PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Slender Sedge (Carex gracilescens)

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Photo by Charles T. Bryson

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Slender Sedge (Carex gracilescens), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in mesic deciduous forests. Blooming occurs throughout May, fruiting throughout June. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through June.

Carex laxiflora var. gracillima

 
 
 

Slender sedge is a graminoid, 20-80cm tall, with 3-5 spikes per culm, the lower spikes pistillate on erect to ascending peduncles, the terminal spikelet is staminate and peduncled, usually elevated above pistillate spikelets. It has 4-12 closely overlapping perigynia per spike, that are aggregated, ascending, conspicuously veined, elliptic-obovate, broadly rounded and spindle or top-shaped, the beak is abruptly bent, achenes are obovoid. The widest leaves are usually 5mm, the basal sheaths are reddish-purple or purple tinged, sheaths are 2-42mm, blades are ascending or lax, erect, green or yellow-green, not glaucous, midrib developed adaxially, and 2 lateral veins abaxially. The blades of overwintering leaves are smooth. The pistillate scales' apex is acute to aristate, awn to 1mm. The staminate scales' margins are hyaline, purple-brown or brownish purple tinged, and its apex acute.

It is most similar to Carex blanda, which has leaves with white bases, staminate spikelet that is sessile and shorter than the tips of the bracts, and somewhat longer perigynia with a shorter beak.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs throughout May, fruiting throughout June.

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

Associated species include Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia.

Slender sedge prefers sandy or rocky, sometimes calcareous soils and is found in mesic deciduous forests.

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.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Avoid rapid and dramatic reductions in canopy cover and, basal area, in wet areas to reduce risk of swamping.

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.