SafePlants

Hudson Bay Sedge (Carex heleonastes)

Hudson Bay sedge, scientifically known as Carex heleonastes, is a graminoid belonging to the sedge family.

Considerations for Pets

• This sedge can grow to 40cm tall from a slender, vertical rhizome, potentially making it accessible to pets.
• It features leaves that are 1-2 mm wide.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

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

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in boreal fens.
• Observed along the southern coast of Hudson Bay.
• Present in the Hudson Bay Lowland.
• Found in locations such as Germany.

Morphological Characteristics

• Small, loosely clumped sedge, typically 20-30 cm tall, but can reach 40cm.
• Leaves are 1-2 mm wide and pale green.
• Spikelets are lateral and crowded at the tip of the culm (3-4 spikelets).
• Perigynia (a type of modified bract) are flattened.
• Grows from a slender, vertical rhizome.
• It grows aiming high with a scarce lateral development.
• It is a perennial plant.

Ecological Role

• It is a tussock vegetation of sedge in poorly drained sites.
• It is a dominant plant in sedge fens.

Interactions with other organisms

• Brown lemmings are found in sedge habitats in Hudson Bay, Alaska.
• Serves as habitat for yellow rails in coastal fens within the Hudson Bay Lowlands.
• Le Conte's Sparrow and Sedge Wren are indicator species of Yellow Rail habitat.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex heleonastes.
• TERMIUM is the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank.