Pennsylvania Sedge

Plants loosely cespitose; rhizomes horizontally spreading, reddish brown to dark brown, (10–)40–100 mm, slender. Culms 10–45 cm, smooth to weakly scabrous distally; bases (remnants of old leaves) slightly fibrous. Leaf blades green, 0.5–3.6 mm wide, herbaceous, papillose to scabrous abaxially, papillose to scabrous adaxially, blades of distal cauline leaves well developed. Inflorescences usually with both staminate and pistillate spikes; peduncles of staminate spikes 0.1–7.5 mm; proximal cauline bracts leaflike, usually shorter than inflorescences. Spikes: proximal pistillate spikes 1–3(–4) (basal spikes 0, rarely 1); cauline spikes overlapping or separated, with (3–)4–13 perigynia; staminate spikes 8–24 × 1.3–4 mm. Scales: pistillate scales dark reddish brown, with narrow white margins, ovate, 2–4 × 1.3–2.8 mm, equaling perigynium body, apex obtuse or acute to acuminate; staminate scales elliptic to ovate, 2.9–5.3 × 1.1–1.9 mm, apex obtuse or acute to acuminate. Anthers 1.8–4 mm. Perigynia pale green, veinless, obovoid, 2.2–3.4 × 1.1–1.5(–1.7) mm; beak straight, pale green, 0.5–0.9 mm, weakly ciliate-serrulate, apical teeth 0.1–0.4 mm. Stigmas 3. Achenes dark brown, obovoid, obtusely trigonous in cross section, 1.3–2.3 × 0.9–1.4(–1.6) mm. 2n = 36.

Man., Ont., Que.; Ark., Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Fruiting early May–late Jul.

Well-drained, acidic but cation-rich, sandy, rocky, and loamy soils under hardwood forest canopies, forest edges, savannas, “balds” and in rocky or sandy openings; 150–1500m.

More info for the term: shrubs

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].

The Research Paper by Bowles and others 2007 provides information on
postfire responses of several plant species, including Pennsylvania sedge,
that was not available when this species review was originally written.

Pennsylvania sedge
early sedge
Penn sedge
yellow sedge

More info for the term: cover

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].

Pennsylvania sedge is a native, low-growing, grasslike 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 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].

More info for the term: fire regime

NO-ENTRY

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".

More info for the terms: forbs, restoration

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].

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More info for the terms: geophyte, hemicryptophyte

Hemicryptophyte
Geophyte

More info for the term: forest

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].

Below is a listing of elevations at which Pennsylvania sedge occurs
[1,2,15,28,35]:
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

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].

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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: hardwood

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

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

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

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: forest

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

More info for the term: top-kill

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].

More info for the term: cover

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].

More info for the terms: forest, hardwood

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].

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

More info for the terms: shrubs, tree

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].

CT DE IL IN IA KY MD MA MI MN
MO NJ ND OH PA RI TN VT VA WV
WI MB ON PQ

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More info for the term: cool-season

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].

More info for the terms: litter, seed

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].

More info for the terms: herb, rhizome, secondary colonizer, seed

Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
Secondary colonizer - onsite seed
Secondary colonizer - offsite seed

More info for the terms: formation, seed

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].

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands

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More info for the terms: climax, forest, shrubs, succession, xeric

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 savannalike 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.

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].

More info for the term: rhizome

Pennsylvania sedge commonly establishes on disturbed sites through vigorous
rhizome production. Pennsylvania sedge invades burned and/or clearcut sites,
forming pure stands [1].

Carex pensylvanica is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family commonly called Pennsylvania sedge (sometimes shortened to Penn sedge). Other common names include early sedge, common oak sedge, and yellow sedge.