BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Carex heliophila | Sun Sedge 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sun sedge is a low-growing, strongly rhizomatous, cool-season,
nonmychorrhizal, native perennial.  Plants grow from slender rootstocks
and form tufts or bunches.  Culms (stems) range up to 11 inches (3 dm)
in height [8,11,13,21].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Although sun sedge produces seeds, most regeneration is through
well-developed, creeping rhizomes [11].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Sun sedge occurs in prairies, pastures, plains, and hills from 4,000 to
9,000 feet (1,200-2,600 m) in elevation [11,13].  It usually is a minor
component of prairie vegetation.  On dry ridges, sun sedge may comprise
5 to 10 percent of the cover, but in some areas it may comprise
approximately 30 to 50 percent of the plants present [11].  Elevational
ranges in three western states vary as follows [1]:

    from 4,400 to 9,500 feet (1,300-2,800 m) in CO
         3,700 to 6,200 feet (1,100-1,800 m) in MT
         3,400 to 8,500 feet (1,000-2,500 m) in WY

Sun sedge is found in openings in ponderosa pine forests with sandy loam
to sandy clay soils with pH's ranging from 6.0 to 7.6 [14].  The growth
of sun sedge on soils from several western states is rated as follows
[8]:

                   CO      MT      ND      WY
    Gravel        Fair    Fair    Fair    Good
    Sand          Fair    Good    Good    Good    
    Sandy loam    Good    Good    Good    Good
    Loam          Good    Good    Good    Good
    Clay loam     Fair    Fair    Fair    Fair
    Clay          Poor    Poor    Poor    Poor
    Dense clay    Poor    Poor    Poor    Poor


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate climax species

Sun sedge is a climax species in many habitat types [1,5,14].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Sun sedge is a cool-season species that begins flowering in April in
Montana and in June in North Dakota and Wyoming.  Blooming ends in July
[8].  Fruits mature in late May or in June.  After this time plants are
more or less covered by grasses [21].

Related categories for Species: Carex heliophila | Sun Sedge