Carex aquatilis Wahlenb.
water sedge (northern sedge)
Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ewan Anderson     (Photo ID #14358)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Carex aquatilis
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Species Information

General:
Perennial, tufted herb from long, creeping rhizomes; stems triangular, with smooth edges, 15-120 cm tall, equalling the leaves.
Leaves:
Sheaths tight, short; blades flat, well distributed along the stem, 3-7 mm wide, the lower ones slightly reduced.
Flowers:
The terminal spikes 1 to 3, short-stalked, with male flowers, the lower spikes 2 to 7, with female flowers, unstalked or with short stalks, 3-14 cm long, erect; bracts subtending the spikes leaflike, sheathless, the lower ones longer than the inflorescence, the upper ones reduced.
Fruits:
Perigynia egg-shaped, 2-3.6 mm long, 1.3-2.3 mm wide, brownish-green, 3-angled, the angles rounded, smooth to somewhat wrinkled, 2-nerved, the beaks entire; female scales egg-shaped, shorter than or about as long as the perigynia, often shortly awn-tipped, brownish-red to blackish, with lighter 3-nerved centres, with translucent margins; stigmas 2; achenes lens-shaped, granular, 1.4-1.8 mm long. Two subspecies may be recognized in BC 1. Male spikes 2 to 3; plants generally more than 20 cm tall; plants more common southward ssp. aquatilis 1. Male spike 1; plants generally less than 20 cm tall; plants more common northward ssp. stans (Drej.) Hult.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Green
Blooming Period:
Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Yellow
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Carex aquatilis

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 1105 7 2117
Slope Gradient (%)
 0 0 40

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 286 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		6 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 1411
Modal BEC Zone Class
 SBS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BAFA(6), BWBS(133), CDF(1), CWH(23), ESSF(268), ICH(177), IDF(172), MH(9), MS(138), PP(1), SBPS(95), SBS(305), SWB(38)

Habitat and Range

Wet meadows, fens, streambanks and lakeshores in all vegetation zones; common throughout BC, less frequent along the coast; circumpolar, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to MA, VA, IN, MO, KA, NM, AZ and CA; Greenland, Eurasia.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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