Carex baileyi Britt.

Bailey's Sedge

Habitat: Swampy woods and meadows. [Forested wetland]

Range: Maine to Virginia , Kentucky , and Tennessee.

Aids to Identification: Identification of species of the genus Carex is usually difficult and dependent upon rather technical characters. C. baileyi is in the section Vesicariae which is characterized by broadly shaped, thin-walled perigynia, less than 10mm long; and erect pistillate spikes. This species can be distinguished from others in its group by its awned floral scales; inflated ovoid-glabose perigynia, and perigynia with a long, slender beak that exceeds the length of the true body. The very common Carex lurida is similar to Carex baileyi but larger overall.

Ecological characteristics: In Maine the few known occurrences of this sedge were in mixed woods.

Phenology: Fruits June - August.

Family: Cyperaceae

Synonyms: None noted.

Known Distribution in Maine: This rare plant has been documented from a total of 4 town(s) in the following county(ies): Cumberland, Oxford, Somerset.

Reason(s) for rarity: At northern limit of range. Possibly overlooked because of similarity to the very common Carex lurida.

Conservation considerations: Unknown; virtually no current information on this species in Maine.