SafePlants

Carex serpenticola and Related Species

This page provides information on Carex serpenticola and related species. The text discusses various aspects of these plants, including their classification, distribution, and ecological roles.

Common Names

• Carex serpenticola: Serpentine Sedge
• Carex serratodens: Bifid Sedge, Serpentine Sedge

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Family: Mentioned as Unfollowed, indicating membership in a plant family, but the specific family name isn't clearly provided in the text. The text mentions other sedges (genus Carex) which belong to the Cyperaceae family.

Distribution and Habitat

• Carex serpenticola grows in moist soil, often with high magnesium content, specifically in serpentine barrens.
• The species are native to the southwestern United States and far northern Mexico, where they grow in wet places, sometimes on serpentine soils.
• Other species mentioned are found in various locations:
  • Carex serratodens is fairly widely distributed and grows on non-serpentine soil.
  • Lepidosperma filiforme (Serpentine Sedge) is found in serpentine rock regions of North Cape and Marlborough-NW Nelson.

Ecological Role

• Several sedges are associated with serpentine soils, which often support unusual plant communities. Serpentine barrens are mentioned as containing rare and endangered species.
• The text hints at the importance of sedges as part of serpentine grasslands and heathlands.
• One species, Carex pansa (Pacific dune sedge), is described as a native creeping, meadow-forming sedge.

Morphological Characteristics

• A reference describes Carex xerophila as a tufted annual sedge, 3-6cm tall, with grass-like leaves and flowers in spring.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The text mentions the "Eastern sedge barrens leafhopper", highlighting an insect interaction within sedge habitats.

Considerations for Pets

• While specific toxicity information is not provided, the text mentions various species of sedges and their presence in gardens. General caution should be exercised when introducing any new plant to an environment accessible to pets.

Quirky Facts

• The text refers to a "green serpentine or 'ophicalcite' (Galway) Capital: a variety of sedge (Cyperus rigidus) a. Papyrus sp. b. sawgrass (Cladium sp.)", indicating a historical or cultural connection between sedges and specific regions or materials.