Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Carex digitalis
Sedge, Narrow-leaved wood sedge
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Carex digitalis var. digitalis, Carex digitalis var. macropoda

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Species Distribution
If map does not appear refresh browser Refresh
Click map to view & download detailed occurrence records

More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots: adventitious, fibrous

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; awl-shaped leaf shape

Inflorescence: spike

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; 3 merous; incomplete, not petals, not sepals; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction:

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is often distributed in chert, sand, or sandstone; also in ravines or at the base of slopes in limestone areas.

ILPIN Notes: Terminal spike is usually all staminate, may have a few perigynia. Lateral spikes 2-5, pistillate or androgynous. Staminate spikes conspicuous, mostly long-pedunculate, overtopping pistillate spikes. Pistillate spikes mostly erect ascending, loosely flowered, perigynia in 2-3 rows; Leaves glabrous. Pistillate scales acute-acuminate, shorter than perigynia. Perigynia ellipsoid, short-stipitate, pale to dark green or glaucous, with elevated nerves, readily visible on spike, triangular in x-section, closely enveloping the achene. Achene triangular-ellipsoid, not stipitate (ref. 2). Ref. 4 has 2 varieties, digitalis and macropoda Fern. These differ on: 1) sessile or peduncled nature of fertile spikes; 2) spike length rel. to fertile bract length; 3) culm height.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 8
  • Chicago Area: 10

Post a Comment or Question About this Plant
Name

Email address (required)

Comment? Question? 300 word limit (required)




Enter the text code above (required)

Note: All submissions are moderated and only some are posted. Posted comments may be edited for length. An email address will not be posted, but it is required for communication with the site moderator. Comments focused outside of Illinois and neighboring states may be posted, but more attention will be given to Illinois centered information. Thanks for your interest.