Wisconsin's rare plants

Straw sedge is a graminoid, 0.4-1m tall, with 3-7 distant, distinct, globose spikes, base usually attenuate and the apex rounded. Lateral spikes have male portion 2-6mm at base. Perigynia are widely spreading, reddish brown, over 2.2-2.5mm wide, conspicuously 5-veined or more on each face, flat except over achene, rounded base, flat margin, the beak widely spreading, pale to reddish brown at tip, flat, ciliate-serrulate, abaxial suture with golden brown margin, achenes are elliptic. Sheaths are adaxially green-veined nearly to collar, narrow hyaline band or sharp Y-shaped region at collar, adaxially firm, summits U-shaped. Each fertile culm has 3-4 blades.

Distinguishing characteristics include its densely cespitose habit, 3-7 spikes, the lowermost widely separated and not overlapping, each abruptly contracted at the base where the staminate portion is found, and its widely spreading perigynia that are reddish-brown, over 2mm wide, and conspicuously 5-veined or more on each face.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs throughout June, fruiting throughout July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is throughout July.

Associated species include Pinus banksiana and Quercus ellipsoidalis.

Straw sedge prefers moist to wet soils and is found on lakeshores in jack pine barrens and with sphagnum mosses in sandy, wet meadows and ditches.

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 direct disturbance to sensitive microsites such as seeps, cliffs, and moss-covered boulders.

Avoid direct disturbance near wet areas such as small ponds, ephemeral ponds, or swales within woodlands.

Avoid disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.