status, trends, and system dynamics. In: Johnson, David H.; O'Neil, Thomas A., managing directors. Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press: 22-114. Available online: http://www.nwhi.org/index/habdescriptions [2008, February 26]. [63870]
54. Hann, Wendel; Havlina, Doug; Shlisky, Ayn; [and others]. 2005. Interagency fire regime condition class guidebook. Version 1.2, [Online]. In: Interagency fire regime condition class website. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior; The Nature Conservancy; Systems for Environmental Management (Producer). Variously paginated [+ appendices]. Available: http://www.frcc.gov/docs/1.2.2.2/Complete_Guidebook_V1.2.pdf [2007, May 23]. [66734]
85. LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment. 2005. Reference condition modeling manual (Version 2.1), [Online]. In: LANDFIRE. Cooperative Agreement 04-CA-11132543-189. Boulder, CO: The Nature Conservancy; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; U.S. Department of the Interior (Producers). 72 p. Available: http://www.landfire.gov/downloadfile.php?file=RA_Modeling_Manual_v2_1.pdf [2007, May 24]. [66741]
86. LANDFIRE Rapid Assessment. 2007. Rapid assessment reference condition models, [Online]. In: LANDFIRE. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Lab; U.S. Geological Survey; The Nature Conservancy (Producers). Available: http://www.landfire.gov/models_EW.php [2008, April 18] [66533]

Source:

License:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Successional Status

Regeneration Processes

More info for the terms: density, fresh, monoecious, peat, rhizome, succession, tiller, tussock

Beaked sedge regenerates from seed and vegetatively from rhizomes [10,151]. Soon after establishing, individuals originating from seed rapidly spread vegetatively [151].

Pollination: Beaked sedge is wind-pollinated [17].

Breeding system: Beaked sedge is monoecious [31,61,65,66,141,159].

Seed production: Beaked sedge rarely produces flowers in dry years [130].

Seed dispersal: Beaked sedge seeds are water-borne and flood-dispersed [17,105,139]. Seeds float for at least one month and may stay afloat for up to a year [139].

Seed banking: In a survey of Cyperaceae seed bank studies, Leck and Schutz [92] listed a study in Finland that found evidence of viable beaked sedge seed at soil depths of 0 to 4 inches (0-10 cm) and in northwest Germany at 4 to 18 inches (10-45 cm). Seed storage research has shown that when exposed to diurnally fluctuating temperatures, fresh beaked sedge seeds have higher germination rates than stored seeds [16,17], and 22% to 48% of seeds stored under varying conditions retain viability for 2.5 years [17]. However, no information is available regarding longevity of beaked sedge seeds in the soil seed bank under field conditions.

Germination: Beaked sedge seeds mature in late summer and may overwinter before germination; however, wet/cold stratification is not necessary to stimulate germination [16,17,74]. It has been suggested that beaked sedge germination may require drawdown of water in saturated areas [105]. However, laboratory research has shown that seed in saturated and moistened water regimes had 10% and 8% average germination, respectively, while alternating dry/saturated conditions had 4% average germination [17]. For more information on seed storage and germination studies, see the Value for Rehabilitation of Disturbed Sites section of this review.

Seedling establishment/growth: A study of oxbow lakes in Alberta found that beaked sedge was more likely to dominate oxbow vegetation where water levels are stable than where the levels fluctuate [94]. Beaked sedge shoot numbers and biomass production remain relatively constant over time on sites with small water level changes. Beaked sedge can survive in an environment with large water level fluctuations, but shoot size is influenced. High water during early summer reduces the number of shoots produced, while low water increases the number of shoots [67]. Shoot density may be higher on seasonally flooded sites than on sites characterized by year-round surface water, indicating that stands may recede over time with prolonged inundation [52].

Vegetative regeneration: Beaked sedge produces both long, spreading rhizomes and short, clumping rhizomes, which result in a matted and tufted growth pattern. The pattern is initiated by a shoot emerging at the end of a long rhizome; short rhizomes then develop to produce a tuft. These tufts, or tiller clumps, are composed of many shoots and tend to alternate with open areas of the site that lack plants [10]. A study of succession on a bare peat surface in Finland showed beaked sedge established in a heterogeneous point pattern, with many shoots occurring in a few clumps and few or none elsewhere [151].

A Swedish study of beaked sedge growth found that it formed indistinct tussocks consisting of dead or dying shoots; fertile and old, sterile shoots; current shoots; and new shoots. The new shoots develop either from the base of old shoots or from the tip of a horizontally growing rhizome. Fertile, old sterile, and current shoots can each form both types of new shoots. Dead shoots may still have living roots or rhizomes and establish new daughter shoots. Shoots from horizontally growing rhizomes emerged in open spots from the indistinct tussocks or within a neighboring tussock [67].

Beaked sedge can also spread by fragmentation. Old shoots that break off with associated roots can be transported by water and may establish on shore or in floating peat, developing new shoots from their bases [67].

References:

10. Bernard, John M. 1990. Life history and vegetative reproduction in Carex. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68(7): 1441-1448. [14529]
16. Budelsky, Rachel A.; Galatowitsch, Susan M. 1999. Effects of moisture, temperature, and time on seed germination of five wetland Carices: implications for restoration. Restoration Ecology. 7(1): 86-97. [37330]
17. Budelsky, Rachel Ann. 1998. Establishment of native sedges in restored and created wetlands. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota. 110 p. Dissertation. [68382]
31. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6: The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
52. Hall, James B.; Hansen, Paul L. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Tech. Bull. No. 97-11. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry, Riparian and Wetland Research Program. 381 p. [28173]
61. Hermann, Frederick J. 1970. Manual of the Carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agric. Handb. 374. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 397 p. [1139]
65. Houston, Kent E.; Hartung, Walter J.; Hartung, Carol J. 2001. A field guide for forest indicator plants, sensitive plants, and noxious weeds of the Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-84. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 184 p. [40585]
66. Hulten, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
67. Hultgren, A. B. Christina. 1989. Above-ground biomass variation in Carex rostrata Stokes in two contrasting habitats in central Sweden. Aquatic Botany. 34(4): 341-352. [16327]
74. Jones, Kimberly L.; Roundy, Bruce A.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Taylor, Jeffrey R. 2004. Environmental effects on germination of Carex utriculata and Carex nebrascensis relative to riparian restoration. Wetlands. 24(2): 467-479. [68338]
92. Leck, M. A.; Schutz, W. 2005. Regeneration of Cyperaceae, with particular reference to seed ecology and seed banks. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 7(2): 95-133. [61210]
94. Lieffers, V. J. 1984. Emergent plant communities of oxbow lakes in northeastern Alberta: salinity, water-level fluctuation, and succession. Canadian Journal of Botany. 62: 310-316. [19936]
105. Middleton, Beth. 2002. Nonequilibrium dynamics of sedge meadows grazed by cattle in southern Wisconsin. Plant Ecology. 161: 89-110. [6628]
130. Rejmankova, Eliska; Rejmanek, Marcel; Djohan, Tjut; Goldman, Charles R. 1999. Resistance and resilience of subalpine wetlands with respect to prolonged drought. Folia Geobotanica. 34: 175-188. [53347]
139. Skoglund, S. Jerry. 1990. Seed dispersing agents in two regularly flooded river sites. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68: 754-760. [11486]
141. Standley, Paul C. 1921. Flora of Glacier National Park, Montana. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 22, Part 5. Washington, DC: United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution: 235-438. [12318]
151. Veikko, Salonen; Antti, Penttinen; Aila, Sarkka. 1992. Plant colonization of a bare peat surface: population changes and spatial patterns. Journal of Vegetation Science. 3(1): 113-118. [21040]
159. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

Life Form

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

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Cyclicity

Phenology

Flowering/Fruiting

Fruiting Jun–Aug.

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)

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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Carex utriculata

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 6
Specimens with Barcodes: 10
Species With Barcodes: 1

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http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Barcode of Life Data Systems

Conservation Status

Information on state-level protected status of plants in the United States is available at Plants Database.

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

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National NatureServe Conservation Status

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

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NatureServe

NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Widespread in North America and Eurasia.

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USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

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NatureServe

Management

Management considerations

More info for the terms: cover, density, litter, succession, tussock

With adequate time for regrowth between uses, beaked sedge is considered
moderately tolerant of grazing [1], though it may be replaced by other species when
heavily grazed over extended periods [1,52,155]. A Montana study of
riparian grazing found that mean shoot density of beaked sedge was 12% to 16%
higher in grazed treatments than in ungrazed treatments, and mean shoot
emergence was 20% greater in grazed treatments. Productivity, as measured by
shoot height, was similar between the treatments [1]. A study of
Oregon moist meadows found beaked sedge was more competitive than timothy
(Phleum pratense) and tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris) on
ungrazed sites. Competitive characteristics include early and rapid growth,
a tall dense growth form, vegetative reproduction, and high litter production
(which may influence both nutrient availability and microclimate) [51].
Progression of Wisconsin sedge meadows (dominated by tussock sedge) to
shrub-dominated fens is likely encouraged by cattle grazing and not
strictly the outcome of succession [105]. The saturated soils in beaked
sedge community types are likely susceptible to trampling [116],
though high water tables throughout the growing season tend to limit access
by livestock and thereby reduce impacts [52,155].

A study of clearcutting in a Colorado subalpine forest presented data
for sedges (Carex spp.) in general, and on some sites sedge cover
significantly (P=0.05) increased in the 5 years after logging [32].

References:

1. Allen, Douglas R.; Marlow, Clayton B. 1994. Shoot population dynamics of beaked sedge following cattle grazing. Journal of Range Management. 47(1): 64-69. [22923]
51. Green, Douglas M.; Kauffman, J. Boone. 1995. Succession and livestock grazing in a northeastern Oregon riparian ecosystem. Journal of Range Management. 48(4): 307-313. [25925]
52. Hall, James B.; Hansen, Paul L. 1997. A preliminary riparian habitat type classification system for the Bureau of Land Management districts in southern and eastern Idaho. Tech. Bull. No. 97-11. Boise, ID: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Missoula, MT: University of Montana, School of Forestry, Riparian and Wetland Research Program. 381 p. [28173]
105. Middleton, Beth. 2002. Nonequilibrium dynamics of sedge meadows grazed by cattle in southern Wisconsin. Plant Ecology. 161: 89-110. [6628]
116. Padgett, Wayne George. 1981. Ecology of riparian plant communities in southern Malheur National Forest. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 143 p. Thesis. [14933]
155. Walford, Gillian; Jones, George; Fertig, Walt; Mellman-Brown, Sabine; Houston, Kent E. 2001. Riparian and wetland plant community types of the Shoshone National Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-85. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station; Cody, WY: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cody Conservation District. 122 p. [40599]
32. Crouch, Glenn L. 1985. Effects of clearcutting a subalpine forest in central Colorado on wildlife habitat. Res. Pap. RM-258. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 12 p. [8225]

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