Carex pensylvanica, Pennsylvania sedge
Cope, Amy B. 1992. Carex pensylvanica, Pennsylvania sedge. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/carpes
| Abbreviation | Common Name | Scientific Name | Classification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants | ||||
| CARPES | Pennsylvania sedge | Carex pensylvanica | Life Form: Plants/Graminoid Kingdom: Plantae Class: Monocot Order: Cyperales Family: Cyperaceae Genus: Carex | Fed. Protected: No Nativity: Native Invasiveness: Noninvasive |
Taxonomy
The currently accepted scientific name for Pennsylvania sedge is Carex pensylvanica Lam. [16].
Based on morphological, cytological, ecological, and geographical differentiation, Crinn and Ball [11] divided the Carex pensylvanica complex into two eastern species, Carex lucorum Willdenow ex Link and Carex pensylvanica Lamarck, and one western species with two subspecies, Carex inops Bailey subsp. inops and Carex inops Bailey subsp. heliophila (Mack).
Pennsylvania sedge hybridizes with Carex communis Bailey and Carex umbellata Sckuhr [16].
Synonyms
- No entry
Other Common Names
early sedge, Penn sedge, yellow sedge
Notes
The Research Paper by Bowles and others 2007 titled "Long-term changes in an oak forest’s woody understory and herb layer with repeated burning" provides information on postfire responses of several plant species, including Pennsylvania sedge, that was not available when this species review was originally written.
General Distribution
Pennsylvania sedge occurs from the eastern seaboard west to North Dakota and Missouri and from southern Ontario and Quebec south to Tennessee and Virginia [11]. It is also found in eastern Asia [5].
States and Provinces
- United States: CT DE IL IN IA KY MD MA MI MN MO NJ ND OH PA RI TN VT VA WV WI
- Canada: MB ON PQ
Site Characteristics
Pennsylvania sedge is common in forest understories and in open meadows [1,26]. The topography is generally flat or gently rolling with slopes rarely exceeding 10 percent [29,33].
Pennsylvania sedge occurs on well-drained sites, with soils ranging from clay, silty clay loam, sandy loams, to alluvial deposits [18,29,32]. Some soil types are slightly acidic, relatively infertile, and may be of coarse or fine texture [3,18,23].
Pennsylvania sedge occurs in a wide range of climates. It does best in dry deciduous forests and grasslands or other dry, open areas [3]. It is also relatively shade tolerant [11]. In the Appalachian Mountains average annual precipitation is 54 inches (134 cm), but precipitation in the savannas and prairies in the Midwest is lower [2,23].
Pennsylvania sedge occurs at the following elevations [1,2,15,28,35]:
| State | Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 4,300-7,000 | 1,590-2,593 |
| New York | 900-1,700 | 274 - 518 |
| North Dakota | 2,100-2,300 | 630 - 690 |
| Michigan | 910-1,205 | 275 - 365 |
| West Virginia | 1,100-1,200 | 330 - 690 |
Plant Communities
Pennsylvania sedge is found in upland plains habitats usually dominated by grasses. Consequently, it is of secondary importance in those habitats [32,38].
It is dominant in meadows of the Great Lakes region and common in forest understories [1,8].
In New England, Pennsylvania sedge is often dominant in hardwood forest understories [26,27].
Pennsylvania sedge is associated with blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and huckleberries (Gaylussacia spp.) in many habitats [1,26]. In prairies of the Midwest and East, common associates are big and little bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis), and threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia) [38]. In the Lake and New England states, it is dominant in forest understory, and associated with jack pine (Pinus banksiana), oaks (Quercus spp.), pines (Pinus spp.), blueberries and huckleberries (Vaccinium spp. and Gaylussacia spp.), sugar maple (Acer saccarum), and basswood (Tilia americana) [1,12,26].
Botanical Description
Pennsylvania sedge is a native, low-growing, grass-like rhizomatous plant [16,37]. The long and narrow leaves are 4 to 18 inches (10-45 cm) in length, approximately the same height as the stems. There are usually two to four cauline leaves [11]. The rhizomes are cordlike and variable in length [3,11]. They are usually found in the top 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm) of soil [37].
Pennsylvania sedge occurs in clustered, resilient, persistent tufts [16,26]. It is characteristically found in extensive, pure stands [8].
Pennsylvania sedge plants.
Raunkiaer Life Form (Raunkiaer 1934)
- Hemicryptophyte
- Geophyte
Seasonal Development
Pennsylvania sedge is a cool-season plant, and it makes one of the earliest spring appearances of the Carices [1,11,34]. Growth begins in shoots formed the previous autumn and early winter. Pennsylvania sedge leaves are apparently functional during the winter, summer, and fall [5,12].
Pennsylvania sedge flowers between mid-April and mid-May in southern Ontario and in Iowa [11,23]. On the prairies, flowers of Pennsylvania sedge are easily seen because the other grasses have not yet started to grow [34].
Maximum growth occurs during the cool, early part of the growing season before other prairie grasses begin growth. Pennsylvania sedge completes its life cycle before the onset of summer drought [34]. It is possible that early flowering is an adaption to light requirements [5].
Shoots emerge in the fall [5].
Regeneration Processes
Pennsylvania sedge regenerates primarily by vegetative means [9]. Its long rhizomes allow it to spread out and colonize nearby open areas. The short rhizomes are responsible for tuft or mat formation [5].
Pennsylvania sedge is wind pollinated and reproduces by seed; however, seedlings are rare [9,26].
Reproductive Pennsylvania sedge plant.
Successional Status
Pennsylvania sedge is found in seral and climax communities. It is usually dominant in early seral stages, and surrounding shrubs and trees are slow to invade [1].
Pennsylvania sedge is a strong competitor in jack pine community types. It increases on unburned, clearcut sites. This increase results in meadow dominance. These Carex meadows are labeled "regressive succession" because their apparent stability may inhibit further succession. This is unique to lower north Michigan [1].
The Big Woods of Minnesota appear to be expanding at the expense of the prairie. This expansion can be controlled by implementing prescribed fires [12].
Xeric oak forests established from logging and repeated burning of presettlement pine in Michigan appear to be experiencing regressive succession. This is caused by failure of clearcutting and other silvicultural methods to regenerate the oak forest stands. The regressive succession is toward pine or savanna-like communities dominated by Pennsylvania sedge [22]. Pennsylvania sedge appears to be more detrimental to black oak reproduction than to white oak [30].
In the literature, there was no indication or implication that Pennsylvania sedge was a problem or needed to be controlled.
Immediate Fire Effects
Fires typically top-kill Pennsylvania sedge. In the plains, the heat of combustion is confined entirely to the surface, thus not damaging the rhizomes [21]. However, Pennsylvania sedge does not do well after hot fires because its roots and rhizomes do not penetrate deep into the soil [1].
Postfire Regeneration Strategy (Stickney 1989)
- Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
- Secondary colonizer - onsite seed
- Secondary colonizer - offsite seed
Fire Adaptations
No entry.
Plant Response to Fire
Pennsylvania sedge exploits fire-generated gaps in the litter layer through aggressive clonal propagation [26]. Recovery is usually within 1 or 2 years [34]. Seed germination also occurs but is rare. There is no information regarding fire stimulation of seed germination.
In lower north Michigan, Pennsylvania sedge is less dominant on burned sites than on clearcut sites. Fire does not appear to result in "regressive succession" (See Successional Status slot) [1]. Some sources report Pennsylvania sedge as a fire persister [30]. Others report Pennsylvania sedge as a fire decreaser or increaser [8,22].
The information regarding postfire response of Pennsylvania sedge is contradictory. In oak woods, increases in Pennsylvania sedge following burning have been reported; these increases may have been related to an increase in soil pH [15,35]. Pennsylvania sedge is abundant following prescribed fires where trees and shrubs have failed to sprout [10]. In central Minnesota, nominal decreases in Pennsylvania sedge were reported [22]. At a site in North Dakota, there were no significant increases or decreases in comparison to unburned stands [15].
Fire Regimes
For fire regime information, search FEIS for this species by entering the species name or acronym on the home page and selecting “Fire Regime” as the publication type.
Fire Management Considerations
In restoration of prairie vegetation, burning every 3 to 5 years discourages woody vegetation and encourages grasses and forbs, including Pennsylvania sedge. Mid to late summer fires appear to benefit cool season graminoids the most. Spring fires do not benefit Pennsylvania sedge and can be more harmful to wildlife and more explosive than summer fires [7].
Federal Status
None
Other Status
No entry.
Importance to Wildlife and Livestock
Pennsylvania sedge provides cover for migratory waterfowl and sandhill cranes. Ducks use Pennsylvania sedge for nesting material and some cover [7]. Pennsylvania sedge also provides nesting habitat, cover, and dancing grounds for sharptail grouse and prairie chickens [20].
Palatability and Nutritional Value
No entry.
Cover Value
In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania sedge serves as nesting cover for prairie chicken, sharptail grouse, and mallards. Migratory waterfowl and sandhill cranes also use Pennsylvania sedge habitat for cover [7,20].
Value for Rehabilitation or Restoration of Disturbed Sites
Pennsylvania sedge commonly establishes on disturbed sites through vigorous rhizome production. Pennsylvania sedge invades burned and/or clearcut sites, forming pure stands [1].
Other Uses
No entry.
Other Management Considerations
Pennsylvania sedge increases in response to grazing [15].
Pennsylvania sedge is a strong competitor and slows invasion of trees and shrubs [1]. Deep plowing will break up mats of Pennsylvania sedge without killing it, and assist tree seedling establishment and growth [4].
To reestablish native prairie vegetation and eliminate weedy species from the Hempstead Plains of New York, mowing, controlled burning, and chemical means are being used [27].
Table A1— Forest and range ecosystems, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) physiographic regions, Kuchler plant associations, Society for American Foresters (SAF) forest cover types, and Society for Rangeland Management (SRM) rangeland cover types in which this species occurs.
Forest and Range Ecosystems (Garrison et al. 1977)
- FRES10 White - red - jack pine
- FRES11 Spruce - fir
- FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
- FRES14 Oak - pine
- FRES17 Elm - ash - cottonwood
- FRES18 Maple - beech - birch
- FRES19 Aspen - birch
- FRES31 Shinnery
- FRES38 Plains grasslands
- FRES39 Prairie
BLM Physiographic Regions (Bernard and Brown 1977)
- 16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
Kuchler Plant Associations (Kuchler 1964)
- K064 Grama - needlegrass - wheatgrass
- K066 Wheatgrass - needlegrass
- K067 Wheatgrass - bluestem - needlegrass
- K073 Northern cordgrass prairie
- K074 Bluestem prairie
- K081 Oak savanna
- K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100
- K095 Great Lakes pine forest
- K097 Southeastern spruce - fir forest
- K099 Maple - basswood forest
- K100 Oak - hickory forest
- K101 Elm - ash forest
- K104 Appalachian oak forest
- K106 Northern hardwoods
- K107 Northern hardwoods - fir forest
- K109 Transition between K104 and K106
- K111 Oak - hickory - pine forest
- K112 Southern mixed forest
SAF Cover Types (Eyre 1980)
- 1 Jack pine
- 14 Northern pin oak
- 15 Red pine
- 16 Aspen
- 17 Pin cherry
- 20 White pine - northern red oak - red maple
- 21 Eastern white pine
- 22 White pine - hemlock
- 23 Eastern hemlock
- 24 Hemlock - yellow birch
- 25 Sugar maple - beech - yellow birch
- 26 Sugar maple - basswood
- 32 Red spruce
- 42 Bur oak
- 44 Chestnut oak
- 46 Eastern redcedar
- 51 White pine - chestnut oak
- 52 White oak - black oak - northern red oak
- 53 White oak
- 55 Northern red oak
- 62 Silver maple - American elm
- 64 Sassafras - persimmon
- 70 Longleaf pine
- 81 Loblolly pine
- 82 Loblolly pine - hardwood
- 110 Black oak
SRM Rangeland Cover Types (Shiflet 1994)
- No entry
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