Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Carex stipata
Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd.
Awlfruit Sedge, Awl-fruited Sedge, Stalk-grain Sedge
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: cast5
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
A slender, bunchgrass-like plant, this perennial sedge grows 2-3 ft., or more, tall, with a cluster of brown seed capsules clinging high on each stem. Leaves are coarse and elongate.
Makes up 25% of the diet of the swamp sparrow (Kershaw).
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Not ApplicableBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period.
Distribution
USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Transcontinental Canada, s. to FL, LA, KS & CA
Native Habitat: Low, wet grounds
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Wet soil to standing water.
Propagation
Commercially Avail: yesFind Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
Native plants to stop pond bank erosion
June 04, 2008
I recently purchased a home with a small pond in which a nearby stream daylights. The former owner placed large field stone around the pond and the small stream; however, the area around the pond and...
view the full question and answer
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL | OBL |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:North American Native Plant Society - Etobicoke, ON
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Carex stipata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Carex stipata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex stipata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-02Research By: TWC Staff