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• Carex atherodes

Carex atherodes — wheat sedge

Facts

Although wheat sedge is widely distributed and common in North America west of New England, there are only a few known occurrences within New England, in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The New Hampshire population is known to be introduced, but the others are considered native. The Thompson Indians of British Columbia, where wheat sedge is common, softened the stems by rubbing, then used them as insoles for moccasins.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), marshes

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Bumps on fruit

  there are no papillae on the perigynium surface

  Inflorescence length

  120–600 mm

  Length of scale

  the scale is nearly as long as, or longer than, the perigynium

  Lowest spike length

  20–100 mm

  Lowest spike width

  10 mm

  Perigynium beak

  the perigynium has a beak

  Perigynium beak length

  2.1–4 mm

  Perigynium beak orientation

  the beak of the perigynium is straight, and in line with the perigynium

  Perigynium beak serrations

  the perigynium beak has no serrations

  Perigynium beak teeth

  the perigynium beak is divided at the top into two teeth

  Perigynium beak teeth length

  1.2–3 mm

  Perigynium color

  tan

  Perigynium cross-section

  the perigynium is relatively round in cross-section

  Perigynium hairs

  the perigynium has no hairs

  Perigynium length

  6.5–12 mm

  Perigynium nerve number

  12–21

  Perigynium nerve texture

  the nerves on the perigynium are raised, even after drying the perigynium

  Perigynium nerves lower side

  6–10

  Perigynium nerves upper side

  6–10

  Perigynium orientation

  the perigynia are oriented vertically or pressed against the axis or adjacent perigynia

  Perigynium puffy

  the perigynium is inflated (there is space between the perigynium and the achene)

  Perigynium shape

  • the perigynium body is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the perigynium body is ovate (egg-shaped)

  Perigynium width

  1.8–3.8 mm

  Perigynium winged

  the perigynium has no wings

  Pollen- and seed-producing spikes

  some of the spikes produce perigynia

  Pollen-producing spike length

  20–60 mm

  Pollen-producing spike number

  1–6

  Scale awn

  the carpellate scale has an awn on it

  Scale awn texture

  the carpellate scale awn has tiny teeth

  Scale color

  • green
  • tan

  Scale tip

  the carpellate scale tip is acute (has a sharp point)

  Spike on stalk

  the lowest spike on the plant has a peduncle

  Spike orientation

  the spikes are oriented vertically or pressed against the axis

  Spikes per stem

  2-15

  Staminate scale tip

  • the staminate scale tip is acuminate (tapered to a narrow point)
  • the staminate scale tip is acute (has a sharp point)
  • the staminate scale tip is obtuse (has a blunt point)

  Stigma branching

  the stigmas have three branches

  Top spike

  the uppermost spike contains only staminate flowers

• Fruits or seeds

  Achene dimples

  the achene has no folds or dimples

  Style persistence

  the style stays on the mature achenes

• Growth form

  Rhizomes

  there are long rhizomes present

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  the leaves are mostly produced higher up on the plant

  Leaf blade cross-section

  the leaf blade is flat or M-shaped, with two prominent side-veins

  Leaf blade texture

  • the leaf blade is hairy
  • the leaf blade is smooth and hairless, or rough and sandpapery

  Leaf bumps

  the upper surface of the leaf blade does not have papillae

  Leaf sheath bumps

  there are no papillae at the top edge of the leaf sheath

  Leaf sheath color

  the leaf sheath is tinted pink, red or purple

  Leaf sheath dots

  there are no dots on the leaf sheathes

  Leaf sheath folds

  there are no corrugations on the leaf sheath

  Leaf sheath texture

  the leaf sheath feels rough, or has hairs

  Ligule length

  6–45 mm

  Lowest bract sheath

  the lowest bract has no sheath (or a very short sheath up to four millimeters in length)

  Lowest leaf blade width

  3–10 mm

  Lowest leaf sheath texture

  • the leaf sheath feels rough
  • the leaf sheath feels smooth (it may have soft hairs)

  stem leaf blade width

  3–10 mm

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • man-made or disturbed habitats
  • marshes

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Plant height

  25–125 cm

  Relative stem height

  the main stem is equal to or shorter than the leaves

  Stem cross-section

  the main stem is roughly triangular in cross-section

  Stem spacing

  the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts

Wetland status

Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae