Carex alopecoidea Tuckerman

Foxtail Sedge

Habitat: Calcareous meadows, swales, and low thickets. [Forested wetland]

Range: Northern New England to Minnesota, south to New Jersey and west to Iowa.

Aids to Identification: Identification of species of the genus Carex is usually difficult and dependent upon rather technical features. C. alopecoidea is in the section Vulpinae which is characterized by having awnless scales, the lower nodes of the inflorescence bearing 2 or more spikes, and perigynium with broad, thickened base; compound flower clusters; and closely clustered stems. This species is distinguished by its red-dotted sheaths, and its round-based (vs. truncate-based) pergynia.

Ecological characteristics: Very little is known about the ecological characteristics of this species in Maine.

Phenology: Fruits June - July.

Family: Cyperaceae

Synonyms: None noted.

Known Distribution in Maine: This rare plant has historically been documented from a total of 2 town(s) in the following county(ies): Kennebec, Oxford.

Reason(s) for rarity: At northern limit of range; scarcity of suitable habitat.

Conservation considerations: Unknown; neither documented Maine location has been recently seen.