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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| THE SEDGE FAMILY | |||||||||
| The sedge family is widespread around
the world, but these plants are usually found in damp habitats in subarctic
to temperate regions. The sedge family is very large, with approximately
5,315 species! There is a lot of variability within the family, but in general,
they are perennial herbs. The stems are solid and are frequently three sided.
The leaves are in three vertical rows. The basal sheath of the leaves is
closed. The leaves are linear and have the parallel venation typical of
the monocots. The inflorescences vary greatly among genera. In general,
flowers are in spikes or spikelets which are arranged into spikes, racemes,
panicles and umbrella-like clusters. In each spike there are bracts, usually
at least one per flower. The flowers are reduced, meaning that they do not
have obvious sepals and petals. The sepals and petals, if present, are often
in the form of bristles, scales or hairs. There are three stamens and two
or three carpels. The flowers may have both male and female parts or only
one of the two. In one of the largest genera, Carex, the ovary is enclosed
in a sac-like bract called the perigynium. The fruits are single-seeded,
lens-shaped or triangular structures called achenes. The sedges are an ecologically important family in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has 149 species belonging to the Cyperaceae. | |||||||||
| MICHAUX’S SEDGE | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Carex michauxiana | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Michaux’s sedge grows up to 60 cm tall from fibrous roots. The stems are tufted and obtusely three-angled. The leaves are nearly as tall as the inflorescence and may be flat or M-shaped. The terminal spike is male-flowered and is partly hidden by the highest female-flowered spike. The two or three lateral spikes are female-flowered and on thread-like stalks. The male spike is small and pale coloured. The female flowers have dry, membranous scales with green midribs. There are five to ten yellowish perigynia per spike. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Michaux’s sedge grows in wet sedge fens and open and treed bogs. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern Saskatchewan in the Athabasca Plain and Churchill River ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Michaux’s sedge is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is rare. It is restricted to the northern part of the province. The plants are usually locally numerous but are limited in area. No immediate threats are known for Michaux’s sedge. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY MICHAUX’S SEDGE | |||||||||
| * Are the stems tufted? * Are the nearly as tall as the inflorescence? * Is the terminal male-flowered spike hidden by the lower female-flowered spikes? * Did you find it in northern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Michaux’s sedge! | |||||||||
