Carex lasiocarpa Provisional Herbaceous Alliance
Slender sedge meadows

Summary Information

  • Primary Life FormHerb
  • Elevation1200-2100 m
  • State RarityS3?
  • Global RarityG5?
  • DistributionCAN: AB, BC, MB, ON, QC. USA: AK, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NY OR, SD UT, VT WA, WI (NatureServe)
  • Endemic to CaliforniaNo
  • Endemic to California Floristic Province and DesertsNo
  • Date Added2009/09/01

Characteristic Species

Carex lasiocarpa is dominant in the herbaceous layer with Argentina anserina, Carex aquatilis, Carex integra, Carex utriculata, Poa pratensis and Symphyotrichum spathulatum. Emergent trees or shrubs may be present at low cover, including Salix geyeriana, Salix lemmonii or Salix lucida.

Vegetation Layers

Herbs < 1 m; cover is continuous.

Habitats

Wet meadows, basins, basin fens, lake margins. Soils are predominantly loamy and peaty with thick accumulations of decomposing sedges. The USFWS Wetland Inventory (1996 national list) recognizes Carex lasiocarpa as NI in California and as an OBL in other regions.

Other Habitat, Alliance, and Community Groupings

MCV (1995) Sedge series
NVCS (2009) Carex lasiocarpa saturated herbaceous alliance, Carex lasiocarpa seasonally flooded herbaceous alliance, Carex oligosperma-Carex lasiocarpa saturated herbaceous alliance
Calveg Wet grasses and forbs
Holland Wet montane meadow, Fen
Munz Freshwater marsh
WHR Wet meadow
CDFW CA Code 45.166.00