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Baikal sedge
Scientific Name: Carex sabulosa
Family: Cyperaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Baikal Sedge: A Rare Grass of the Dunes
Baikal Sedge, scientifically known as Carex sabulosa, is also commonly called Sand Sedge. This perennial graminoid forms compact tufts and spreads via long, creeping rhizomes, enabling it to cover large areas of sand.
Considerations for Pets
- While the text doesn't explicitly mention toxicity, it notes that Baikal Sedge is a grass that grows in tufts with underground stems. Observe your pets around such plants, particularly if they are prone to chewing or digging.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Carex sabulosa
- Common Names: Baikal Sedge, Sand Sedge
- Genus: Carex
- Species: sabulosa
- Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
- Synonyms: Carex sabulosa Turcz. ex Kunth
- Subspecies: Carex sabulosa ssp leiophylla is mentioned.
Distribution and Habitat
- Baikal Sedge is found in south-central and southwestern Yukon, Alaska, and amphiberingian regions throughout the world, with some presence in Asia.
- It is notably present in the Carcross (Yukon) dune system, one of the few locations in North America where it grows.
- It thrives in sand dune habitats.
Ecological Role
- The text highlights the threat of invasive plant species to Baikal Sedge populations in Yukon sand habitats.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Baikal Sedge is a perennial graminoid, meaning it lives for more than two years.
- It grows in compact tufts.
- It spreads through long, creeping rhizomes (underground horizontal stems).
- Its roots are long and spread out.
Quirky Facts
- Baikal sedge shares its habitat with the rare dune tachinid fly and the Yukon Lupine.
- It is one of the early summer delicacies that bears like to eat while cruising Lake Baikal.
Conservation Status
- Baikal Sedge is considered a threatened species in Canada.
- A Recovery Strategy for the Baikal Sedge (Carex sabulosa) in Canada has been developed.
- Critical habitat for the species is identified within the final Recovery Strategy.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- It is known to co-exist with the rare Dune Tachinid Fly in the Carcross Desert.
- It is noted that bears feed on this grass near Lake Baikal.
Further Information
- COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) has assessed the status of Baikal Sedge.
- Discover Life provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex sabulosa.