Carex archeri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carex archeri |
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| 1859 illustration of C. archeri by Walter Hood Fitch | |
| Scientific classification | |
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C. subg. Vignea
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| Section: |
C. sect. Inversae
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| Species: |
C. archeri
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| Binomial name | |
| Carex archeri Boott
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Archer's sedge (scientific name: Carex archeri) is a special type of grass-like plant called a sedge. It belongs to the Carex family. This plant is only found in south-eastern Australia.
Contents
What Does Archer's Sedge Look Like?
Archer's sedge is a small plant. It usually grows up to about 25 centimeters (10 inches) tall. Its leaves are very thin, less than 0.5 millimeters wide.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant has a single flower cluster, called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a spike. It has a special leaf-like part, called a bract, at its base. This bract is longer than the flower spike itself.
The spike has only a few flowers. The female flowers are found near the bottom of the spike. A very short part at the top has male flowers. The tiny coverings of the female flowers, called glumes, are about 2.5 to 4.0 millimeters long. The seed-holding parts, called utricles, are 3 to 5 millimeters long. They have a small, notched beak at the end.
How to Tell it Apart from Similar Plants
Sometimes, Carex archeri can look like smaller versions of two other sedge species. These are C. raleighii and C. hebes. All three belong to the same plant group, or section.
Where Does Archer's Sedge Grow?
Archer's sedge lives in wet, open areas. It likes bogs, which are wet, spongy lands. It also grows in alpine heath and tussock grassland. These are grassy areas found in high mountain regions.
Its Home in Australia
You can find this sedge in the upland areas of Tasmania. It also grows in the Australian Alps. This includes parts of Victoria and New South Wales. In New South Wales, it is only found in certain spots. These include Kosciuszko National Park, especially near Club Lake. It also grows along the upper parts of the Thredbo River.
Protecting Archer's Sedge
Even though Carex archeri is not listed under a big national law (the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), it is still protected.
State Protection
The state of New South Wales protects it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. In Victoria, it is listed as a vulnerable species. This means it is also at risk, but perhaps not as immediately as an endangered species. These protections help keep the plant safe.
How Archer's Sedge Got Its Name
Carex archeri was first officially described in 1858. A scientist named Francis Boott gave it its scientific name.
Named After a Collector
The plant was named in honor of William Archer. He was the person who collected the very first samples of this plant. He found these samples in the western mountains of Tasmania.
