Golden sedge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden sedge |
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C. lutea
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| Carex lutea LeBlond
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Carex lutea, also known as the golden sedge or sulphur sedge, is a very rare type of grass-like plant. It grows naturally only in North Carolina, specifically in Pender and Onslow Counties. These areas are part of the Cape Fear River watershed. There are only nine known groups of these plants left. Scientists first found this plant in 1991 and officially named it a new species in 1994. By 2002, it was clear how rare it was, so the government listed it as an endangered species.
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About the Golden Sedge
The golden sedge was found in a very special kind of wet savanna habitat. This area has coquina limestone underneath the soil. It grows near swampy parts of North Carolina's coastal plain. The soil is sandy and acidic, meaning it's often wet or even underwater.
Why This Plant Needs Fire
This special habitat usually has natural wildfires every few years. These fires help clear away thick bushes and trees. This keeps the area open and sunny. The golden sedge and other rare plants need this open space. They cannot grow well if taller woody plants block the sunlight and take all the nutrients.
Efforts to stop fires in these areas can actually harm the plant. Some groups of golden sedge grow on private land where fires are not allowed. Without fire, the bushes grow too tall and crowd out the sedge. Sometimes, if fires don't happen, the land needs to be mowed to keep it clear.
Threats to the Golden Sedge
Besides fire prevention, other things can threaten the golden sedge. These include logging (cutting down trees) and using herbicides (chemicals that kill plants). If its habitat is destroyed or if the water levels change too much, the plant groups could be damaged.
Genetic Diversity
Even though there are only a few golden sedge plants, they have a good amount of genetic diversity. This means they have many different traits in their genes. This is important because it helps them adapt and survive better than some other plants that are more common but have less genetic variety.
What the Golden Sedge Looks Like
The golden sedge is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps of thin stems that can be taller than 1 meter (about 3 feet). Its thin leaves can be up to 28 centimeters (about 11 inches) long.
The plant has different parts for reproduction. The male flower spikes, called staminate inflorescences, can be up to 4 centimeters (about 1.6 inches) long. They have reddish-brown or light brown scales. The female flower spikes, called pistillate inflorescences, are smaller, less than 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. They have yellow-green flowers that grow into beaked fruits.
