Carex utriculata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carex utriculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Subgenus:	Carex subg. Carex
Section:	Carex sect. Vesicariae
Species:	C. utriculata
Binomial name
Carex utriculata Boott
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Synonyms
Carex rhynchophysa

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Carex utriculata, also known as the Northwest Territory sedge or common yellow lake sedge, is a type of grass-like plant. It belongs to a big family of plants called sedges.

Where Does It Grow?

This sedge is found across the northern parts of the world. In North America, it grows in most of Canada and the northern United States. You can also find it in the mountains of California. It lives in northern Europe and northern Asia too. This plant is very common in many kinds of wetland areas, like swamps and marshes.

What Does It Look Like?

Carex utriculata can grow quite tall, sometimes over 1 meter (about 3 feet). It grows from a thick network of long underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and form new plants.

The plant produces flower clusters called an inflorescence. These look like long cylinders, up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) long. A leaf-like part grows next to the flower spike, often longer than the spike itself. Each flower cluster can have up to 200 developing fruits. Each fruit is inside a shiny green, golden, or brown covering called a perigynium.

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  Early-season, male above female spikes

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  At Hamilton Lake edge, Sierra Nevada