WALLACE W HANSENNative Plants of the NorthwestNative Plant Nursery & Gardens
2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97317-9216
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Wallace W Hansen Click here for Home Page: www.nwplants.com For information about Wallace W Hansen Northwest Native Plant Nursery & Gardens: Business Information (Ordering, etc.) |
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Updated March 26, 2008Dense Sedge (Carex densa)Family Name: Cyperaceae |
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A Note from Wally: I grow Carex
densa (Dense Sedge) and many other Northwest
Native Plants here in my Nursery and Gardens in the Willamette Valley in
Western Oregon. I specialize in Northwest Native Plants and sell both
Wholesale and Retail, depending on quantity. I usually have plants
available year-round in one gallon containers and often in various other
container sizes and as Bare Root plants in the Winter months. This site is
intended as a reference for all who are interested in Northwest Native
Plants: amateur, professional – everyone. For more information, go to my
Home Page at www.nwplants.com and then
click on Plant Catalog for current prices and availability. Be sure and then click on
Plant
Sales for any bargains. If you buy in large quantities, check the Wholesale
Information Sites on my Home Page.
If you have any information about this species – stories, climates, uses, propagation, etc. please contact me at plants@nwplants.com If I publish your tips and information, I will credit you on the web and send you a credit memo. |
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Sedges are often confused with rushes (the Junaceae family) but they are
different in that the stems of sedges are solid and triangular while those
of rushes are pithy and round. A simple verse can clarify the distinction:
“sedges have edges and rushes are round.” [Pojar, p.388] Sedges are
also mistaken for grasses as both have inconspicuous flowers. There are
several botanical differences and some common sense observations one can
make to distinguish these plants.
First of all, the seeds of grasses are attached to the ovary wall while sedge seeds are not. Secondly, grasses have hollow stems, where the stems of sedges are solid. Thirdly, in grasses, leaves grow in sets of two along the stem and the sheath does not close, while in sedges, the leaves grow in threes and fully close around the stem. Yet perhaps the easiest way to identify sedges from a distance on the Pacific Coast is in high summer. After months of drought most grasses have been singed by the sun and sway in the breeze like golden wisps. Sedges, on the other hand stand proud and tall, ever a vibrant green. The wet areas they frequent may be long dried up with water levels in ponds, lakes and creeks receding considerably by late summer. Yet sedges seem virtually impervious to drought while also being fully capable of withstanding water logged soils during the winter months. Dense sedge has short, stout stems growing from thick, black rhizomes. There are several thin leaves, with tight sheaths, growing from each stem. The flower spikes are tightly arranged and oval shaped, from 1 – 2.” The small flowers are pollinated by the wind. The tiny fruit is a three-sided achene. This species is an excellent species for erosion control and stabilizing stream and pond banks. The rhizomes form a thick mass, trapping sediment and slowing the flow of water. Habitat And Range: Dense sedge prefers open sites with good exposure to sun. It is found at elevations between 0 – 1500.’ Ornamental Value: Admittedly, the flowers of all sedges are not showy: the petals lack both bright colours and intricate forms. However, they are extremely unique in their form and their blooming cycle is remarkably long – from April to September. Moreover, the plant itself provides colour all year, never turning brown, even in the driest spells. Add them to a late summer bouquet with other natives – Cattails (Typha latifolia), Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis – and no, it doesn’t cause hay fever), Asters (Aster), Tansy (Tanacetum spp.), Chicory (Chicorium intybus), Wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) and don’t forget the florists’ favourite, Salal (Gaultheria shallon), where their unique shape will be highlighted. Remember to cut wild flowers that are very well established (or growing in your vegetable garden, where some dare to call them weeds!). Native Plant Gardening/Wildlife Habitat: All sedges are extremely important to a variety of wildlife species. Birds of all type (waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and game birds) eat the seeds of Slough Sedge in moderate amounts. Muskrats eat the roots of Slough Sedge and small animals, such as turtles, muskrats and snakes, seek shelter in its foliage. Waterfowl nest in areas where sedges form a dense cluster. Amphibians lay their eggs at the base of these plants and the young are somewhat protected from predation. Historical/Cultural uses: Native people did not commonly use Dense sedge. Propagation Techniques: The most successful means of propagating this plant are through bare rootstock. The best time to plant out on the Pacific coast is in mid- to late October, before the heavy rains have begun in full but the weather is sufficiently cool that the new plants will not lose a lot of moisture through evapotranspiration. These plants should be planted such that the crowns are even with the soil. See also these websites within www.nwplants.com:
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Thanks, and happy gardening!
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Bibliography:
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