BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Carex filifolia | Threadleaf Sedge 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Threadleaf sedge is a perennial, native, cool-season grasslike plant
with a densely caespitose growth habit [25].  It reaches up to 12 inches
(30 cm) in height.  Its root system binds the soil more firmly than that
of most grasses.  Although very small, (1 mm or less in diameter) roots
occur in enormous numbers.  Root systems extend farther laterally (as
far as 15 inches [38 cm] away from the plant) than vertically [4,28].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Sexual:  Plants are monoecious; male flowers occur on the upper portion
of the floret and female flowers on the lower portion.  Fruits are
triangular achenes [7].  Flowers are often damaged by frost, preventing
seed production [21].

Vegetative:  Threadleaf sedge can reproduce vegetatively by rhizomes,
but this is uncommon.  The majority of reproduction is by seed [7].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Threadleaf sedge is typically found on dry soils of open prairies and
rolling hills.  It can grow on moist sites but not in shallow water or
swamps [25].  Threadleaf sedge generally occurs on the upper slopes of
hills but can occur on all aspects [14].  It usually grows in full
sunlight, although fair stands sometimes occur in the shade [5].

Soils:  Threadleaf sedge is generally found on deep, loamy soils in
meadows and shallow rocky soils on slopes [5].  Production is fair to
good on all soil types except clay to dense clay.  Optimum production
occurs on sandy loams and loams with a depth of 10 to 20 inches (26-51
cm) [7].

Elevation:  The elevational range is wide due to the wide distribution
of the plant.  In the Northwest and Canada it can be found within
several hundred feet of sea level, but in the Southern Rocky Mountains
it occurs at timberline (12,000 feet [3,658 m]) and has been reported at
13,000 feet (3,958 m) in Colorado [5,7].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Threadleaf sedge decreases in response to heavy grazing and is
eventually removed from the plant community.  In Nebraska it was
identified as a codominant with needlegrass (Stipa spp.) in a
mixed-prairie climax community.  Under grazing pressure, needlegrass
decreased and was replaced by blue grama.  With continued heavy grazing,
buffalograss replaced threadleaf sedge [27].

Results of a study in southwestern North Dakota showed cover of
threadleaf sedge was significantly higher within exclosures than without
[2].  Blue grama appeared to replace threadleaf sedge.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Seasonal development varies slightly according to elevation.  Growth
starts in late March to early April in North Dakota [21], early April in
Nebraska [27], and April in Colorado [6].  Flowering occurs from May to
June in North Dakota, late April in Nebraska, late April to May in
Colorado, May in Wyoming [7], and April to July in Montana [7].  Seed
dissemination starts the first of June in Nebraska and mid-May in
Colorado.  Seed dispersal is completed by the end of July in North
Dakota.  The plant is dried by early to mid-November in Colorado.
 

Related categories for Species: Carex filifolia | Threadleaf Sedge