Carex chordorrhiza explained

Carex chordorrhiza, commonly called creeping sedge or string sedge, is a species of perennial plant in the family Cyperaceae with Holarctic distribution growing in acidic bogs.

Growth form and classification

Carex chordorrhiza has an unusual growth habit, where prostrate stems produce new shoots the following year.^[1] Using this means of growth, C. chordorrhiza can grow vegetatively by up to per year. This habit is considered so distinct from all other Carex species that C. chordorrhiza is placed in its own section, Carex sect. Chordorrhizae,^[1] although similar habits are seen in other species such as Carex limosa.^[2]

Description

The culms of C. chordorrhiza are 5- long, and are initially erect. As they mature, the stems become prostrate and can reach a length of 120cm (50inches).^[3] The inflorescences are 5mm16mm long and 4mm12mm wide.^[3]

Distribution

The distribution of Carex chordorrhiza is circumpolar in boreal and subarctic areas.^[4] It is found in Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Germany, Poland, northern Russia, and in North America from Alaska to Greenland,^{[5] [6]} and occurs more patchily as far south as Indiana and the Pyrenees.^[4]

Within the British Isles, it is restricted to two sites in the Scottish Highlands, at the head of Loch Naver (near Altnaharra, West Sutherland) and in the Insh Marshes (Easterness & Nairns).^[4]

External links

• Carex chordorrhiza, Flora of the Canadian Arctic
• Carex chordorrhiza, Cyperaceae of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
• Carex chordorrhiza, Flora of Michigan

Notes and References

1. Web site: Creeping Sedge, Carex chordorrhiza . Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program . . August 8, 2011.
2. A. A. Reznicek & P. M. Catling . 1986 . Vegetative shoots in the taxonomy of sedges (Carex, Cyperaceae) . . 35 . 3 . 495–501 . 1221903. 10.2307/1221903 . 2027.42/149768 . free .
3. Book: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242357115 . Carex chordorrhiza Ehrhart ex Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 414. 1782 . . 23 . Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae . Peter W. Ball, A. A. Reznicek & David F. Murray . 2002 . . 978-0-19-515207-4 . 299.
4. Book: Colin J. Legg, Neil R. Cowie & Alistair Hamilton . 1995 . A sample survey of the distribution of the String Sedge Carex chordorrhiza on the Insh Marshes, Badenoch & Strathspey . Research, Survey & Monitoring Report . 7 . . 2011-08-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324201957/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/research/07.pdf . 2012-03-24 . dead .
5. Book: Grønlands flora. 1978. P. Haase & Sons. Tyge Wittrock Böcher. 87-559-0385-1. 3. reviderede udgave. København. 183098604.
6. Book: Nordens flora. 2020. Gyldendal. Bo Mossberg, Lennart Stenberg, Jon Feilberg, Anna Torsteinsrud, Victoria Widmark. 978-87-02-28916-9. Nye, udvidede og omarbejdede udgave. Kbh.. 1158895781.