Carex hendersonii

Carex hendersonii, also known as Henderson's sedge or carex de Henderson, is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to western parts of North America.

Description

The sedge has densely tufted brownish coloured culms that are in length and wide. The green leaves have basal green sheaths that become lighter near the base. The corrugate leaf blades are ascending and are in length and wide. The inflorescences occur at the end of lateral stalks as spikes that are in length. In California it blooms between May and June.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by the botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey in 1887 as a part of the Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It has one synonym; Carex laxiflora var. plantaginea as described by Olney in 1872.

Distribution

The plant is found in temperate biomes from south western Canada in British Columbia and the range extends down the western parts of the United States through Washington, Oregon to as far south as California. It is just as likely to be found in wetland as non-wetland environments including coastal prairie and oak woodlands.