Klamath sedge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Klamath sedge |
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C. klamathensis
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| Carex klamathensis B.L.Wilson & Janeway
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Carex klamathensis, also known as the Klamath sedge, is a very rare type of grass-like plant. It was only discovered and named in 2007. This special plant grows in wet, swampy areas, especially on a unique type of soil called serpentine soil.
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Klamath Sedge: A Rare Plant
What is the Klamath Sedge?
The Klamath sedge is a kind of sedge. Sedges are plants that look a lot like grasses. They often grow in wet places. This particular sedge is quite rare.
Where Does It Live?
You can find the Klamath sedge in only a few places. Most of its homes are in southern Oregon. A few populations also live in the Klamath Region of northern California. Scientists have found 15 or fewer groups of these plants in Oregon. There are only three known groups in California.
It likes to grow in wet areas. These include places like fens, which are a type of wetland. It especially likes to grow in wet spots where the soil is serpentine soil. This kind of soil is special because it has certain minerals.
How Does It Look?
The Klamath sedge grows from a long underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome helps the plant spread. Clumps of stems grow up from this rhizome.
Its leaves are a bit bluish-green, which is called glaucous. They are usually 2 to 6 millimeters wide. The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster usually has 2 to 3 (sometimes up to 5) smaller flower groups called spikelets.
The spikelets at the very top usually have male flowers. The spikelets on the sides have female flowers. These side spikelets are about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long. The small leaf-like parts around the female flowers can be reddish-brown or dark brown.
After flowering, the plant produces small, fruit-like structures called perigynia. These are light green, tan, or whitish. They can sometimes have dark brown spots. Inside the perigynia are the seeds, called achenes. These achenes usually have three sides.
What Makes It Special?
The Klamath sedge can be tricky to tell apart from another sedge called Carex hassei. They look very similar. Usually, Carex hassei has flowers with two stigmas (the part that receives pollen). This means its seeds (achenes) are flat, like a lens.
However, in the Klamath Region, Carex hassei can sometimes have a mix of two- and three-stigmas. This makes it even harder to tell the two plants apart. Up to two-thirds of the flowers on Carex hassei in this area might even have three stigmas. This makes their seeds look like those of Carex klamathensis.
Who Found It?
Carex klamathensis was discovered by two different botanists. Peter Zika and Lawrence Janeway both found the plant on their own. They helped scientists learn about this new species. It was officially described to science in 2007.
Why Is It in Danger?
The Klamath sedge is a rare plant, and it faces several threats. One big danger is mining. In fact, mining activities have already destroyed most of one population of this plant.
Other things that threaten the Klamath sedge include:
- Building new roads.
- Recreational activities, like people walking or driving where the plants grow.
- Changes in how water flows in the area. This can happen if streams are moved or if the land is drained.
Protecting its wet habitat and unique soil is very important for the survival of the Klamath sedge.
