Kingdom Plantae Family Cyperaceae Scientific name Carex rossii Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Carex Higher classification Sedges | |
 | ||
Similar Sedges, Carex geyeri, Carex hoodii, Carex raynoldsii, Carex phaeocephala | ||
Carex rossii, commonly known as Ross's sedge, is a hardy, monoecious species of sedge that is often a pioneer species in areas with little or no established vegetation, or in places where disturbance has occurred. It flowers in May and June.
Contents
Description
Carex rossii produces a dense clump, or solid mat of slender stems up to about 40 centimetres (16 in) from a shallow network of rhizomes. The pale to dark green leaves are usually longer than the stems. The inflorescences contain one or more staminate flower spikes above more rounded pistillate spikes. The fruit is three-sided, and covered in a greenish or brownish perigynium.
Distribution
Carex rossii is native to, and sometimes abundant in, Alaska and subarctic Canada (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory); western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan); and the contiguous U.S. (Arizona, California, Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.) It is found only sporadically in Ontario, Michigan, and Nebraska.
Habitat
Carex rossii grows in many habitat types, including wet and dry areas in forest, sagebrush, prairie, and alpine meadows.
