Carex cusickii
Encyclopedia
Carex cusickii is a species of sedge
known by the common name Cusick's sedge. It is native to Northwestern North America from British Columbia
to California
, and in Utah
, where it can be found in several types of wet habitat, such as marsh
es, mountain meadows, and ditches. In its range it is most common in the Cascade Range
and areas west.
, with male and female flowers occurring on different individuals. The long leaves have sheaths dotted with red and edged at the top with copper. The inflorescence
is often separated into distinct bunches of spikelets.
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
known by the common name Cusick's sedge. It is native to Northwestern North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where it can be found in several types of wet habitat, such as marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, mountain meadows, and ditches. In its range it is most common in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
and areas west.
Description
The Carex cusickii sedge produces clumps of stems up to 1.3 meters tall. It is sometimes dioeciousPlant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
, with male and female flowers occurring on different individuals. The long leaves have sheaths dotted with red and edged at the top with copper. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is often separated into distinct bunches of spikelets.