Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea
Inland sedge, Prairie star sedge
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Carex interior var. capillacea, Carex interior, Carex howei, Carex mohriana, Carex atlantica var. capillaceae, Carex delicatula

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta
    • Liliopsida
      • Poales

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: State threatened

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, head

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

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is found in swampy, calcareous, spring-fed meadows, occasionally on dripping limestone ledges of bluff bases. Aboreal North America, species at its southern limits in Ozarks of Missouri.

ILPIN Notes: Perigynia sans wings, lower part spongy-thickened. Pistillate scales about 3/4 length of body of perigynia. Distinctive features include: 1) very narrow leaf-blades (1-3 mm w.) and, 2) few-flowered small clusters of widely spreading or recurving perigynia. Staminate flowers or remnants are at base of some spikes. Species is occasional in northern 1/2 of Illinois and Christian and Pope counties.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae: no
  • 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.