Carex livida
{{Short description|Species of plant in the sedge family}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Carex livida.jpg
| status = {{TNCStatus}}
| status_system = TNC
| taxon = Carex livida
| authority = (Wahlenb.) Willd.
| synonyms =
{{Species list}}
- Carex limosa subsp. livida (Wahlenb.)
- Carex livida var. typica (Fernald)
- Edritria livida (Wahlenb.) Raf.
- Carex confertospicata (Boeckeler)
- Carex fujitae (Kudô)
- Carex grayana (Dewey)
- Carex livida var. grayana (Dewey) Fernald
- Carex livida var. radicalis (Paine)
- Carex livida var. rufiniformis (Fernald)
- Carex lividulla (Nakai)
}}
Carex livida is a species of tussock-forming, grasslike plant in the family Cyperaceae. It is also known by the common names livid sedge and pale sedge.
Description
This sedge forms small clumps of stems up to 50 to 55 centimeters tall. The stiff, leathery leaves are a pale, waxy blue-gray and have channels on their surfaces. The inflorescence contains separate pistillate and staminate spikes. The plant spreads mostly by sprouting from its rhizome, but it also produces seed.
Distribution and habitat
It has a scattered, interrupted circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout much of Eurasia and northern North America.Williams, Tara Y. 1990. [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/carliv/all.html Carex livida.] In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. It also occurs in Panama and South America.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242357294 Carex livida.] Flora of North America. It is extirpated in California.[http://www.rareplants.cnps.org/detail/389.html Carex livida.] California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile.
This plant grows in wet substrates with groundwater at the surface. The soils are often calcareous and rich in nitrogen. It can typically be found in fens and bogs with sphagnum mosses and other sedges.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Carex+livida The Nature Conservancy]
- [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CALI USDA Plants Profile]
Further reading
- Gage, E. and D. J. Cooper. [http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/carexlivida.pdf Carex livida: A Technical Conservation Assessment.] USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. June 21, 2006.
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Category:Flora of Northern America