Carex filifolia Nutt.
thread-leaved sedge (threadleaf sedge)
Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
thread-leaved sedge (threadleaf sedge)
Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Carex filifolia var. filifolia
Species Information
General:
Perennial, densely tufted herb from stout, fibrous roots; stems 8-30 cm tall, longer than the leaves.
Leaves:
Sheaths tight, the old basal ones persistent and conspicuous, lined, breaking into threads; blades 2 or 3 per stem, in-rolled, borne near the base, about 0.25 mm wide, the lower ones persistent.
Flowers:
Spikes solitary, linear at first, expanding below at maturity, with both female and male flowers, the male flowers towards the tips, the female flowers below, 10-30 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, erect; bractless.
Fruits:
Perigynia egg-shaped, 3-4 mm long, 2-2.3 mm wide, dull whitish to straw-coloured, short hairy, at least above, obscurely 2-ribbed, unstalked, the beaks translucent, 0.2-0.4 mm long; female scales broadly egg-shaped, larger than and concealing the perigynia, rounded, greenish, the centres darker, the margins bright white-translucent; stigmas 3; achenes 3-angled, 2.2-3 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Green
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Carex filifolia
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)
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) |
1005 | 353 | 2550 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
24 | 4 | 45 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
212 | 20 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
2 | 2 | 4 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
23 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(7), IDF(8), IMA(3), PP(4) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Dry open sites in the steppe and montane zones; frequent in SC BC, less frequent eastward and northward; N to AK, YT and NT, E to SW MB and S to MN, KS, NM, AZ and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Carex elyniformis A.E. Porsild
Carex filifolia var. filifolia