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Carex reznicekii — Reznicek's sedge

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Facts

Remarkably, Reznicek's sedge was first discovered as recently as 2006 by New York botanist David Werier. It is named for sedge (Carex) expert Dr. Anton Reznicek of the University of Michigan. In New England, Reznicek's sedge is known only from Connecticut and Rhode Island, and is protected in both states.

Habitat

Forests, ridges or ledges, talus and rocky slopes, woodlands

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Rhode Island
Leaf blade width
1.2–2.5 mm
Lowest bract sheath
the lowest bract has no sheath (or a very short sheath up to four millimeters in length)
Spike on stalk
the lowest spike on the plant has a peduncle
Top spike
the uppermost spike contains only staminate flowers
Perigynium hairs
the perigynium is hairy
Perigynium length
2.5–3.9 mm
Leaf sheath color
the leaf sheath is tinted pink, red or purple
Leaf blade texture
the leaf blade is smooth and hairless, or rough and sandpapery
Perigynium beak teeth
the perigynium beak is divided at the top into two teeth
Show all characteristics
  • Flowers

    Anther length
    1.2–2.3 mm
    Bumps on fruit
    the perigynium surface has papillae on it
    Length of scale
    • the scale is nearly as long as, or longer than, the perigynium
    • the scale is shorter than the perigynium
    Lowest spike length
    3.4–7.2 mm
    Lowest spike stalk length
    0.3–1.4 mm
    Lowest spike width
    1.8–4.4 mm
    Perigynium beak
    the perigynium has a beak
    Perigynium beak length
    0.4–1 mm
    Perigynium beak teeth
    the perigynium beak is divided at the top into two teeth
    Perigynium beak teeth length
    0.1–0.3 mm
    Perigynium color
    green
    Perigynium cross-section
    • the perigynium is planoconvex (flat on one surface and rounded on the other) in cross-section
    • the perigynium is trigonous (triangular) in cross-section
    Perigynium hairs
    the perigynium is hairy
    Perigynium length
    2.5–3.9 mm
    Perigynium nerve number
    2–10
    Perigynium nerve texture
    the nerves on the perigynium are raised, even after drying the perigynium
    Perigynium nerves lower side
    1–4
    Perigynium nerves upper side
    1–4
    Perigynium orientation
    the perigynia are oriented vertically or pressed against the axis or adjacent perigynia
    Perigynium puffy
    the achene is tightly enclosed by the perigynium
    Perigynium shape
    the perigynium body is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
    Perigynium width
    0.8–1.5 mm
    Perigynium winged
    the perigynium has no wings
    Pollen- and seed-producing spikes
    some of the spikes produce perigynia
    Pollen-producing spike length
    3.3–9.2 mm
    Pollen-producing spike number
    1
    Pollen-producing spike peduncle length
    0.2–0.7 mm
    Pollen-producing spike width
    0.4–1.8 mm
    Scale awn
    The carpellate scale does not have an awn (it may have a short point)
    Scale color
    • brown
    • green
    Scale length
    2.6–4.3 mm
    Scale tip
    • the carpellate scale tip is acute (has a sharp point)
    • the carpellate scale tip is obtuse (has a blunt point)
    Spike on stalk
    the lowest spike on the plant has a peduncle
    Spike orientation
    the spikes are oriented vertically or pressed against the axis
    Spikes per stem
    2-15
    Staminate scale tip
    • the staminate scale tip is acute (has a sharp point)
    • the staminate scale tip is obtuse (has a blunt point)
    Stigma branching
    the stigmas have three branches
    Top spike
    the uppermost spike contains only staminate flowers
  • Fruits or seeds

    Achene dimples
    the achene has no folds or dimples
    Achene length
    1.4–1.9 mm
    Achene width
    0.9–1.3 mm
    Style persistence
    the style falls off the mature achenes
  • Growth form

    Rhizomes
    there are no rhizomes, or the rhizomes are very short
  • Leaves

    Leaf arrangement
    the leaves are all produced from the base of the plant
    Leaf blade cross-section
    • The leaf blade is folded lengthwise, with one prominent midvien
    • the leaf blade is flat or M-shaped, with two prominent side-veins
    Leaf blade length to width ratio
    Up to 208
    Leaf blade texture
    the leaf blade is smooth and hairless, or rough and sandpapery
    Leaf blade width
    1.2–2.5 mm
    Leaf bumps
    • the upper surface of the leaf blade does not have papillae
    • the upper surface of the leaf blade has papillae on it
    Leaf sheath bumps
    there are no papillae at the top edge of the leaf sheath
    Leaf sheath color
    the leaf sheath is tinted pink, red or purple
    Leaf sheath dots
    there are red dots on the translucent tissues of the leaf sheathes
    Leaf sheath folds
    there are no corrugations on the leaf sheath
    Leaf sheath texture
    the leaf sheath feels rough, or has hairs
    Ligule length
    0.3–1.5 mm
    Lowest bract sheath
    the lowest bract has no sheath (or a very short sheath up to four millimeters in length)
    Lowest leaf blade width
    1.2–2.5 mm
    Lowest leaf sheath texture
    • the leaf sheath feels rough
    • the leaf sheath feels smooth (it may have soft hairs)
  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Rhode Island
    Specific habitat
    • forests
    • ridges or ledges
    • talus or rocky slopes
    • woodlands
  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Plant height
    1.3–13.7 cm
    Relative stem height
    the main stem is equal to or shorter than the leaves
    Spike internode length
    0.8–5.2 mm
    Stem cross-section
    the main stem is roughly triangular in cross-section
    Stem spacing
    the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts

Wetland status

Not classified

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
absent
Massachusetts
absent
New Hampshire
absent
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
absent

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Rhode Island
historical (S-rank: SH), state historical (code: SH)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

9.  Carex reznicekii Werier NC

Reznicek’s sedge. CT, RI. Dry-mesic to mesic woodlands and forests, often on circumneutral, rocky or ledgy slopes.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Carex nigromarginata

Family

Cyperaceae

Genus

Carex