SafePlants

Northwest Territory Sedge (Carex utriculata)

Carex utriculata, commonly known as Northwest Territory sedge, is a perennial plant belonging to the sedge family.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has "prickly green heads" at maturity.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex utriculata Boott
• Common Names: Northwest Territory sedge, Beaked sedge, Bottle sedge, Inflated sedge
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms: C. rostrata utriculata

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the northern half of North America.
• Common in open swamps, peatlands, and wetlands.
• Found in locations such as Logan Valley, Malheur, and the Sierra Nevada Range, California, USA.
• Also found in the Taiga Shield regions of the Northwest Territories and other areas of Canada, including the Queen Elizabeth Islands.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Perennial sedge that thrives in marshy conditions.
• Grows thick at the base.
• Reaches a height of up to 20 inches.
• Forms "prickly green heads."

Ecology

• Stands dominated by Northwest Territory sedge are common and characteristic of peatlands, where it may account for a large percentage of the plant life.
• Associated with wetland sedge communities in the Western Great Lakes region.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Associated with insects such as Tytthus pubescens and Tytthus pygmaeus.
• May dominate peatlands, accounting for up to 95% of the plant life.
• Leafy tussock sedge (Carex aquatilis) and Northwest Territory sedge (Carex utricalatia) are common in large flat fen sites.

Additional Information

• NRCS Symbol: CAUT
• ITIS #: 501288
• Allergen Potential: High
• Bloom Period: Mid Summer
• Flower Color: Green
• Drought Tolerance: Low

Resources

• Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database for viewing specimens.
• Discover Life page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution.
• CalPhotos Photo Database.