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Bicknell's sedge
Scientific Name: Carex bicknellii
Family: Cyperaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Perennial
Other Names: ME (Bicknell's sedge), NY (Bicknell's sedge), OH (
Bicknell's Sedge (Carex bicknellii)
Bicknell's Sedge, also known as Prairie Sedge or Copper-shouldered Oval Sedge, is a perennial graminoid appreciated for its drought tolerance and suitability for rain gardens and meadows.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Carex bicknellii Britton
- Common Names: Bicknell's Sedge, Prairie Sedge, Copper-shouldered Oval Sedge
- Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
- Order: Poales
- Synonyms: Carex bicknellii var. bicknellii, Carex brevior
- Vermont Flora Code: CARBIC
Morphology and Growth Habits
- Bicknell's Sedge is a tufted perennial, typically growing to a height of 1 to 2 feet (3-12 dm).
- It features leafy culms arising from a short, black, fibrillose rootstalk.
- The plant actively grows during the spring and fall when soil temperatures are cool.
- Distinguished by its larger perigynia, measuring approximately 6mm long by 4mm wide.
- It is part of the Ovales section of Carex species, characterized by its dense, roundish head of fruits and perigynia.
Distribution and Habitat
- This sedge is native to the US.
- It tolerates dry locations better than many other sedges, making it well-suited for prairies, meadows and rain gardens.
Ecological Role
- Unlike most sedges that prefer moist soils and woodlands, Bicknell's Sedge thrives in prairie environments.
- It greens up early in the spring before warm-season grasses.
Further Information
- USDA Plants Database
- ISM Herbarium
- Michiganflora.net
- Dave's Garden