SafePlants

Summer Sedge

The term "Summer Sedge" appears in association with several plant and animal species, fishing practices, and geographical locations. The name is often used in reference to plants of the genus Carex, particularly Carex aestivalis, and also refers to various species of caddisflies and the sedge warbler.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions sedges growing in meadows and marshes, habitats that may contain other potential hazards for pets.

Considerations for Children

• Mentions of "summer programs" related to sedges suggest that children may encounter this plant in outdoor settings.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Carex aestivalis M.A. Curtis ex A. Gray
• Common Name: Summer Sedge

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Poales
• Family: Cyperaceae
• Genus: Carex

Distribution and Habitat

• Summer sedge is found primarily in southern New England.
• It grows in deciduous forests.
• Other sedges are found in wet meadows, standing water, lakes, spring ponds, beaver ponds, reedbeds, and damp wetlands.

Ecological Role

• Sedges, along with grasses, can produce a lot of litter, which is important for nutrient cycling in meadow ecosystems.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Sedges are described as grass-like plants.
• They are green in the winter and bloom in the spring and early summer.
• They exhibit a lot of growth in cool weather.
• Some sedges are drought-tolerant and easy to grow.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Summer sedge may rarely hybridize with graceful sedge (Carex gracillima).
• Sedges are a habitat and food source for sedge warblers and various insects, including caddisflies.
• Some sedges are used as a food source for caribou.

Further Information

• BISON Web Link: http://bison.usgs.ornl.gov/api/scientificName/Polycentropus%20floridensis
• ITIS Web Link
• Discover Life: Carex aestivalis - Summer sedge -- Discover Life