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• Cyperaceae
• Carex
• Carex Group 2
• Section Phyllostachyae
• Carex willdenowii

Carex willdenowii — Willdenow's sedge

Facts

Willdenow's sedge is extremely rare in New England, where it is found on rocky or ledgy slopes and ridgelines. It is named after Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765 - 1812) a German botanist and one of the founders of phytogeography.

Habitat

Forests, ridges or ledges, woodlands

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Anther length

  0.9–1.1 mm

  Bumps on fruit

  there are no papillae on the perigynium surface

  Length of scale

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

  Perigynium beak

  the perigynium has a beak

  Perigynium beak length

  1.7–2.8 mm

  Perigynium beak orientation

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

  Perigynium beak serrations

  the perigynium beak has tiny serrations along the edges

  Perigynium beak teeth

  the perigynium beak is not divided at the tip into two teeth, or the teeth are very tiny

  Perigynium beak teeth length

  0 mm

  Perigynium color

  green

  Perigynium cross-section

  • the perigynium is relatively round in cross-section
  • the perigynium is trigonous (triangular) in cross-section

  Perigynium hairs

  the perigynium has no hairs

  Perigynium length

  4.5–6.5 mm

  Perigynium nerve number

  0

  Perigynium nerve texture

  NA

  Perigynium nerves lower side

  0

  Perigynium nerves upper side

  0

  Perigynium orientation

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

  Perigynium puffy

  the achene is tightly enclosed by the perigynium

  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

  1.2–1.7 mm

  Perigynium winged

  the perigynium has no wings

  Pollen- and seed-producing spikes

  some of the spikes produce perigynia

  Pollen-producing spike length

  0 mm

  Pollen-producing spike number

  0

  Pollen-producing spike peduncle length

  0 mm

  Pollen-producing spike width

  0 mm

  Scale awn

  • The carpellate scale does not have an awn (it may have a short point)
  • the carpellate scale has an awn on it

  Scale color

  • green
  • white or translucent

  Scale length

  At least 10 mm

  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 angled outwards, or arched over
  • the spikes are bent downwards or droop downwards

  Spikes per stem

  • 1
  • 2-15

  Staminate scale tip

  the staminate scale tip is obtuse (has a blunt point)

  Stigma branching

  the stigmas have three branches

  Top spike

  the uppermost spike contains both staminate and carpellate flowers, with the carpellate flowers located below, or intermixed with, the staminate flowers

• Fruits or seeds

  Achene dimples

  the achene has no folds or dimples

  Achene length

  1.8–2.6 mm

  Achene width

  1.2–1.6 mm

  Style persistence

  the style falls off the mature achenes

• Growth form

  Rhizomes

  there are no rhizomes, or the rhizomes are very short

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  the leaves are all produced from the base of the plant

  Leaf blade cross-section

  The leaf blade is folded lengthwise, with one prominent midvien

  Leaf blade texture

  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 has no pink, red or purple tinting

  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 smooth, and has no hairs

  Lowest bract sheath

  NA

  Lowest leaf blade width

  1.3–3.2 mm

  Lowest leaf sheath texture

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

  stem leaf blade width

  1.3–3.2 mm

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • forests
  • ridges or ledges
  • woodlands

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Plant height

  3.1–29.7 cm

  Relative stem height

  the main stem is equal to or shorter than the leaves

  Spike internode length

  At least 0 mm

  Stem cross-section

  the main stem has all three edges raised to narrow wing-like ridges

  Stem spacing

  the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts

Wetland status

Occurs only in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: UPL)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae