PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Prairie Straw Sedge (Carex suberecta)

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Photo by Kenneth Dritz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Prairie Straw Sedge (Carex suberecta), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in fens and moist to wet calcareous meadows and prairies. Blooming occurs late-May through early-June, fruiting throughout June. The optimal identification period for this species is throughout June.

Carex tenera var. suberecta

 
 
 

Prairie straw sedge is a graminoid, 30-70cm tall, with 2-5 distant, distinct spikes that are ovoid with bases that are rounded or short-acute and an acute apex. It has 15-80 perigynia in larger spikes, appressed, usually golden brown, 2.1-2.6mm wide, broadest at about the middle, 4-5mm long, conspicuously 6-9-veined abaxially, inconspicuously veined adaxially, diamond shaped in general outline, flat except over achene, base is subacute or acute, margin flat, smooth. Beak is appressed, golden brown at tip, flat, ciliate serrulate, abaxial suture with hyaline, with golden brown margin. Achenes are elliptic to ovate. Sheaths are adaxially conspicuously green-veined nearly to collar, with a narrow hyaline band or sharp Y-shaped region at collar, adaxially firm, summits U-shaped. Each fertile culm has 2-5 blades, usually less than 2.5-3mm wide. Its pistillate scales are reddish brown, its single-veined midstripe is sometimes pale, broady lanceolate, apex is firm, acute to acuminate.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs late-May through early-June, fruiting throughout June.

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

Associated species include Ascepias incarnata, Carex hystricina, Aster puniceus, Eupatorium maculatum, Angelica atropurpurea, Monarda fistulosa, Lycopus americanus, and Parnassia glauca.

Prairie straw sedge prefers moist to wetis found in fens and moist to wet calcareous meadows and prairies.

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.

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.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive species.

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.