Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Carex tenera
Sedge, Quill sedge, Narrow-leaved oval sedge
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Carex tenera var. echinodes, Carex tenera var. tenera

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

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

Images

   
View all images. View all at PhytoImages.
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: 3 merous; incomplete, not petals, not sepals; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: achene

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in disturbed woodlands with Tilia americana, also flatwoods in Grundy county, grassy open places, and ditch borders.

ILPIN Notes: Species is occasional in northern 1/2 of Illinois, less common in the southern 1/2. Small spikes of relatively few flowers, small perigynia, and absence of leafy culms help separate this species from others of Sect. Ovales. Aspect plants cespitose sans well-developed rhizomes. Spikelets well separated, leaves 0.5-2.5 mm wide, spikes in a loose, moniliform inflorescence, fertile culms longer than leaves. Mature perigynia: 1) winged; 2) narrow to broadly ovoid, length 2-4 mm, width approximately 2 mm; 3) beak ascending to appressed; and 4) gradually tapering to a beak.

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: 5
  • Chicago Area: 8

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.