Variable Sedge (Carex polymorpha)

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Cyperaceae
State: CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, WV
Nature Serve ID: 128460
Lifeform: Graminoid
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Carex polymorpha is a rare, grass-like sedge that is grows to be about 7-24 inches tall. It is perennial and spreads vegetatively via rhizomes (long roots). Like many grasses, it produces its flowers on a long skinny spike and it typically has 2-15 spikes per flowering stem. It is easily confused with C. vaginata, but can be distinguished by the color of the sheath on lower leaves, brown on C. polymorphia and more purple on C. vaginata. (NatureServe, 2017; New England Wildflower Society, 2017). Carex polymorphia is of conservation concern for several reasons. First, it is only found in the Northeast USA with probably about 45 populations in total. Within that range, it is restricted to acidic, sandy soils on the edges of forests or woodlands that are near wetlands or that regularly flood. It is likely or possibly extirpated from three of the 12 states in which was historically known to occur, and is declining in most of the places where it is still extant. Habitat destruction combined with its very specific habitat preferences are likely the reasons for its decline. (NatureServe, 2017; New England Wildflower Society, 2017; Standley and Dudley, 1991).

Where is Variable Sedge (Carex polymorpha) located in the wild?

States & Provinces:

Variable Sedge can be found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Variable Sedge (Carex polymorpha)?

Native Plant Trust

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

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Variable Sedge (Carex polymorpha) Characteristics

Nomenclature

Taxon	Carex polymorpha
Authority	Muhl.
Family	Cyperaceae
CPC Number	784
ITIS	39765
USDA	CAPO4
Duration	Perennial
Common Names	Variable Sedge
Associated Scientific Names	Carex polymorpha \| Carex halseyana \| Carex halseyi \| Carex striata \| Loxotrema halseyana
Distribution

State Rank

State	State Rank
Connecticut	S1
Delaware	SX
Massachusetts	S2
Maryland	SH
Maine	S1
New Hampshire	S1
New Jersey	S1
New York	SX
Pennsylvania	S2
Rhode Island	S1
Virginia	S2
West Virginia	S1

Ecological Relationships

Photos

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