Native sedge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Native sedge
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Species:	C. vernacula
Binomial name
Carex vernacula L.H.Bailey

Carex vernacula is a type of plant known as a sedge. People often call it the native sedge. It is a small plant that grows in certain parts of the United States.

Where It Grows

This sedge plant is found in the western United States. It likes to grow in wet places high up in the mountains. You can find it in very cold areas, often called alpine or subalpine zones. These are places where the weather is chilly, even in summer.

• It often grows near cold pools of water.
• These pools are usually formed from melting snow.
• So, if you see a small pond from snowmelt, you might spot this sedge nearby!

What It Looks Like

Carex vernacula grows in clumps. It has stems that stand straight up. These stems can be about 30 to 40 centimeters tall. That's roughly the length of a school ruler!

• Sometimes, many of these plants grow together.
• They form large groups connected by special underground stems called rhizomes.
• Think of rhizomes like secret underground tunnels that link the plants.
• The plant's flowers grow in a thick, messy bunch. This bunch is called an inflorescence.
• After the flowers, the plant makes fruit.
• Each fruit has a covering called a perigynium. This covering is usually brown with green edges.