PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Elk Sedge (Carex garberi)

IMG_0390_jrl_2008.jpg

 

 

 

 

8912.jpg

Photo by Janeen Ruby

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Elk Sedge (Carex garberi), a Wisconsin Threatened plant, is found in moist to wet sandy, gravelly, or dolomitic beach flats. Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through August.

Carex garberi ssp. bifaria, Carex garberi var. bifaria

 
 
 

Elk sedge is a graminoid with a terminal spike that is usually gynecandrous, at least 1/3 of flowers are male at the base, sessile or short-pedunculate. The lowermost pistillate spikelet is peduncled. Its perigynia are ascending, dusty-white when fresh, elliptic-obovate, and densely papillose, achenes are 2-sided (lenticular or somewhat flattened). Basal sheaths are not fibrous, sheath fronts are membranous. Blades are V-shaped in cross section when young, glabrous, and 5-15 cm by 1-2.5mm.

It is most similar to C aurea, which has pistillate scales spreading, mature perigynia golden-orange when fresh and its terminal spikelet is usually entirely staminate.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-August.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through late-August.

Associated species include Carex eburnea, C aurea, Castilleja coccinea, Hypericum kalmianum, Panicum lindheimerii, Equisetum variegatum, Juncus balticus, and Lobelia kalmii.

Elk sedge is found in moist to wet sandy, gravelly, or dolomitic beach flats.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Avoid any activities that destabilize the dune, including the use of off-road vehicles, removal of native vegetation, and pedestrian recreational overuse.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.