SafePlants

Pill Sedge (Carex pilulifera)

Carex pilulifera, commonly known as Pill Sedge, is a European species of sedge with a wide distribution and specific habitat preferences.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex pilulifera L.
• Common Name: Pill Sedge
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
• Kingdom: Flowering Plants (Magnoliophyta)
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Poales
• Genus: Carex
• Taxonomic Rank: Species, Subspecies (e.g., Carex pilulifera subsp. azorica)
• Alternative Scientific Name: Carice pallottolina

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in Europe, ranging from Macaronesia to Scandinavia.
• Prefers acid heaths, woods, and grassland.
• Common in upland areas with acid soils.
• Also found on sandy soils at low altitudes.

Morphological Characteristics

• Perennial herb.
• Grows to a height of 10 to 30 cm.
• Has very short rhizomes.
• Densely tufted or tussock-forming growth habit.
• The upper part of the stem is rough.

Ecological Role

• Calcifuge plant, meaning it thrives in lime-free soils.
• Seed dispersal can be myrmecochorous (dispersed by ants).

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Hybridizes with other Carex species, including C. caryophyllea, C. ericetorum, and C. montana.
• The ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma momeus has been found associated with its roots.
• Subject to seed predation, influencing its dispersal and seed bank dynamics.

Further Information

• Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.
• BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) provides general literature references.
• University Herbarium, University of Michigan.
• Encyclopedia of Life