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CYPERACEAE AND JUNCACEAESELECTED LOW-ELEVATION SPECIES
Emerenciana G. Hurd
Nancy L. Shaw
Lynda C. Smithman
Sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) species of
lowland riparian communities in the Intermountain area
are widespread geographically, but distributed locally in
response to water availability, soil conditions, and microclimate. Many species are highly rhizomatous, producing
dense stands valuable for stabilizing streambanks, controlling soil erosion, enhancing fisheries, and filtering agricultural waste water. Sedges and rushes provide food
and cover for many wildlife species. Their palatability to
wildlife and livestock varies, as does their response to
grazing and trampling.
Many low-elevation riparian and wetland communities
have been physically and biologically degraded by livestock grazing practices and the vegetation replaced by
more mesic species, including introduced weeds. Agriculture, urbanization, recreation, and other human activities
have also heavily impacted these communities. Proper
identification and an understanding of the distribution
and ecology of major sedge and rush species of Intermountain lowlands are essential for estimating site potential,
evaluating management practices, and planning revegetation projects.
singly or few together from slender rhizomes. The species
is distinctive due to its large heads and dioecious habit.
Habitat: Valleys to the spruce-fir zone, but more common
at lower elevations, particularly in the sagebrush zone.
Frequent in dry meadows on soils that dry out early in
the season, but also occurs in wet meadows, along roadways, and near seeps and springs where livestock have
compacted the soil. Grows on fme-textured, loamy to clayloam soils with some organic material (Manning and
Padgett 1992) and tolerates alkali. Community domi·
nance: Manning (1988) and Manning and Padgett (1992)
described Carex douglasii community types for northwestem, west-central, and central Nevada. These communities
were considered to be grazing induced with high species
richness reflecting the presence of disturbance species.
Ecology and management: Erosion control provided by
Douglas's sedge is moderate. Palatability is low due to the
tough, fibrous leaves, but the species is used by horses and
cattle in spring (Manning and Padgett 1992). Douglas's
sedge is considered a valuable forage plant due to its
abundance and the heavy use it receives when more palatable species are depleted (Cronquist and others 1977).
Culture: Seeds ripen from July to August. There are
about 2.5 million perigynialkg (Hurd and Shaw 1992).
CYPERACEAE
Caru lanuginosa Michx. (Woolly sedge)-Habit:
Plants of variable heights, often 3-8 dm tall. Nonclumping culms arise from thick, creeping rhizomes. Habitat:
Low to moderate elevations in the mountains in wet to
dry meadows, headwater basins, floodplains, and along
stream, lake, and pond margins. Often found on welldeveloped mineral soils with large amounts of organic
matter, but also grows on clayey to sandy sediments.
Tolerates spring flooding. The water table usually remains within the rooting zone in summer (Hansen and
others 1988). Community dominance: C. lanuginosa
and Salix I C. lanuginosa community types, dominance
types, and associations have been described for Nevada
(Manning and Padgett 1992), central Oregon (Kovalchik
1987), Utah and southeastern Idaho (Padgett and others
1989), and western and central Montana (Hansen and
others 1988). Ecology and management: Densely rhizomatous. Useful for improving degraded riparian sites
and stabilizing streambanks (Hansen and others 1988).
Plants are productive and highly palatable to livestock,
often receiving heavy use (Cronquist and others 1977).
Hermann (1970) found that deer and elk made extensive
use of woolly sedge in the Rocky Mountains and Colorado
Basin, while Kovalchik (1987) reported little deer use
of the species in central Oregon. Woolly sedge provides
Caru athrostachya Olney (Slender-beaked sedge)Habit: Caespitose plants with short rhizomes. Culms
aphyllopodic, 1.5-10 dm tall. Habitat: Moist or wet
places to dry areas from lowlands to the spruce-fir zone.
Slender-beaked sedge tolerates seasonal flooding and
grows on soils varying from organic to mineral (Hansen
and others 1988). Community dominance: Hansen
and others (1988) described a Carex athrostachya dominance type occurring at low- to mid-elevations in western
Montana. Ecology and management: Palatal;>ility is
fair to good for cattle and horses (Hermann 1970). Use
on submerged or wet sites should be delayed until soils
dry (Hansen and others 1988). Culture: Seeds ripen
from July to August. Germination is improved by a 7-day
stratification at 34-38 °C and exposure to light during incubation (Johnson and others 1965).
Caru douglasii F. Boott (Douglas's sedge)-Habit:
Low-growing plants 6-30 em tall. Stems are produced
Poster paper presented at the Symposium on Ecology, Management,
and Restoration of Intermountain Annual Rangelands, Boise, ID,
May 18-22, 1992.
Emerenciana G. Hurd is Botanist, Lynda C. Smithman is Biological
Technician, and Nancy L. Shaw is Botanist, Intermountain Research
Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Boise,ID 83702.
380
nesting and feeding areas for waterfowl (Hansen and others
1988) and is sometimes harvested for wild hay.
Woolly sedge is sensitive to trampling, particularly when
growing on fine soils subject to compaction. Severe disturbance may lead to its replacement by Juncus balticus, Carex
nebrascensis, or Poa pratensis (Manning and Padgett 1992).
Moderate late-season use is recommended to maintain
stands and reduce compaction (Kovalchik 1987). Culture:
Seeds ripen from July to September. There are about
1.2 million perigynia/kg (Hurd and Shaw 1992). Seed fill
is often low and seeds are sometimes infested with smut.
Comes and others (1976) reported germination was improved
by storage in water and exposure to light during incubation.
and N. L. Shaw, data on file, 1990-92) improves germination. Seeds should be exposed to light during incubation
(Johnson and others 1965).
Carexpraegracilis W. Boott (Clustered field sedge)Habit: Slender culms, 3-7 dm tall, arise singly or few together from thick, dark, brownish-purple, long-creeping
rhizomes. Habitat: Moist, open sites on plains and lowlands to moderate elevations. Borders streams, ditches,
lakes, ponds, springs, and seeps. Also occurs in wet meadows, dry meadows, sagebrush/grass communities, and wet,
sometimes alkaline, bottomlands. Typically grows on welldeveloped mineral soils, often with large amounts of organic
matter (Youngblood and others 1985). The water table is
usually near the surface in spring, but may drop 1 m or
more in summer. The species tolerates alkaline and saline
conditions. Community dominance: Carex praegracilis
is a minor dominance type occurring throughout much of
Montana (Hansen and others 1988). Ecology and management: Useful for stabilizing degraded wet meadows
(Hansen and others 1988). Palatability is variable, but
often low. It provides moderate to high amounts of forage
in early spring (Hermann 1970) and considerable winter
grazing for cattle and horses. It is sometimes harvested
for wild hay (Hansen and others 1988). Culture: Seeds
ripen from June to September. There are about 1.9 million perigynia/kg (Hurd and Shaw 1992). Germination is
benefited by a 4-week stratification (E. G. Hurd and N. L.
Shaw, data on file, 1990-92).
Carez nebrascensis Dewey (Nebraska sedge)-Habit:
Robust plants, 2-12+ dm. Culms are strongly triangular
and coarse, single or 2-3 together from stout, scaly, creeping
rhizomes. Habitat: Valleys to midelevations. Occurs in
pure stands or mixed communities in wet to moist meadows,
broad alluvial terraces, and along the margins of marshes,
swamps, ditches, seeps, stockponds, lakes, and reservoirs.
Common on well-developed mineral soils derived from alluvium. Surface layers are usually fine-textured with accumulations of organic matter (Hansen and others 1988). The
water table usually remains near the soil surface, rarely
dropping below the rooting zone. Tolerates alkaline conditions. Community dominance: Carex nebrascensis community types, dominance types, and associations have been
described for central Oregon (Kovalchik 1987), Nevada
(Manning 1988; Manning and Padgett 1992), Utah and
southeastern Idaho (Padgett and others 1989), eastern
Idaho and western Wyoming (Youngblood and others 1985),
and Montana (Hansen and others 1988). Ecology and
management: Nebraska sedge is an excellent soil stabilizer, forming a dense mat of roots and rhizomes valuable
for holding overhanging streambanks and enhancing fish
habitat (Padgett and others 1989). It is highly productive
and provides considerable forage due to its abundance
(Manning and others 1989). Palatability is moderate to
good. Nebraska sedge is sometimes heavily used by cattle,
horses, and elk, particularly in spring; use by sheep and
mule deer is moderate (Manning and Padgett 1992). It is
somewhat resistant to grazing and trampling (Kovalchik
and others 1988), but moderate late-season use is recommended (Hermann 1970; Kovalchik 1987). Nebraska sedge
communities provide feeding and nesting areas for waterfowl and many other small animals (Hansen and others
1988) and are sometimes harvested as wild hay (Kovalchik
and others 1988).
Nebraska sedge is strongly competitive and may persist
and increase with heavy grazing, replacing other dominant
species (Manning and Padgett 1992). Recovery of these
species is unlikely due to the aggressive spreading habit of
Nebraska sedge (Hansen and others 1988). Extremely
heavy grazing and lowered water tables, however, may result in replacement of Nebraska sedge by such species as
Juncus balticus or Poa pratensis (Manning and Padgett
1992). Such sites become compacted, hummocky, and erosive (Manning and Padgett 1992). Culture: Seeds ripen
from August to September. Seed fill is highly variable and
should be checked before harvest. There are about 2. 7 million perigynialkg (Hurd and Shaw 1992). Stratification for
1 week (Johnson and others1965) or 4 weeks (E. G. Hurd
Carex rostrata Stokes (Beaked sedge)-Habit: Culms
mostly 4-14 dm tall, sharply triangular, arising singly or
few together from stout, scaly, deep-seated, creeping rhizomes. Sometimes forms a dense sod. Habitat: Most
common at midelevations, but extends to near timberline.
Occurs on wet soil or in shallow, usually stagnant to slowmoving water to 45 em deep along the margins oflowgradient meandering streams, lakes and ponds, active
floodplains, swamps, wet meadows, and marshes. Often
grows in nearly pure stands, covering broad valley bottoms.
Common in silted-in beaver ponds (Padgett and others
1989). Soils are mineral or organic. Mature stands develop thick organic horizons. Water tables are often above
the surface year-long and rarely drop below the rooting
zone (Hansen and others 1988). Youngblood and others
(1985) reported distribution may be controlled more by the
presence of high water tables than by the nature of the
substrate. Community dominance: Carex rostrata and
Salix I Carex rostrata community types, dominance types,
and associations have been described for central Oregon
(Kovalchik 1987), Nevada (Manning and Padgett 1992),
Utah and southeastern Idaho (Padgett and others 1989),
eastern Idaho and western Wyoming (Youngblood and
others 1985), central Idaho (Tuhy and Jensen 1982), and
western Montana (Hansen and others 1988). Ecology
and management: The dense sod formed by the extensive rhizome and root systems forms overhanging banks
and provides excellent soil stabilization and cover for fish
(Hansen and others 1988). These communities are rather
stable, but willows and other sedge species begin to invade
if the water table drops (Youngblood and others 1985). Productivity is high, but palatability is low to moderate. Livestock and .wild ungulates use beaked sedge to some extent
381
Hansen and others (1988) described a Scirpus acutus dominant type common at low to mid elevations in Montana.
Ecology and management: Colonies buffer wind and
wave action, enhancing vegetation establishment along
shores (Hansen and others 1988). Productive, but use by
livestock and wild ungulates is generally low unless other
forage is limited. Provides an important source of food and
cover for waterfowl, muskrats, and other small animals
(Hansen and others 1988). Management objectives may
emphasize expansion of Scirpus communities to improve
wildlife habitat. Used in artificial wetlands constructed to
filter agricultural waste water. Culture: Seeds ripen from
July to August and disarticulate rapidly when mature.
They are easily harvested as the inflorescences are large
and usually readily accessible.
in early spring, but rarely in summer due to the coarseness
of mature leaves (Kovalchik and others 1988). Elk and deer
use it moderately in late summer and fall (Youngblood and
others 1985). Beaked sedge communities provide foraging
areas for birds. The fine-texturedsoils of beaked sedge
communities are sensitive to compaction (Manning and
Padgett 1992). Heavy trampling and recreational use along
streambanks can result in sloughing (Hansen and others
1988). Culture: Seeds ripen from August to September.
Seed fill is often low and smut infections are not uncommon.
Stand composition should be checked carefully before barvesting as beaked sedge sometimes grows mixed with inflated sedge (Carex vesicaria), a similar-appearing species.
Perigynia weight is about 1.3 million/kg (Hurd and Shaw
1992).
Eleocharis palustrls (L.) R. & S. (Creeping
spikerusb)-liabit: Culms slender to stout, 1-10 dm tall,
scattered or in small clusters from rhizomes. Habitat:
Sea level to midelevations on seasonally to permanently
flooded sites, often in moderate to wide valley bottoms with
low gradients. Grows in wet meadows and along ponds,
sloughs, small permanent lakes, streams, reservoir drawdown areas, and stockponds. Often occurs on alkaline
sites. Soils vary from organic to mineral. Sites are either
permanently flooded or seasonally flooded with the water
table dropping to 30 em below the surface late in the season (Manning and Padgett 1992). Community domi·
nance: Eleocharis palustris community types, dominance
types, and associations have been described for central
Oregon (Kovalchik 1987), Nevada (Manning and Padgett
1992), Utah (Padgett and others 1989), and western
Montana (Hansen and others 1988). Manning and Padgett
(1992) reported species richness is usually low due to
anaerobic conditions. Ecology and management: The
species provides high erosion control potential (Manning
and Padgett 1992). Palatability is low for livestock and
wild ungulates (Kovalchik 1987). Kovalchik and others
(1988) reported use is limited, even in drought years, while
Hansen and others (1988) found use in western Montana
increased in dry years due to the reduced availability and
palatability of upland forage. Heavy grazing may allow
this species to increase and spread (Hansen and others
1988). Broad zones of creeping spikerush along lakes and
reservoirs provide valuable feeding and nesting areas for
waterfowl (Kovalchik 1987). Culture: Seeds ripen from
July to August, disarticulating rapidly when mature. Seeds
are collected from the small plants with difficulty.
JUNCACEAE
Juncus articulatus L. (Jointed rush)-Habit: Loosely
tufted perennial developing from short to elongate rootstocks, often roots from lower nodes. Culms terete,
15-50 em tall. Habitat: Lowlands to midelevations, wet
lowland meadows, sandbars, ponds, streams, seeps, and
ditches. Sandy to clay-loam soils. Culture: Seeds ripen
from August to September. There are about 64 million
seeds/kg (Hurd and Shaw 1992). Seeds are nondormant
when incubated at 25/15 oc {8/16 h) with exposure to light
during the high temperature phase (N. L. Shaw and E. G.
Hurd, data on file, 1990-92).
Juncus baltieus Willd. (Baltic rush, wiregrass)Habit: Small tufts or single, bladeless, terete, dark-green
wiry culms, 3-9 dm tall, are produced from coarse, black,
creeping rhizomes. An extremely polymorphic species with
several varieties. Habitat: Wet, often saline to alkaline
sites from valleys to midelevations, alluvial terraces, wide
valley bottoms, margins of streams, rivers, ponds, lakes,
springs, seeps, and saline to nonsaline meadows. Common
on sites where soils are saturated for short periods in
spring, but with the water table dropping to 1 m or more
below the surface later in the growing season (Hansen
and others 1988). The species often grows in fine-textured
mineral soils with dark surface horizons containing large
amounts of decomposed organic matter (Tuhy and Jensen
1982). Community dominance: Juncus balticus community types and dominance types have been described for
northwestern Nevada (Manning 1988; Manning and Padgett
1992), Utah (Padgett and others 1989), Idaho (Tuhy and
Jensen 1982; Youngblood and others 1985), and western
Montana (Hansen and others 1988). Ecology and man·
agement: Valuable species for binding soils and trapping
sediment due to its deep, spreading root system (Manning
and Padgett 1992). Provides dense cover for birds. It is
productive and provides important forage for livestock and
wild ungulates early in the season (Hermann 1975). Use
declines as leaves mature and toughen. The species is moderately resistant to trampling, spreading aggressively and
persisting with grazing. Culture: Seeds ripen in August
to September. Seed fill is often low on dry sites. There are
about 32 million seeds/kg (Hurd and Shaw 1992).
Scirpus acutus Muhl. ex Bigel. (Hardstem bulrush)Habit: Large colonies of stout, terete, nearly bladeless
culms, 1-3(5) m tall develop from robust rhizomes. Culms
are firm and not easily crushed between the fmgers.
Habitat: Forms tall, dense colonies in marshes, sloughs,
seeps, washes, flood plains, and muddy shores of ponds,
lakes, and reservoirs. Grows in clear to moderately turbid
water to 1 m deep. Tolerant of highly alkaline conditions.
Occurs in mineral soils with thick organic surface horizons
and textures varying from fine clay to silt loam (Hansen
and others 1988). The water table is usually high in
spring and stands may remain inundated throughout the
year. Water tables in drier stands may drop to 1 m below
the soil surface in summer. Community dominance:
Juncus effusus L. (Soft rush, common rush)-Habit:
Densely tufted perennial arising from stout rhizomes.
382
Culms terete, 4-12 dm tall. An extremely polymorphic
complex. Habitat: Moist places, swamps, lake shores,
ditchbanks, ponds, and bogs. Sandy to loamy soils.
Ecology and management: The extensive root system
makes soft rush a valuable soil stabilizer. Plants are
grazed by livestock where accessible. Culture: Seeds
ripen from August to September and dehisce quickly
when mature. There are about 96 million seeds/kg (Hurd
and Shaw 1992). Exposure to light is required for germination (Thompson and Grime 1983). Seeds must be surface planted. Young seedlings are sensitive to drying,
competition, and mechanical disturbance (Lazenby 1955).
Hurd, Emerenciana G.; Shaw, Nancy L. 1992. Seed
technology for Carex and June us species of the
Intermountain Region. In: Landis, Thomas D., tech.
coord. Proceedings, Intermountain Forest Nursery Association; 1991 August 12-16; Park City, UT. Gen. Tech.
Rep. RM-211. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and
Range Experiment Station: 74-83.
Johnson, W. M.; Blankenship, J. 0.; Bram, G. R. 1965.
Exploration in the germination of sedges. Res. Note
RM-51. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range
Experiment Station. 8 p.
Kovalchik, Bernard L. 1987. Riparian zone associations.
Deschutes, Ochoco, Fremont, and Winema National
Forests. RG-ECOL-TP-279-87. Portland, OR: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific
Northwest Region. 171 p.
Kovalchik, Bernard L.; Hopkins, William E.; Brunsfeld,
Steven J. 1988. Major indicator shrubs and herbs in
riparian zones on National Forests of central Oregon.
RG-ECOL-TP-005-88. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region.
[Not paginated].
Lazenby, Alec. 1955. Germination and establishment of
Juncus effusus L. The effect of different companion species and variation in soil and fertility conditions. Journal of Ecology. 43: 103-119.
Manning, Mary E. 1988. The ecology and rooting characteristics of four intermountain meadow community
types. Reno, NV: University of Nevada, Reno. 92 p.
Thesis.
Manning, Mary E.; Swanson, S. R.; Svejcar, T.; Trent, J.
1989. Rooting characteristics of four intermountain
meadow community types. Journal of Range Management. 42: 309-312.
Manning, Mary E.; Padgett, Wayne G. 1992. Riparian
community type classification for the Humboldt and
Toiyabe National Forests, Nevada and eastern
California. Unpublished manuscript on fJ.le at U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forestry
Sciences Laboratory, Boise, ID. [Variously paginated].
Mayer, Abraham M.; Poljakoff-Mayber.1963. The germination of seeds. New York: Pergamon Press. 236 p.
Padgett, Wayne G.; Youngblood, A. P.; Winward, Alma H.
1989. Riparian community type classification of Utah
and southeastern Idaho. R4-ECOL-89-0l. Ogden, UT:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region. 191 p.
Thompson, K.; Grime, J. P. 1983. A comparative study
of germination responses to diurnally-fluctuating temperatures. Journal of Applied Ecology. 20: 141-156.
Tuhy, J. S.; Jensen, Sherman. 1982. Riparian classification for the Upper Salmon/Middle Fork Salmon Rivers,
Idaho. Unpublished paper on file at: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research
Station, Boise, ID. 200 p.
Youngblood, Andrew P.; Padgett, Wayne G.; Winward,
Alma H. 1985. Riparian community type classification
of eastern Idaho-western Wyoming. R4-ECOL-85-0l.
Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Intermountain Region. 78 p.
Juncus en.si(olius Wikst. (Swordleafrush)-Habit:
Perennial. Culms compressed, 2-7 dm tall, arising singly
or in tufts from creeping rhizomes. Habitat: Wet meadows, marshy areas, roadsides, seeps, and streambanks
from valley bottoms to subalpine communities. Loamy to
sandy soils. Ecology and management: Forage value
varies from poor to excellent; palatability is greatest early
in the season. Used for wild hay (Hermann 1975). Culture: Seeds ripen in August to September and dehisce
rapidly. There are about 152 million seeds/kg (Hurd and
Shaw 1992).
Juncus torreyi Cov. (Torrey rush)-Habit: Perennial
arising from slender, creeping rhizomes with tuberous
nodes. Culms are stout, terete, and solitary or few together. Habitat: Valleys and lowlands on banks of
streams, marshes, swamps, ditches, washes, and rivers.
Occurs on mineral, often loamy soils. Tolerates alkalinity.
The water table usually remains at or near the soil surface year-long (Hansen and others 1988). Community
dominance: Hansen and others (1988) described a rare
to minor Juncus torreyi dominance type in western
Montana. Ecology and management: Used by all
classes of livestock where accessible (Hermann 1975).
Palatability is generally considered· fair. Culture: Seeds
ripen from August to September. Seeds may remain
within the partially dehiscent capsules throughout the
winter. There are about 81 million seeds/kg (Hurd and
Shaw 1992).
REFERENCES
Comes, R. D.; Bums, V. F.; Kelly, A. D.1976. Longevity of
certain weed and crop species in fresh water. Weed Science. 26: 336-344.
Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur; Holmgren, Noel H.;
Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia. 1977. Intermountain flora. Vol. 6. The monocotyledons. New York:
Columbia University Press. 584 p.
Hansen, Paul L.; Chadde, Steve W.; Pfister, Robert D.
1988. Riparian dominance types of Montana. Misc.
Publ. 49. Missoula, MT: University of Montana. 411 p.
Hermann, FrederickJ.1970. Manual ofthe Carices ofthe
Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agric. Handb 374.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 397 p.
Hermann, FrederickJ.1975. Manual ofthe Rushes
(Juncus spp.) of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado
Basin. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range
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