SafePlants

Hudson Bay Sedge (Carex heleonastes)

This page provides information about the Hudson Bay sedge, a plant with the scientific name Carex heleonastes.

Common Names

• Hudson Bay sedge
• Torfsegge (German)
• Carice delle torbiere (Italian)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex heleonastes L. f.
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
• Subspecies: Carex heleonastes ssp. heleonastes

Distribution and Habitat

Hudson Bay sedge is found in boreal fens and the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

• It is associated with the southern coast of Hudson Bay.
• Specifically found in the Hudson Bay Lowland in Canada.
• Observed in a hummocky sedge fen in the northern Hudson Bay Lowland.

Morphological Characteristics

• A small, loosely clumped sedge, typically 20-30 cm tall.
• Leaves are 1-2 mm wide and pale green.
• Spikelets are lateral, with 3-4 crowded at the tip of the culm.
• Perigynia are flattened.
• Grows up to 40 cm from a slender, vertical rhizome.

Ecological Role

• Forms tussock vegetation in poorly drained sites.
• Important plant in coastal fens within the Hudson Bay Lowlands.
• The water balance of sedge fens, where this species is found, plays a significant role in the regional climate and methane production.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Brown Lemmings are found in sedge habitats in Hudson Bay, Alaska.
• Le Conte's Sparrow and Sedge Wren are indicator species for Yellow Rail in regions where Hudson Bay sedge is found.

Further Information

• Discover Life: Has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex heleonastes.
• USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region: Provides a photo of the plant.
• TERMIUM: Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.