Carex filifolia

Threadleaf Sedge

Species group: Plants

Data Sources

Classification

Kingdom:

Plantae

Phylum:

Anthophyta

Class:

Monocotyledoneae

Order:

Cyperales

Family:

Cyperaceae

Genus:

Carex

Encyclopedia of Life

For more info, visit:

Source:
http://eol.org/pages/1124455/details

Distribution
Morphology
Habitat
General Ecology
Cyclicity
Molecular Biology
Conservation Status
Management

Distribution

National Distribution

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Source:

NatureServe

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Rights Holder:

NatureServe

States or Provinces

(key to state/province abbreviations)
UNITED STATES AK AZ CA CO ID KS MN MT NE NV NM ND OR SD UT WA WY
CANADA AB BC MB NT SK YK

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [13]:

4 Sierra Mountains

5 Columbia Plateau

8 Northern Rocky Mountains

9 Middle Rocky Mountains

10 Wyoming Basin

11 Southern Rocky Mountains

12 Colorado Plateau

13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont

14 Great Plains

16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands

References:

13. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p. [434]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Distribution

Threadleaf sedge has a contiguous distribution. It occurs from California, north to Alaska, east to Manitoba, and south to Nebraska and New Mexico [3,17,44,52,53,54,69,89,90,96,99,100, 102,108,116,180,181,182]. The Flora of North America provides a distributional map of threadleaf sedge.

References:

3. Anderson, J. P. 1959. Flora of Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press. 543 p. [9928]
17. Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana. Part I: Conifers and monocots. Bozeman, MT: The Research Foundation at Montana State College. 232 p. [48662]
44. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6. The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
52. Dorn, Robert D. 1977. Flora of the Black Hills. Cheyenne, WY: Robert D. Dorn and Jane L. Dorn. 377 p. [820]
53. Dorn, Robert D. 1984. Vascular plants of Montana. Cheyenne, WY: Mountain West Publishing. 276 p. [819]
54. Dorn, Robert D. 1988. Vascular plants of Wyoming. Cheyenne, WY: Mountain West Publishing. 340 p. [6129]
69. Goodrich, Sherel; Neese, Elizabeth. 1986. Uinta Basin flora. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ashley National Forest; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal District. 320 p. [23307]
89. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 730 p. [1168]
90. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur; Ownbey, Marion. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 914 p. [1169]
96. Hultén, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
102. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock, Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2nd ed. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
108. Lackschewitz, Klaus. 1991. Vascular plants of west-central Montana--identification guidebook. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-227. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 648 p. [13798]
116. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37175]
180. Weber, William A. 1987. Colorado flora: western slope. Boulder, CO: Colorado Associated University Press. 530 p. [7706]
181. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2d ed. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
182. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
99. Kartesz, John T.; Meacham, Christopher A. 1999. Synthesis of the North American flora (Windows Version 1.0), [CD-ROM]. Available: North Carolina Botanical Garden. In cooperation with: The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [2001, January 16]. [36715]
100. Kartesz, John Thomas. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Reno, NV: University of Nevada. 1729 p. [In 2 volumes]. Dissertation. [42426]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Localities documented in Tropicos sources

Carex filifolia Nutt.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

References:

Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.
Gleason, H. A. 1968. The Sympetalous Dicotyledoneae. vol. 3. 596 pp. In H. A. Gleason Ill. Fl. N. U.S. (ed. 3). New York Botanical Garden, New York.
Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Fl. Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.
Fernald, M. 1950. Manual (ed. 8) i–lxiv, 1–1632. American Book Co., New York.
Munz, P. A. & D. D. Keck. 1959. Cal. Fl. 1–1681. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Cronquist, A. J., A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren & Reveal. 1977. Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. 6: 1–584. In A. J. Cronquist, A. H. Holmgren, N. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal & P. K. Holmgren (eds.) Intermount. Fl. Hafner Pub. Co., New York.

Source:

Missouri Botanical Garden

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Rights Holder:

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA

Morphology

Description

More info for the terms: cool-season, graminoid, monoecious

This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g. [3,17,44,82,89,90,96,108,129,182]).

Threadleaf sedge is a cool-season, sod-forming, drought-resistant, low-growing, native perennial graminoid [2,32,71,72,107,107,160,164,170,173]. It is densely tufted, with numerous leaf-bearing sheaths at the base [44,90,96,108,116,129,182] and grows in bunches approximately 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) in width [38,179]. Threadleaf sedge culms are slender, stiff and wiry [44,90], often curved [96], and 2 to 15 inches (5-38 cm) tall [3,17,44,71,82,90,108,129,182]. Leaves are mostly basal, stiff, strongly folded, very slender [44,90,108], and 1 to 8 inches (3-20 cm) long and 0.25 to 0.5 mm wide [3,17,71,82,129,182]. Threadleaf sedge is one of the few Carex spp. to contain alkaloids [85].

Threadleaf sedge is monoecious [165,173]. The spikelets are 0.4 to 1 inch (1-3 cm) long [3,44,82,90,108,129,182], up to 6 mm wide [44,82,90], and 3- to 25-flowered [165]. The flowers of threadleaf sedge are unisexual [17,44,71,82,90,116,129,165,182]. Fruits are achenes, 2.25 to 3 mm long and weigh approximately 2.9 mg [3,165].

The roots of threadleaf sedge are tough, wiry, and 0.8 mm or less in diameter [40,164]. Roots occur in "enormous numbers" and seldom descend vertically, but run away from and under the plant to distances of 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6-0.8 m) [26,179].

Eight threadleaf sedge plants excavated from a Saskatchewan grassland were found to grow obliquely downward in all directions to form a dense mat in the upper 12 inches (30 cm) of soil. The dense mat spread out as much as 15 inches (38 cm) from the base of the plant. The roots were profusely branched, excluding those closest to the crown. The longest lateral roots measured were 2 inches (5 cm). Most of the roots terminated growth at 12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm) below ground surface, though some were found to penetrate 30 inches (75 cm) below soil surface. At the point of termination, threadleaf sedge roots are densely branched with brush-like ends. Plants excavated in Colorado and South Dakota have exhibited a rooting depth of 5.2 feet (1.6 m) and a lateral spread of 32 inches (80 cm) [40].

References:

3. Anderson, J. P. 1959. Flora of Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press. 543 p. [9928]
2. Adams, Don C.; Staigmiller, Robert B.; Knapp, Bradford W. 1989. Beef production from native and seeded Northern Great Plains ranges. Journal of Range Management. 42(3): 243-247. [47781]
17. Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana. Part I: Conifers and monocots. Bozeman, MT: The Research Foundation at Montana State College. 232 p. [48662]
26. Canadell, J.; Jackson, R. B.; Ehleringer, J. R.; Mooney, H. A.; Sala, O. E.; Schulze, E.-D. 1996. Maximum rooting depth of vegetation types at the global scale. Oecologia. 108(4): 583-595. [27670]
32. Cogswell, C.; Kamstra, L. D. 1976. The stage of maturity and its effect upon the chemical composition of four native range species. Journal of Range Management. 29(6): 460-463. [35472]
38. Coupland, Robert T. 1950. Ecology of mixed prairie in Canada. Ecological Monographs. 20(4): 271-315. [700]
40. Coupland, Robert T.; Johnson, R. E. 1965. Rooting characteristics of native grassland species of Saskatchewan. Journal of Ecology. 53: 475-507. [702]
44. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6. The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
71. Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. 1392 p. [1603]
72. Griffin, Timothy L. 2002. Germination and establishment of threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia Nutt.). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. 63 p. Thesis. [53549]
82. Harrington, H. D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. 2d ed. Chicago: The Swallow Press, Inc. 666 p. [6851]
85. Hazlett, Donald L.; Sawyer, Neil W. 1998. Distribution of alkaloid-rich plant species in shortgrass steppe vegetation. Conservation Biology. 12(6): 1260-1268. [49041]
89. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 730 p. [1168]
90. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur; Ownbey, Marion. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 914 p. [1169]
96. Hultén, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
107. Lacey, John; Mosley, John. 2002. 250 plants for range contests in Montana. MONTGUIDE MT198402 AG 6/2002. Range E-2 (Misc.). Bozeman, MT: Montana State University, Extension Service. 4 p. [43671]
108. Lackschewitz, Klaus. 1991. Vascular plants of west-central Montana--identification guidebook. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-227. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 648 p. [13798]
116. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37175]
129. Munz, Philip A. 1973. A California flora and supplement. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1905 p. [6155]
160. Steuter, Allen A. 1987. C3/C4 production shift on seasonal burns--northern mixed prairie. Journal of Range Management. 40(1): 27-31. [2237]
164. Stubbendieck, J.; Foster, Michael A. 1978. Herbage yield and quality of threadleaf sedge. Journal of Range Management. 31(4): 290-292. [54141]
165. Stubbendieck, James; Hatch, Stephan L.; Butterfield, Charles H. 1992. North American range plants. 4th ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 493 p. [25162]
170. Tichota, Gina R. 2000. The germination, propagation, and establishment of Carex filifolia (threadleaf sedge). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. 121 p. Thesis. [53548]
173. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook. Washington, DC. 532 p. [2387]
179. Weaver, J. E. 1958. Summary and interpretation of underground development in natural grassland communities. Ecological Monographs. 28(1): 55-78. [297]
182. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Description

Culms round or trigonous, filiform, wiry, angles proximal to spike blunt or sharp, 5–35 cm, shorter than or longer than leaves. Leaves: basal leaf sheaths fibrillose when old; blades yellow-green or bright green, involute-cylindric, quill-shaped, 6–25 cm, 0.3–0.7 mm wide near base. Spike 7–30 × 3–7 mm, staminate portion 4–14 mm. Proximal pistillate scales pale red-brown with white or gold margins, broadly obovate, 2.3–4.5(–6.5) × 1.7–4 mm, shorter or longer than perigynia, apex obtuse to short-awned. Staminate scales red-brown with broad, white margins, broadly obovate, apex obtuse. Perigynia (2–)5–18, appressed to ascending, white to gold, obovate to orbiculate, 1.9–4.8 × 1.3–2 mm, body conspicuously hirsute or pubescent, at least distal 1/4 (occasionally only proximal to beak); beak 0–0.8 mm, style base often conspicuously exserted from beak; rachilla present. Achenes obovate to elliptic, 1.5–3.3 × 1.1–1.9 mm. Stigmas ± black.

Source:

Missouri Botanical Garden

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Rights Holder:

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA

Habitat

Habitat characteristics

More info for the term: resistance

Threadleaf sedge is generally found on warm, dry, well-drained, upper south-facing slopes [16,25,125,145]. Literature on threadleaf sedge describes it occurring on dry ridges [96,173], dry open places and dry meadows [44,90], dry rocky slopes and flats [100,129], dry plains and valleys [17,116,180,181], dry grasslands [108,180,181], and upland prairies [71,114]. Threadleaf sedge also grows on the tundra-steppe of Alaska on sites with favorable southern exposures [56,130].

Climate: Threadleaf sedge thrives under a continental climate regime in which 80% of precipitation falls during the growing season (April-September) [1,14,145]. Threadleaf sedge requires a minimum of 90 frost-free days and favors from 8 to 24 inches (200-610 mm) of average annual precipitation [174]. On the mixed-grass prairies of North Dakota where threadleaf sedge is often dominant, temperature extremes range from 109 Â°F (43 Â°C) in the summer to Â47 Â°F (Â44 Â°C) in winter [59].

During the 1934 growing season, grasslands around Miles City, Montana, experienced a historic drought. Rainfall during the 1934 growing season was 3.53 inches (89.7 mm), down from a 57-year average of 9.32 inches (237 mm). Consequentially, threadleaf sedge plants were markedly shorter than in normal precipitation years and production was down 17% [57]. Near Mildred, Montana, the drought caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in threadleaf sedge. Production of threadleaf sedge was reduced by 12% to 55% on silty and sandy sites [188].

Near Virginia City, Montana, cool July soil temperatures correlated (r = Â0.77) with increased production of threadleaf sedge. The soil temperature was measured as electrical resistance, thus a negative coefficient meant a positive relationship with soil temperature. However, windy May conditions correlated (r = Â0.83) with decreased growth in threadleaf sedge [127].

Elevation: Elevational ranges for threadleaf sedge are presented below:

State/Province Elevation Alaska Up to 5,000 feet [56,96] Arizona Up to 6,500 feet [102] California Up to 11,000 feet [55,125] Colorado 5,000 to 7,500 feet [82] Montana 1,900 to 9,200 feet [1,45,63,126,127] Nevada 5,000 to 8,500 feet [100] New Mexico 5,000 to 7,000 feet [116] North Dakota 1,000 to 2,600 feet [48,81] Oregon Up to 4,500 feet [66] South Dakota 900 to 7,200 feet [65,83,104] Utah 5,000 to 7,300 feet [69,182] Wyoming 5,400 to 9,200 feet [42,119] Alberta 800 to 4,000 feet Manitoba 800 to 4,000 feet Saskatchewan 800 to 4,000 feet [38] Yukon Territory 3,000 to 6,300 feet [91]

Soil: Threadleaf sedge is often found on well-drained, silty clay loam [45,49] and fine sandy loam soil [25,81]. On the Canadian mixed-grass prairie, threadleaf sedge grows on clay loam, loam, and light loam soils. Approximately 65% of threadleaf sedge growth occurs on light loam soils [38,95]. Threadleaf sedge can tolerate saline soils. On the Central Plains Experimental Range, Colorado, it occurs in saltgrass meadows in limited quantities on soils with a pH as high as 9.2 [120].

A month-by-month soil chemical analysis of a threadleaf sedge-dominated community in the Badlands of North Dakota is presented by Fairaizl [59].

A detailed review on soil constituents of a threadleaf sedge/western wheatgrass and a threadleaf sedge/blue grama/needle-and-thread grass community in western North Dakota is presented by Hanson and Whitman [81].

References:

16. Blinn, Dean W.; Habeck, James R. 1967. An analysis of morainal vegetation in the upper Blackfoot Valley, Montana. Northwest Science. 41(3): 126-140. [4008]
1. Aase, J. K.; Wright, J. R. 1973. Prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia): water infiltration and use. Journal of Range Management. 26(3): 212-214. [5024]
14. Biondini, Mario E.; Manske, Llewellyn. 1996. Grazing frequency and ecosystem processes in a northern mixed prairie, USA. Ecological Applications. 6(1): 239-256. [26566]
17. Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana. Part I: Conifers and monocots. Bozeman, MT: The Research Foundation at Montana State College. 232 p. [48662]
25. Butler, Jack; Goetz, Harold. 1986. Vegetation and soil--landscape relationships in the North Dakota Badlands. The American Midland Naturalist. 116(2): 378-386; 1986. [573]
38. Coupland, Robert T. 1950. Ecology of mixed prairie in Canada. Ecological Monographs. 20(4): 271-315. [700]
42. Crane, Kelly K.; Smith, Michael A.; Reynolds, Doug. 1997. Habitat selection patterns of feral horses in southcentral Wyoming. Journal of Range Management. 50(4): 374-380. [27619]
44. Cronquist, Arthur; Holmgren, Arthur H.; Holmgren, Noel H.; Reveal, James L.; Holmgren, Patricia K. 1977. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 6. The Monocotyledons. New York: Columbia University Press. 584 p. [719]
45. Currie, P.O.; Erickson, L.R.; White, R.S. 1986. Productivity changes from multiple renovation practices on Northern Great Plains rangelands. In: Joss, P.J.; Lynch, P.W.; Williams, O.B., eds. Rangelands: a resource under siege. Proceedings of the 2nd international rangeland congress; 1984 May 13-18; Adelaide, Australia. Canberra, Australia: Australian Academy of Science: 306-307. [54103]
48. Dix, R. L.; Smeins, F. E. 1967. The prairie, meadow, and marsh vegetation of Nelson County, North Dakota. Canadian Journal of Botany. 45: 21-58. [5528]
49. Dix, Ralph L. 1958. Some slope-plant relationships in the grasslands of the Little Missouri Badlands of North Dakota. Journal of Range Management. 11: 88-92. [807]
55. Eagan, Sean; Newman, Peter; Fritzke, Sue; Johnson, Louise. 2004. Subalpine meadow restoration in Yosemite National Park. Ecological Restoration. 22(1): 24-29. [47429]
56. Edwards, M. E.; Armbruster, W. S. 1989. A tundra-steppe transition on Kathul Mountain, Alaska, U.S.A. Arctic and Alpine Research. 21(3): 296-304. [9673]
57. Ellison, Lincoln; Woolfolk, E. J. 1937. Effects of drought on vegetation near Miles City, Montana. Ecology. 18(3): 329-336. [6264]
63. Gaffney, William S. 1941. The effects of winter elk browsing, South Fork of the Flathead River, Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management. 5(4): 427-453. [5028]
65. Gartner, F. R. 1986. The many faces of South Dakota rangelands: description and classification. In: Clambey, Gary K.; Pemble, Richard H., eds. The prairie: past, present and future: Proceedings of the 9th North American Prairie Conference; 1984 July 29 - August 1; Moorhead, MN. Fargo, ND: Tri-College University Center for Environmental Studies: 81-85. [3529]
66. Gholz, H. L. 1980. Structure and productivity of Juniperus occidentalis in central Oregon. The American Midland Naturalist. 103(2): 251-261. [1012]
69. Goodrich, Sherel; Neese, Elizabeth. 1986. Uinta Basin flora. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ashley National Forest; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal District. 320 p. [23307]
71. Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. 1392 p. [1603]
81. Hanson, Herbert C.; Whitman, Warren. 1938. Characteristics of major grassland types in western North Dakota. Ecological Monographs. 8(2): 57-114. [15]
82. Harrington, H. D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. 2d ed. Chicago: The Swallow Press, Inc. 666 p. [6851]
83. Hayward, Herman E. 1928. Studies of plants in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Botanical Gazette. 85(4): 353-412. [1110]
90. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur; Ownbey, Marion. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 914 p. [1169]
91. Hoefs, Manfred. 1979. Flowering plant phenology at Sheep Mountain, southwest Yukon Territory. Canadian Field Naturalist. 93(2): 183-187. [54084]
95. Hubbard, William A. 1950. The climate, soils, and soil-plant relationships of an area in southwestern Saskatchewan. Scientific Agriculture. 30(8): 327-342. [6263]
96. Hultén, Eric. 1968. Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. 1008 p. [13403]
102. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock, Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2nd ed. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1085 p. [6563]
104. King, John A. 1955. Social behavior, social organization, and population dynamics in a black-tailed prairie dog town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In: Contributions from the Laboratory of Vertebrate Biology. Number 67. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan. 123 p. [4032]
108. Lackschewitz, Klaus. 1991. Vascular plants of west-central Montana--identification guidebook. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-227. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 648 p. [13798]
114. Lieffers, V. J.; Larkin-Lieffers, P. A. 1987. Slope, aspect, and slope position as factors controlling grassland communities in the coulees of the Oldman River, Alberta. Canadian Journal of Botany. 65: 1371-1378. [3957]
116. Martin, William C.; Hutchins, Charles R. 1981. A flora of New Mexico. Volume 2. Germany: J. Cramer. 2589 p. [37175]
119. McGinnies, William J. 1984. Chemically thinning blue grama range for increased forage and seed production. Journal of Range Management. 37(5): 412-415. [3903]
120. McGinnies, William J.; Osborn, Lane W.; Berg, William A. 1976. Plant-soil-microsite relationships on a saltgrass meadow. Journal of Range Management. 29(5): 395-400. [11202]
125. Moore, P. E.; Cole, D. N.; van Wagtendonk, J. W.; McClaran, M. P.; McDougald, N. 2000. Meadow response to pack stock grazing in the Yosemite wilderness: integrating research and management. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O'Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. Wilderness science in a time of change conference-volume 5: wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT. RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 160-164. [54156]
126. Mueggler, W. F.; Stewart, W. L. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-66. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 154 p. [1717]
127. Mueggler, Walter F. 1983. Variation in production and seasonal development of mountain grasslands in western Montana. Research Paper INT-316. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 16 p. [1710]
129. Munz, Philip A. 1973. A California flora and supplement. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 1905 p. [6155]
130. Murray, David F. 1992. Vascular plant diversity in Alaskan arctic tundra. Northwest Environmental Journal. 8: 29-52. [21459]
145. Redmann, Robert E. 1975. Production ecology of grassland plant communities in western North Dakota. Ecological Monographs. 45: 83-106. [4601]
173. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook. Washington, DC. 532 p. [2387]
180. Weber, William A. 1987. Colorado flora: western slope. Boulder, CO: Colorado Associated University Press. 530 p. [7706]
181. Weber, William A.; Wittmann, Ronald C. 1996. Colorado flora: eastern slope. 2d ed. Niwot, CO: University Press of Colorado. 524 p. [27572]
182. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. The Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
188. White, Larry M.; Newbauer, John J., III; Wight, J. Ross. 1978. Vegetational differences on native range during 38 years in eastern Montana. In: Hyder, Donald N., ed. Proceedings, 1st international rangeland congress; 1978 August 14-18; Denver, CO. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management: 260-262. [2535]
59. Fairaizl, Steven D. 1978. Bighorn sheep in North Dakota: population estimates, food habits and their biogeochemistry. Grand Forks, ND: University of North Dakota. 83 p. Thesis. [Project No.: W-67-R-17. Bismark, ND: North Dakota State Game and Fish Department. 51 p. + appendices]. [25841]
100. Kartesz, John Thomas. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Reno, NV: University of Nevada. 1729 p. [In 2 volumes]. Dissertation. [42426]
174. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. PLANTS database (2006), [Online]. Available: http://plants.usda.gov/. [34262]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Key Plant Community Associations

Threadleaf sedge is listed as a dominant species in the following vegetation
classifications:

United States
CA:

Yosemite National Park meadows (monotypic community) [33,55]

CO:

Central Plains Experimental Range (codominant with saltgrass (Distichlis spicata),
alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)) [120]

Pawnee National Grasslands (codominant with broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae),
blue grama, and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)) [123]

ID:

Upper Snake River Plains (codominant with Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis)) [128]

KS:

Northern mixed-prairie (codominant with blue grama and needle-and-thread grass (Hesperostipa
comata)) [111]

MT:

Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory (codominant with needle-and-thread grass,
blue grama, Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus),
and Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus)) [45,74,75,76]

Havre (codominant with blue grama and needle-and-thread grass) [86]

Glendive mixed-grass prairie (codominant with western wheatgrass and blue grama) [167]

Square Butte (codominant with blue grama and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata)) [194]

Custer National Forest (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass, little bluestem,
bluebunch wheatgrass, and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)) [78]

Bull Mountains, Gravelly Range, and Pioneer Mountains (codominant with Idaho fescue) [126]

ND:

Dickinson Research Center mixed-grass prairie (codominant with western wheatgrass, prairie Junegrass
(Koeleria macrantha), needle-and-thread grass, green needlegrass (Nassella viridula),
and sun sedge (Carex heliophila)) [14]

Billings County mixed-grass prairie (codominant with blue grama and needle-and-thread grass) [18]

Little Missouri Badlands mixed-grass prairie (codominant with western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread grass,
and blue grama) [20,49]

Nelson County (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, blue grama, and western
wheatgrass) [48]

Sentinel Butte (codominant with blue grama, western wheatgrass, and needle-and-thread grass) [81]

Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park (codominant with blue grama, western wheatgrass, green
needlegrass, and needle-and-thread grass) [79,84]

Ranger (codominant with interior ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum),
western wheatgrass, blue grama, and needle-and-thread grass) [139]

Northern Great Plains Field Station (codominant with blue grama, western wheatgrass, and needle-and-thread
grass) [144]

NE:

Scotts Bluff National Monument grasslands (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass,
cheatgrass (B. tectorum), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and prairie sandreed
(Calamovilfa longifolia)) [41]

Cherry County (codominant with needle-and-thread grass) [171]

Cedar Point Biological Station (codominant with blue grama) [101]

OR:

Horse Ridge (codominant with western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) and mountain big sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana)) [62,66]

SD:

Black Hills (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass, prairie Junegrass, blue grama,
buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides), needleleaf sedge (Carex duriuscula), and bluebunch
wheatgrass) [83]

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (codominant with blue grama, western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread grass,
and needleleaf sedge) [110]

Wind Cave National Park (codominant with big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii)
and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)) [196]

Badlands National Park (codominant with little bluestem, blue grama, and skunkbush sumac (R. trilobata)) [46]

Custer National Forest (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass, little bluestem,
bluebunch wheatgrass, and fragrant sumac) [78]

WY:

Shirley Basin (codominant with blue grama, western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread grass, bluebunch wheatgrass,
Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), and fringed sagebrush
(A. frigida)) [94]

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (codominant with needle-and-thread grass, blue grama,
prairie Junegrass, and western wheatgrass) [30]

Cheyenne (codominant with bluebunch wheatgrass and blue grama) [34]

Powder Rim (codominant with needle-and-thread grass) [131]

Cheyenne River Basin (codominant with blue grama) [169]

Regions:

Interior Columbia Basin (codominant with Idaho fescue) [23]

Northern Great Plains (codominant with blue grama and needle-and-thread grass) [39]

Great Plains shrubland (codominant with Wyoming big sagebrush) [152]

Canada

AB:

Southern provincial short-grass prairie (codominant with blue grama and Sandberg
bluegrass) [31]

Agriculture Canada Research Substation (codominant with needle-and-thread grass,
western wheatgrass, blue grama, Sandberg's bluegrass, and prairie Junegrass) [159]

SK:

Southwestern provincial short-grass prairie (codominants include blue grama and
Sandberg bluegrass) [31]

YK:

Aishihik-Sekulmun lakes area grasslands (codominant with fringed sagebrush) [177]

References:

18. Brand, M. D.; Goetz, H. 1978. Secondary succession of a mixed grass community in southwestern North Dakota. Annual Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science. 32(2): 67-78. [7512]
14. Biondini, Mario E.; Manske, Llewellyn. 1996. Grazing frequency and ecosystem processes in a northern mixed prairie, USA. Ecological Applications. 6(1): 239-256. [26566]
20. Brand, Michael D.; Goetz, Harold. 1986. Vegetation of exclosures in southwestern North Dakota. Journal of Range Management. 39(5): 434-437. [507]
23. Bunting, Stephen C.; Kingery, James L.; Hemstrom, Miles A.; Schroeder, Michael A.; Gravenmier, Rebecca A.; Hann, Wendel J. 2002. Altered rangeland ecosystems in the interior Columbia basin. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-553. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 71 p. (Quigley, Thomas M., ed.; Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Project: scientific assessment). [43462]
30. Clambey, Gary K. 1992. Ecological aspects of the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, west-central North Dakota. In: Smith, Daryl D.; Jacobs, Carol A., eds. Recapturing a vanishing heritage: Proceedings, 12th North American prairie conference; 1990 August 5-9; Cedar Falls, IA. Cedar Falls, IA: University of Northern Iowa: 75-78. [24719]
31. Clarke, S. E.; Tisdale, E. W.; Skoglund, N. A. 1943. The effects of climate and grazing practices on short-grass prairie vegetation in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan. Tech. Bull. No. 46. Ottawa, Canada: Canadian Dominion, Department of Agriculture. 53 p. [635]
33. Cole, David N.; van Wagtendonk, Jan W.; McClaran, Mitchel P.; Moore, Peggy E.; McDougald, Neil K. 2004. Response of mountain meadows to grazing by recreational pack stock. Journal of Range Management. 57(2): 153-160. [47849]
34. Collins, Ellen I. 1984. Preliminary classification of Wyoming plant communities. Cheyenne, WY: Wyoming Natural Heritage Program/The Nature Conservancy. 42 p. [661]
39. Coupland, Robert T. 1961. A reconsideration of grassland classification in the northern Great Plains of North America. Journal of Ecology. 49: 135-167. [12588]
41. Cox, Mike K.; Franklin, William L. 1989. Terrestrial vertebrates of Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. The Great Basin Naturalist. 49(4): 597-613. [11004]
45. Currie, P.O.; Erickson, L.R.; White, R.S. 1986. Productivity changes from multiple renovation practices on Northern Great Plains rangelands. In: Joss, P.J.; Lynch, P.W.; Williams, O.B., eds. Rangelands: a resource under siege. Proceedings of the 2nd international rangeland congress; 1984 May 13-18; Adelaide, Australia. Canberra, Australia: Australian Academy of Science: 306-307. [54103]
46. Dingman, Sandra; Paintner, Kara J. 2001. Defining landscape vision to monitor and manage prescribed fire at Badlands National Park, South Dakota. In: Bernstein, Neil P.; Ostrander, Laura J., eds. Seeds for the future; roots of the past: Proceedings of the 17th North American prairie conference; 2000 July 16-20; Mason City, IA. Mason City, IA: North Iowa Area Community College: 73-78. [46496]
48. Dix, R. L.; Smeins, F. E. 1967. The prairie, meadow, and marsh vegetation of Nelson County, North Dakota. Canadian Journal of Botany. 45: 21-58. [5528]
49. Dix, Ralph L. 1958. Some slope-plant relationships in the grasslands of the Little Missouri Badlands of North Dakota. Journal of Range Management. 11: 88-92. [807]
55. Eagan, Sean; Newman, Peter; Fritzke, Sue; Johnson, Louise. 2004. Subalpine meadow restoration in Yosemite National Park. Ecological Restoration. 22(1): 24-29. [47429]
62. Franklin, Jerry F.; Dyrness, C. T. 1973. Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-8. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 417 p. [961]
66. Gholz, H. L. 1980. Structure and productivity of Juniperus occidentalis in central Oregon. The American Midland Naturalist. 103(2): 251-261. [1012]
74. Haferkamp, Marshall R.; Grings, Elaine E.; Heitschmidt, R. K.; Heitschmidt, R. K.; MacNeil, Michael D.; Karl, Michael G. 2001. Suppression of annual bromes impacts rangeland: animal responses. Journal of Range Management. 54(6): 663-668. [40157]
75. Haferkamp, Marshall R.; Heitschmidt, R. K.; Grings, Elaine E.; MacNeil, Michael D.; Karl, Michael G. 2001. Suppression of annual bromes impacts rangeland: vegetation responses. Journal of Range Management. 54(6): 656-662. [40167]
76. Haferkamp, Marshall R.; Volesky, Jerry D.; Borman, Michael M; Heitschmidt, Rodney K.; Currie, Pat O. 1993. Effects of mechanical treatments and climatic factors on the productivity of Northern Great Plains rangelands. Journal of Range Management. 46(4): 346-350. [21735]
78. Hansen, Paul L.; Hoffman, George R. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland Districts of the Custer National Forest: a habitat type classification. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-157. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 68 p. [771]
79. Hansen, Paul L.; Hoffman, George R.; Bjugstad, Ardell J. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: a habitat type classification. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-113. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 35 p. [1077]
81. Hanson, Herbert C.; Whitman, Warren. 1938. Characteristics of major grassland types in western North Dakota. Ecological Monographs. 8(2): 57-114. [15]
83. Hayward, Herman E. 1928. Studies of plants in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Botanical Gazette. 85(4): 353-412. [1110]
84. Hazlett, Donald L.; Hoffman, George R. 1975. Plant species distributional patterns in Artemisia tridentata- and Artemisia cana-dominated vegetation in western North Dakota. Botanical Gazette. 136(1): 72-77. [1111]
86. Heady, Harold F. 1950. Studies on bluebunch wheatgrass in Montana and height-weight relationships of certain range grasses. Ecological Monographs. 20(1): 55-81. [1112]
94. Howard, Gene S.; Rauzi, Frank; Schuman, Gerald E. 1979. Woody plant trials at six mine reclamation sites in Wyoming and Colorado. Production Res. Rep. PRR 177/1/79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 14 p. [42428]
101. Kaul, Robert P.; Keeler, Kathleen H. 1980. Effects of grazing and juniper canopy closure on the prairie flora in Nebraska high-plains canyons. In: Kucera, Clair L., ed. Proceedings, 7th North American prairie conference; 1980 August 4-6; Springfield, MO. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri: 95-105. [2923]
110. Larson, Floyd; Whitman, Warren. 1942. A comparison of used and unused grassland mesas in the Badlands of South Dakota. Ecology. 23: 438-445. [4000]
111. Lauver, Chris L.; Kindscher, Kelly; Faber-Langendoen, Don; Schneider, Rick. 1999. A classification of the natural vegetation of Kansas. The Southwestern Naturalist. 44(4): 421-443. [38847]
120. McGinnies, William J.; Osborn, Lane W.; Berg, William A. 1976. Plant-soil-microsite relationships on a saltgrass meadow. Journal of Range Management. 29(5): 395-400. [11202]
123. Milchunas, Daniel G.; Noy-Meir, Imanuel. 2004. Geologic grazing refuges and grassland diversity: a shortgrass steppe study. Journal of Range Management. 57(2): 141-147. [48529]
126. Mueggler, W. F.; Stewart, W. L. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-66. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 154 p. [1717]
128. Mueggler, Walter F.; Blaisdell, James P. 1958. Effects on associated species of burning, rotobeating, spraying, and railing sagebrush. Journal of Range Management. 11: 61-66. [1712]
131. Muscha, Jennifer M.; Hild, Ann L.; Munn, Larry C.; Stahl, Peter D. 2004. Impacts of livestock exclusion from Wyoming big sagebrush communities. In: Hild, Ann L.; Shaw, Nancy L.; Meyer, Susan E.; Booth, D. Terrance; McArthur, E. Durant, comps. Seed and soil dynamics in shrubland ecosystems: proceedings; 2002 August 12-16; Laramie, WY. Proceedings RMRS-P-31. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 176-182. [49238]
139. Potter, Loren D.; Green, Duane L. 1964. Ecology of ponderosa pine in western North Dakota. Ecology. 45(1): 10-23. [4627]
144. Rauzi, Frank. 1963. Water intake and plant composition as affected by differential grazing on rangeland. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. May-June: 114-116. [16218]
159. Smoliak, S. 1986. Influence of climatic conditions on production of Stipa- Bouteloua prairie over a 50-year period. Journal of Range Management. 39(2): 100-103. [2182]
167. Swenson, Jon E. 1985. Seasonal habitat use by sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus, on mixed-grass prairie in Montana. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 99(1): 40-46. [23501]
169. Thilenius, John F.; Brown, Gary R.; Medina, Alvin L. 1995. Vegetation on semi-arid rangelands, Cheyenne River Basin, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-263. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 60 p. [26478]
171. Tolstead, W. L. 1942. Vegetation of the northern part of Cherry County, Nebraska. Ecological Monographs. 12: 255-292. [4470]
177. Vujnovic, K.; Bentz, J. 2001. Preliminary classification of native wheat grass (Agropyron spp.) community types in Alberta. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Environment, Natural Heritage Centre. 362 p. Unpublished report on file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [43372]
194. Wright, John C.; Wright, Elnora A. 1948. Grassland types of south central Montana. Ecology. 29(4): 449-460. [2627]
196. Wydeven, Adrian P.; Dahlgren, Robert B. 1985. Ungulate habitat relationships in Wind Cave National Park. Journal of Wildlife Management. 49(3): 805-813. [57]
152. Schneider, Rick E.; Faber-Langendoen, Don; Crawford, Rex C.; Weakley, Alan S. 1997. The status of biodiversity in the Great Plains: Great Plains vegetation classification. Supplemental document 1. In: Ostlie, W. R.; Schneider, R. E.; Aldrich, J. M.; Faust, T. M.; McKim, R. L. B.; Chaplin, S. J. The status of biodiversity in the Great Plains, [Online]. Arlington, VA: The Nature Conservancy (Producer). 75 p. Available: http://conserveonline.org/docs/2005/02/greatplains_vegclass_97.pdf [2006 May 16]. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [62020]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Habitat: Rangeland Cover Types

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: cover, mesic

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [154]:

101 Bluebunch wheatgrass

102 Idaho fescue

103 Green fescue

104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

106 Bluegrass scabland

107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass

108 Alpine Idaho fescue

109 Ponderosa pine shrubland

110 Ponderosa pine-grassland

210 Bitterbrush

213 Alpine grassland

216 Montane meadows

301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama

302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass

303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass

304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

305 Idaho fescue-Richardson needlegrass

306 Idaho fescue-slender wheatgrass

307 Idaho fescue-threadleaf sedge

308 Idaho fescue-tufted hairgrass

309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass

310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama

311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

312 Rough fescue-Idaho fescue

313 Tufted hairgrass-sedge

314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue

316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue

317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

318 Bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

319 Bitterbrush-rough fescue

320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue

324 Threetip sagebrush-Idaho fescue

401 Basin big sagebrush

402 Mountain big sagebrush

403 Wyoming big sagebrush

404 Threetip sagebrush

405 Black sagebrush

406 Low sagebrush

407 Stiff sagebrush

408 Other sagebrush types

409 Tall forb

410 Alpine rangeland

412 Juniper-pinyon woodland

421 Chokecherry-serviceberry-rose

504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland

601 Bluestem prairie

602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed

603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass

604 Bluestem-grama prairie

605 Sandsage prairie

606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass

609 Wheatgrass-grama

610 Wheatgrass

611 Blue grama-buffalo grass

612 Sagebrush-grass

613 Fescue grassland

614 Crested wheatgrass

615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama

704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass

708 Bluestem-dropseed

709 Bluestem-grama

710 Bluestem prairie

714 Grama-bluestem

715 Grama-buffalo grass

721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)

722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie

ALASKAN RANGELANDS

908 Fescue

910 Hairgrass

914 Mesic sedge-grass-herb meadow tundra

915 Mixed herb-herbaceous

916 Sedge-shrub tundra

References:

154. Shiflet, Thomas N., ed. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Denver, CO: Society for Range Management. 152 p. [23362]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Habitat: Cover Types

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: cover

SAF COVER TYPES [58]:

206 Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir

210 Interior Douglas-fir

217 Aspen

218 Lodgepole pine

220 Rocky Mountain juniper

237 Interior ponderosa pine

238 Western juniper

239 Pinyon-juniper

243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer

244 Pacific ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir

245 Pacific ponderosa pine

References:

58. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Habitat: Plant Associations

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: shrub

KUCHLER [106] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:

K005 Mixed conifer forest

K008 Lodgepole pine-subalpine forest

K010 Ponderosa shrub forest

K011 Western ponderosa forest

K012 Douglas-fir forest

K015 Western spruce-fir forest

K016 Eastern ponderosa forest

K017 Black Hills pine forest

K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest

K020 Spruce-fir-Douglas-fir forest

K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland

K024 Juniper steppe woodland

K038 Great Basin sagebrush

K046 Desert: vegetation largely lacking

K047 Fescue-oatgrass

K050 Fescue-wheatgrass

K051 Wheatgrass-bluegrass

K052 Alpine meadows and barren

K055 Sagebrush steppe

K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe

K063 Foothills prairie

K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass

K065 Grama-buffalo grass

K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass

K069 Bluestem-grama prairie

K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie

K074 Bluestem prairie

K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie

References:

106. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. United States [Potential natural vegetation of the conterminous United States]. Special Publication No. 36. New York: American Geographical Society. 1:3,168,000; colored. [3455]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Habitat: Ecosystem

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

ECOSYSTEMS [64]:

FRES20 Douglas-fir

FRES21 Ponderosa pine

FRES23 Fir-spruce

FRES26 Lodgepole pine

FRES29 Sagebrush

FRES35 Pinyon-juniper

FRES36 Mountain grasslands

FRES37 Mountain meadows

FRES38 Plains grasslands

FRES39 Prairie

FRES40 Desert grasslands

FRES44 Alpine

References:

64. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; Lewis, Mont E.; Smith, Dixie R. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

General Ecology

Fire Management Considerations

More info for the terms: fire management, frequency, shrub

The research described above suggests that prescription burning may or may not favor threadleaf sedge. If fire is used to manage threadleaf sedge land managers should use caution and follow the guidelines addressed below.

Grazing: Burned rangelands containing threadleaf sedge should be protected from grazing during postfire year 1 to allow for uninterrupted growth of herbaceous vegetation [15,21,189].

Invasive species: Improper fire management may convert desirable shrub and perennial grass stands to annual grass and invasive shrub stands [184,193]. Wright and others [193] suggest that if fires occur in big sagebrush (A. tridentata)-grasslands at a frequency of less than every 50 years, the communities may become dominated by rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnusnauseosus) and gray horsebrush (Tetradymia canescens), sprouting species that respond vigorously to fire. Cheatgrass may also expand after fire and severely reduce native plant coverage [137,184,193].

Precipitation: Two authors suggest that it is harmful to burn threadleaf sedge during drought years [186,189].

Sagebrush-grassland communities: Threadleaf sedge occurs in sagebrush-grasslands with species that can be harmed by fire [184]. June or July fires can be especially harmful to Idaho fescue and needle-and-thread grass [15,192]. Big sagebrush is slow to recover from extensive fires [15].

References:

15. Blaisdell, James P. 1953. Ecological effects of planned burning of sagebrush-grass range on the upper Snake River Plains. Tech. Bull. 1975. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 39 p. [462]
21. Britton, Carlton M.; Ralphs, Michael H. 1979. Use of fire as a management tool in sagebrush ecosystems. In: The sagebrush ecosystem: a symposium: Proceedings; 1978 April; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University, College of Natural Resources: 101-109. [518]
137. Pechanec, Joseph F.; Stewart, George; Blaisdell, James P. 1954. Sagebrush burning good and bad. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1948. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 34 p. [1859]
184. Whisenant, Steven G. 2004. Vegetative manipulation with prescribed burning. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Stevens, Richard; Shaw, Nancy L., comps. Restoring western ranges and wildlands. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-136-vol-1. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 101-120. [52824]
186. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1989. Burning upland, mixed prairie in Badlands National Park. Prairie Naturalist. 21(4): 221-227. [11151]
189. White, R. S.; Currie, P. O. 1981. Prescribed burning in northern mixed grass prairies. In: Field day proceedings. Miles City, MT: Livestock and Range Research Station: 40-43. [2538]
192. Wright, Henry A.; Bailey, Arthur W. 1982. Fire ecology: United States and southern Canada. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 501 p. [2620]
193. Wright, Henry A.; Neuenschwander, Leon F.; Britton, Carlton M. 1979. The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant communities: A state-of-the-art review. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-58. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 48 p. [2625]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Broad-scale Impacts of Plant Response to Fire

More info for the terms: cover, fuel, wildfire

On 28 June 1977 a human-caused fire burned 121 acres (49 ha) of rough fescue (Festuca altaica)-Idaho
fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass dominated grasslands on Mount Sentinel in Missoula, Montana. At the time of the
fire, winds averaged 23 km/hr. with gust to 55 km/hr, relative humidity was 31%, and the air temperature
approximately 81 Â°F (27 Â°C) [118]. The site burned was ungrazed and had been fire-free for at least 32 years.
The fire consumed almost all aboveground vegetation and many bunchgrass clumps were burned to belowground level.
Samples taken on Mount Sentinel 4 months, 11 months, and 1 year postfire showed that the fire reduced threadleaf
sedge cover. By postfire year 3, cover of threadleaf sedge on burned sites was only 60% of that on unburned sites.
While the fire caused a reduction in cover, threadleaf sedge occurrence on and off the burn site is very low and
the authors do not discuss whether the difference is significant [4].

DateCover (%)UnburnedBurnedOctober 1977 (4 months postfire)0.80.1May 1978 (11 months postfire)0.60.3June 1978 (postfire year 1)0.90.4

In western North Dakota, prescription burning caused a small decrease in threadleaf sedge cover on
2 of 3 sites [50]. Whether the change in threadleaf sedge cover due to fire is significant is not
discussed by the researchers. The fire on site 1 (Dedication Hill) occurred on 14 August 1954 and
covered an area of 3.2 acres (1.3 ha). Dedication Hill is an upland site which had been grazed lightly
in the past. The stands of threadleaf sedge on Dedication Hill occur on soils composed of loamy fine
sands, have an exposure of 15Â° west of north, and a slope of 10Â°. The fire on site 2 (Squaw Creek)
occurred on 30 September 1955 and covered an area of 110 acres (45 ha). Squaw Creek is composed of
clay loam soils and had been grazed moderately prior to the fire. The fire on site 3 (North Rim)
occurred on 29 May 1958 and covered an area of 2.5 acres (1 ha). North Rim is an upland site which
had been lightly grazed prior to the fire. The stands of threadleaf sedge on North Rim occur on fine
sandy loams, have an exposure of 25Â° south of west, and a slope of 10Â°. All 3 areas had been fire-free
for at least 20 years prior to the study. Vegetation sampling occurred in the middle of August 1958
when threadleaf sedge had completed growth for the year and was in the process of curing. On burned
and unburned sites forty 2.7 ftÂ² (0.25 mÂ²) quadrats were established. The following table reflects the
average number of threadleaf sedge plants found on each quadrat [50]:

Dedication HillSquaw CreekNorth RimBurned92285Unburned951782

In August 1952, approximately 13.5 acres (5.5 ha) of threadleaf sedge-Idaho
fescue was prescription burned on the Upper Snake River Plains of southeastern
Idaho. For fast identification, the researchers combined the herbage production
of threadleaf sedge and Idaho fescue on burned and unburned plots. In postfire
year 3, herbage production of threadleaf sedge-Idaho fescue was 106 lbs./acre on
unburned plots and 36 lbs./acre on burned plots [128].

Summer precipitation seemed to affect threadleaf sedge production more than
burn treatment in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Burning occurred on four
23Ã23 foot (7Ã7 m) sites in spring and fall 1984 and 1985. Precipitation during the
1984, 1986, and 1987 growing seasons was above average, with precipitation well below
average in 1985. The climatic conditions during the 4 fires and the fine fuel weight at
the 4 sites is presented in the table below:

Burning DateAir temperatureRelative humidity (%)Wind speedFine fuel weight g/mÂ²)16 April 198461Â°F 42% 3 to 6 miles/hr 151 g/mÂ² (21% fuel water)2 October 1984 >64Â°F18%0 to 2.5 mile/hr162 g/mÂ² (15% fuel water)8 April 198554Â°F 21% 2.5 to 5 miles/hr 142 g/mÂ² (19% fuel water)24 October 198554 Â°F36%0 to 3 miles/hr134 g/mÂ² (23% fuel water)

The following table shows the aboveground standing crop (g/mÂ²) of threadleaf sedge
during July 1984 to 1987 on the 4 burn sites and 1 unburned site. The lowest values
for controls and all treatments occurred in the dry year, 1985 [186].

Burning Date

July 1984July 1985July 1986July 1987Unburned30261016 April 198426137182 October 1984---*247288 April 1985---1242224 October 1985------3327
*Sites unburned at time of data collection

Whisenant and Uresk [187] conducted a 2nd burning study in
Badlands National Park, South Dakota, during the spring of 1983 and 1984. While
the researchers do not provide fire data on threadleaf sedge, they report that
burning did not significantly (p<0.05) affect, positively or negatively,
threadleaf sedge production.

On the mixed-grass prairies of eastern Montana near Miles City, spring (3
April) and fall burning (2nd week of October) had different effects on the production (lbs./acre)
of threadleaf sedge. Sites burned on 3 April produced less threadleaf sedge than
unburned sites during 3 of the first 4 measurement dates. Until
approximately mid-June, production on fall-burned sites was significantly
(p<0.05) lower than on control and spring-burned sites. The following Table describes the production of threadleaf sedge on unburned, spring-burned,
and fall-burned plots on 7 dates during the 1979 growing season [189,190]:

DateUnburnedSpring burnedFall burned25 April1741611858 May39538830021 May7197636884 June1069104381418 June1259132112902 July10691162122230 July---*11421025
*Data not given

In mid-July, White and Currie [190] took basal cover (%) measurements for threadleaf sedge
on the 3 treatments described above. The basal cover of threadleaf sedge on spring burn sites
(17.4%) was significantly (p<0.05) greater than on fall burned and unburned sites. The
researchers also took soil moisture measurements at a depth of 6 inches (15 cm) on the 3
treatments throughout the 1979 growing season which are presented in the table below. These
values show little relationship to treatment, but may be related to season or weather patterns.

Date

Soil moisture (%)UnburnedSpring burnedFall burned25 April13.212.311.322 May5.95.65.54 June11.110.49.818 June5.05.05.03 July4.24.24.331 July10.68.98.2

In southwest Montana, 7 sites were prescription burned within basin big sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata)-dominated communities. At only 2
locations did fire cause a significant (p<0.05) change in threadleaf sedge cover.
At Wise River, burning of threadleaf sedge caused a significant increase and at Jeff Davis
Creek fire caused a significant decrease in threadleaf sedge cover. The following table
describes the date of burn and percent cover on burned and unburned sites. All measurements
were taken 1 complete growing season since burning [178].

LocationDate of burnBurned (%)Unburned (%)Wise River26 October 198714.531.0West ForkMarch/April 199432.023.0Wisdom Flat6 April 19876.014.0Wisdom Slope6 April 198729.025.5Badger Pass1 October 198129.029.0Snowline198516.520.0Jeff Davis Creek29 September 198007.0

In October 1976, a wildfire burned approximately 6,000 acres (2,428 ha) of mixed-prairie in
the Little Missouri Badlands of southwestern North Dakota. Threadleaf sedge occurred in mixed
vegetation stands (western wheatgrass, blue grama, needle-and-thread grass, and little bluestem)
and little bluestem-dominated stands. Threadleaf sedge production (g/mÂ²) was generally less
on burned sites than on unburned sites [198].

Mixed vegetation communityLittle bluestem communityJune 1977July 1977August 1977June 1978July 1978August 1978June 1977July 1977August 1977June 1978July 1978August 1978Burned (g/mÂ²)221410371014256161916Unburned (g/mÂ²)232912632428271579127

References:

4. Antos, Joseph A.; McCune, Bruce; Bara, Cliff. 1983. The effect of fire on an ungrazed western Montana grassland. The American Midland Naturalist. 110(2): 354-364. [337]
50. Dix, Ralph L. 1960. The effects of burning on the mulch structure and species composition of grasslands in western North Dakota. Ecology. 41(1): 49-56. [808]
118. McCune, Bruce. 1978. First-season fire effects on intact palouse prairie. Unpublished report on file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 12 p. [42569]
128. Mueggler, Walter F.; Blaisdell, James P. 1958. Effects on associated species of burning, rotobeating, spraying, and railing sagebrush. Journal of Range Management. 11: 61-66. [1712]
178. Walhof, Kendal Scott. 1997. A comparison of burned and unburned big sagebrush communities in southwest Montana. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 74 p. Thesis. [46902]
186. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1989. Burning upland, mixed prairie in Badlands National Park. Prairie Naturalist. 21(4): 221-227. [11151]
187. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1990. Spring burning Japanese brome in a western wheatgrass community. Journal of Range Management. 43(3): 205-208. [11139]
189. White, R. S.; Currie, P. O. 1981. Prescribed burning in northern mixed grass prairies. In: Field day proceedings. Miles City, MT: Livestock and Range Research Station: 40-43. [2538]
190. White, Richard S.; Currie, Pat O. 1983. Prescribed burning in the Northern Great Plains: yield and cover responses of 3 forage species in the mixed grass prairie. Journal of Range Management. 36(2): 179-183. [2541]
198. Zimmerman, Gregory M. 1981. Effects of fire upon selected plant communities in the Little Missouri Badlands. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 60 p. Thesis. [5121]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Plant Response to Fire

More info for the term: prescribed fire

Threadleaf sedge recovers from fire by tillering and/or establishing from seed [4,50,128,178,185,186, 187,189,190]. Threadleaf sedge seed dispersal onto burned sites is likely affected by wind. While threadleaf sedge may utilize a seed bank [29], as of this study (2006), there is a lack of information on seed tolerance to fire.

Several authors list threadleaf sedge as a plant severely damaged by fire [21,137,142,142,157,191, 193]. However, this is based on 1 review by Blaisdell [15] of a prescribed fire on the upper Snake River Plains of Idaho in which he did not differentiate between sedge species. The research presented below provides mixed results on the effects of fire on threadleaf sedge and disputes the generalization that it is severely damaged by fire. In an unpublished report, Whisenant and Uresk [185] state that it takes threadleaf sedge plants approximately 2.5 years to reach reproductive maturity after fire.

References:

4. Antos, Joseph A.; McCune, Bruce; Bara, Cliff. 1983. The effect of fire on an ungrazed western Montana grassland. The American Midland Naturalist. 110(2): 354-364. [337]
15. Blaisdell, James P. 1953. Ecological effects of planned burning of sagebrush-grass range on the upper Snake River Plains. Tech. Bull. 1975. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 39 p. [462]
21. Britton, Carlton M.; Ralphs, Michael H. 1979. Use of fire as a management tool in sagebrush ecosystems. In: The sagebrush ecosystem: a symposium: Proceedings; 1978 April; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University, College of Natural Resources: 101-109. [518]
29. Chadde, Steve William. 1985. Initial recovery patterns of southwestern Montana foothill range. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 103 p. Thesis. [46917]
50. Dix, Ralph L. 1960. The effects of burning on the mulch structure and species composition of grasslands in western North Dakota. Ecology. 41(1): 49-56. [808]
128. Mueggler, Walter F.; Blaisdell, James P. 1958. Effects on associated species of burning, rotobeating, spraying, and railing sagebrush. Journal of Range Management. 11: 61-66. [1712]
137. Pechanec, Joseph F.; Stewart, George; Blaisdell, James P. 1954. Sagebrush burning good and bad. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1948. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 34 p. [1859]
142. Ralphs, Michael H.; Schen, David C.; Busby, Frank E. 1976. General considerations necessary in planning a prescribed burn. In: Use of prescribed burning in western woodland and range ecosystems: Proceedings of the symposium; 1976 March 18-19; Logan, UT. Logan, UT: Utah State University, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station: 49-53. [1932]
157. Smith, Michael A.; Busby, Fee. 1981. Prescribed burning: effective control of sagebrush in Wyoming. RJ-165. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming, Agricultural Experiment Station. 12 p. [2175]
178. Walhof, Kendal Scott. 1997. A comparison of burned and unburned big sagebrush communities in southwest Montana. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 74 p. Thesis. [46902]
186. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1989. Burning upland, mixed prairie in Badlands National Park. Prairie Naturalist. 21(4): 221-227. [11151]
187. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1990. Spring burning Japanese brome in a western wheatgrass community. Journal of Range Management. 43(3): 205-208. [11139]
189. White, R. S.; Currie, P. O. 1981. Prescribed burning in northern mixed grass prairies. In: Field day proceedings. Miles City, MT: Livestock and Range Research Station: 40-43. [2538]
190. White, Richard S.; Currie, Pat O. 1983. Prescribed burning in the Northern Great Plains: yield and cover responses of 3 forage species in the mixed grass prairie. Journal of Range Management. 36(2): 179-183. [2541]
191. Wright, Henry A.; Bailey, Arthur W. 1980. Fire ecology and prescribed burning in the Great Plains--a research review. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-77. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 60 p. [2618]
193. Wright, Henry A.; Neuenschwander, Leon F.; Britton, Carlton M. 1979. The role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant communities: A state-of-the-art review. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-58. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 48 p. [2625]
185. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Dan W. [n.d.]. Effects of fire on vital attributes of a South Dakota, mixed prairie. Draft manuscript. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 23 p. [17135]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Immediate Effect of Fire

More info for the term: litter

Threadleaf sedge is likely top-killed by fire, with basal meristems protected by soil and/or damp litter [185].

References:

185. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Dan W. [n.d.]. Effects of fire on vital attributes of a South Dakota, mixed prairie. Draft manuscript. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 23 p. [17135]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Post-fire Regeneration

More info for the terms: ground residual colonizer, root crown, secondary colonizer

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [162]:
Caudex/herbaceous root crown, growing points in soil
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer (on-site or off-site seed sources)

References:

162. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. FEIS postfire regeneration workshop--April 12: Seral origin of species comprising secondary plant succession in Northern Rocky Mountain forests. 10 p. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [20090]

Source:

USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information Service

License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Fire Ecology

More info for the terms: frequency, fuel, litter, natural, nonnative species, tree

Fire adaptations: Threadleaf sedge establishes after fire by seed and/or by tillering from basal meristem tissue which is protected from fire by soil and/or damp litter [4,50,128,178,185,186,187,189,190]. Since establishing from seed is generally rare in this species [72,170], postfire seedling establishment may be uncommon.

FIRE REGIMES: Threadleaf sedge is found in the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-grasslands of the northern Great Basin, in the mixed-grass prairies of the northern Great Plains, and in the mixed forests of the Cascade, Sierra Nevada, and northern Rocky Mountains, which exhibit a wide range of historic fire frequencies.

Mixed forests: On the leeward slope of the southern Cascade Mountains in northeastern California, threadleaf sedge is a dominant species in meadows fringed by Pacific ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa), Jeffrey pine (P. jeffreyi), Sierra lodgepole pine (P. contorta var. murrayana), and western juniper. Using fire scar and tree ring data in 8 meadow units, Norman and Taylor [132] constructed a fire history of the area for the years 1700 to 1849. During this period widespread fire burned 7 or more meadow units with a return interval of 7 to 49 years. Moderately widespread fires burned 4 or more units during this period 19 times with a return interval of 2 to 22 years. Fire burned in at least 1 meadow unit during this period in 93 of 150 years. Between 1785 and 1835, on 3 occasions there were periods of 2 to 6 years without fire [132].

Northern Great Plains: Historically fire has played an important role in the northern Great Plains. The large tracts of continuous mixed-grass prairie, which occur in hot, dry areas and accumulate much fine fuel, are susceptible to frequent lightning fires. Higgins [88] estimates that 6 lightning fires consuming 4,000 milesÂ² (10,000 kmÂ²) of grasslands occurred a year in eastern North Dakota, and 25 lightning fires consuming 4,000 milesÂ² (10,000 kmÂ²) of grasslands occurred a year in western North Dakota. Early records kept by explorers, trappers, and settlers note a high occurrence of fires, both natural and anthropogenic, with fires occurring at intervals of 5 to 10 years [46,135,153,156,192]. Since the early 1900s, fire has been excluded, allowing nonnative species such as Japanese brome, smooth brome (Bromus inermis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) to take a strong hold in the area [46].

Sagebrush-grasslands: Fire in the sagebrush-grasslands of the northern Great Basin where threadleaf sedge grows likely occurred with a frequency of 20 to 70 years [135]. Wright and others [192] hypothesize that fires likely occurred about every 50 years. Changes in land use and management practices, such as the invasion of cheatgrass, have altered the fire return interval to less than 10 years in some areas [133,135].

Shrub-steppe: Threadleaf sedge is found across the Columbia Plateau of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The fire return interval for this habitat is approximately 25 years [43].

The following table provides fire return intervals for plant communities and ecosystems where threadleaf sedge is important. For further information, see the FEIS review of the dominant species listed below.

Community or ecosystem Dominant species Fire return interval range (years) bluestem prairie Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 105,135] Nebraska sandhills prairie Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus-Schizachyrium scoparium 135] silver sagebrush steppe Artemisia cana 5-45 [87,140,192] sagebrush steppe Artemisia tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata 20-70 [135] basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata 12-43 [150] mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana 15-40 [7,24,124] Wyoming big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis 10-70 (Âµ=40) [176,197] desert grasslands Bouteloua eriopoda and/or Pleuraphis mutica 10 to <100 [121,135] plains grasslands Bouteloua spp. 135,192] blue grama-needle-and-thread grass-western wheatgrass Bouteloua gracilis-Hesperostipa comata-Pascopyrum smithii 135,149,192] blue grama-buffalo grass Bouteloua gracilis-Buchloe dactyloides 135,192] cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 138,183] western juniper Juniperus occidentalis 20-70 Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum <35 [135] wheatgrass plains grasslands Pascopyrum smithii <5-47+ [135,140,192] Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir Picea engelmannii-Abies lasiocarpa 35 to >200 [6] pinyon-juniper Pinus-Juniperus spp. <35 [135] Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine* Pinus contorta var. latifolia 25-340 [10,11,168] Sierra lodgepole pine* Pinus contorta var. murrayana 35-200 [6] Colorado pinyon Pinus edulis 10-400+ [60,70,103,135] Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 5-30 Pacific ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa 1-47 [6] interior ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum 2-30 [6,9,112] quaking aspen (west of the Great Plains) Populus tremuloides 7-120 [6,73,122] mountain grasslands Pseudoroegneria spicata 3-40 (Âµ=10) [5,6] Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir* Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca 25-100 [6,7,8] California mixed evergreen Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii-Lithocarpus densiflorus-Arbutus menziesii <35 [6] little bluestem-grama prairie Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua spp. <35 [135] *fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species review

References:

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8. Arno, Stephen F.; Scott, Joe H.; Hartwell, Michael G. 1995. Age-class structure of old growth ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir stands and its relationship to fire history. Res. Pap. INT-RP-481. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 25 p. [25928]
4. Antos, Joseph A.; McCune, Bruce; Bara, Cliff. 1983. The effect of fire on an ungrazed western Montana grassland. The American Midland Naturalist. 110(2): 354-364. [337]
24. Burkhardt, Wayne J.; Tisdale, E. W. 1976. Causes of juniper invasion in southwestern Idaho. Ecology. 57: 472-484. [565]
46. Dingman, Sandra; Paintner, Kara J. 2001. Defining landscape vision to monitor and manage prescribed fire at Badlands National Park, South Dakota. In: Bernstein, Neil P.; Ostrander, Laura J., eds. Seeds for the future; roots of the past: Proceedings of the 17th North American prairie conference; 2000 July 16-20; Mason City, IA. Mason City, IA: North Iowa Area Community College: 73-78. [46496]
50. Dix, Ralph L. 1960. The effects of burning on the mulch structure and species composition of grasslands in western North Dakota. Ecology. 41(1): 49-56. [808]
60. Floyd, M. Lisa; Romme, William H.; Hanna, David D. 2000. Fire history and vegetation pattern in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, USA. Ecological Applications. 10(6): 1666-1680. [37590]
70. Gottfried, Gerald J.; Swetnam, Thomas W.; Allen, Craig D.; Betancourt, Julio L.; Chung-MacCoubrey, Alice L. 1995. Pinyon-juniper woodlands. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Tainter, Joseph A., eds. Ecology, diversity, and sustainability of the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-268. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 95-132. [26188]
72. Griffin, Timothy L. 2002. Germination and establishment of threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia Nutt.). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. 63 p. Thesis. [53549]
73. Gruell, G. E.; Loope, L. L. 1974. Relationships among aspen, fire, and ungulate browsing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 33 p. In cooperation with: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Region. [3862]
88. Higgins, Kenneth F. 1984. Lightning fires in North Dakota grasslands and in pine-savanna lands of South Dakota and Montana. Journal of Range Management. 37(2): 100-103. [1148]
112. Laven, R. D.; Omi, P. N.; Wyant, J. G.; Pinkerton, A. S. 1980. Interpretation of fire scar data from a ponderosa pine ecosystem in the central Rocky Mountains, Colorado. In: Stokes, Marvin A.; Dieterich, John H., tech. coords. Proceedings of the fire history workshop; 1980 October 20-24; Tucson, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-81. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 46-49. [7183]
121. McPherson, Guy R. 1995. The role of fire in the desert grasslands. In: McClaran, Mitchel P.; Van Devender, Thomas R., eds. The desert grassland. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press: 130-151. [26576]
122. Meinecke, E. P. 1929. Quaking aspen: A study in applied forest pathology. Tech. Bull. No. 155. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 34 p. [26669]
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140. Quinnild, Clayton L.; Cosby, Hugh E. 1958. Relicts of climax vegetation on two mesas in western North Dakota. Ecology. 39(1): 29-32. [1925]
149. Rowe, J. S. 1969. Lightning fires in Saskatchewan grassland. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 83: 317-324. [6266]
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178. Walhof, Kendal Scott. 1997. A comparison of burned and unburned big sagebrush communities in southwest Montana. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 74 p. Thesis. [46902]
183. Whisenant, Steven G. 1990. Postfire population dynamics of Bromus japonicus. The American Midland Naturalist. 123: 301-308. [11150]
186. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1989. Burning upland, mixed prairie in Badlands National Park. Prairie Naturalist. 21(4): 221-227. [11151]
187. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Daniel W. 1990. Spring burning Japanese brome in a western wheatgrass community. Journal of Range Management. 43(3): 205-208. [11139]
189. White, R. S.; Currie, P. O. 1981. Prescribed burning in northern mixed grass prairies. In: Field day proceedings. Miles City, MT: Livestock and Range Research Station: 40-43. [2538]
190. White, Richard S.; Currie, Pat O. 1983. Prescribed burning in the Northern Great Plains: yield and cover responses of 3 forage species in the mixed grass prairie. Journal of Range Management. 36(2): 179-183. [2541]
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11. Barrett, Stephen W.; Arno, Stephen F.; Key, Carl H. 1991. FIRE REGIMES of western larch - lodgepole pine forests in Glacier National Park, Montana. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 21: 1711-1720. [17290]
103. Keeley, Jon E. 1981. Reproductive cycles and FIRE REGIMES. In: Mooney, H. A.; Bonnicksen, T. M.; Christensen, N. L.; Lotan, J. E.; Reiners, W. A., tech. coords. FIRE REGIMES and ecosystem properties: Proceedings of the conference; 1978 December 11-15; Honolulu, HI. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-26. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: 231-277. [4395]
132. Norman, S. P.; Taylor, A. H. 2003. Tropical and north Pacific teleconnections influence FIRE REGIMES in pine-dominated forests of north-eastern California, USA. Journal of Biogeography. 30(7): 1081-1092. [54142]
43. Crawford, Rex C.; Kagan, Jimmy. 2001. Wildlife-habitat types: 16. Shrub-steppe. In: Northwest Habitat Institute, Interactive Biodiversity Information System (IBIS) [Online]. [Adapted from Johnson, David H.; O'Neil, Thomas A., eds. Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press]. Available: http://www.nwhi.org/index/habdescriptions [2006 May 16]. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [62019]
87. Heyerdahl, Emily K.; Berry, Dawn; Agee, James K. 1994. Fire history database of the western United States. Final report. Interagency agreement: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency DW12934530; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service PNW-93-0300; University of Washington 61-2239. Seattle, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pacific Northwest Research Station; University of Washington, College of Forest Resources. 28 p. [+ appendices]. Unpublished report on file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. [27979]
185. Whisenant, Steven G.; Uresk, Dan W. [n.d.]. Effects of fire on vital attributes of a South Dakota, mixed prairie. Draft manuscript. On file with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. 23 p. [17135]

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Successional Status

More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: association, cover

Threadleaf sedge can survive on disturbed sites, such as burns [61], is shade intolerant [91,174], and is most commonly found on late-seral sites. Forty years following the abandonment of plowed farmland in northeastern Colorado, threadleaf sedge appeared as a minor constituent of a mixed-grass prairie association. The mixed-grass prairie was preceded by a threeawn (Aristida spp.) stage which occurred 20 years after abandonment [36]. Threadleaf sedge is described as a "climax" species on Solonetz soils in western North Dakota [80], in the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in North Dakota [84], and in the Black Hills of South Dakota [83]. Outside of Davenport, Washington, threadleaf sedge is described as a near "climax" species on mixed grasslands [117]. Threadleaf sedge occurs on "climax" grasslands of the Canadian [37] and Nebraska [171] mixed-grass prairie and on sandy, silty, and limey range sites, and eastern and western sedimentary plains in Montana [148].

In Kimball County, Nebraska, decades of grazing and periodic drought have replaced such mid-grasses as western wheatgrass and needle-and-thread grass with a short-grass disturbance "climax" of buffalo grass, blue grama, and threadleaf sedge [98]

In a remote area of the Little Missouri River Badlands in western North Dakota, 2 mesas which have never been grazed were analyzed. Threadleaf sedge, with a relative cover of 2.34%, is part of the "climax" community on the 2 mesas [140].

In a mixed-grass community in southwestern North Dakota, threadleaf sedge is a dominant species on secondary successional sites. Prior to 1950, threadleaf sedge was a subdominant species on grazed sites, but exclusion of cattle on a portion of the site led to the dominance of threadleaf sedge. The following table illustrates the increase in cover of threadleaf sedge on the secondary successional ungrazed site [18,19]:

Basal cover (%) 1950 1951 1952 1959 1976 1977 Grazed 6.6 11.2 11.9 3.4 9.0 12.8 Ungrazed 23.4 38.5 40.8 33.8 52.0 58.4

References:

18. Brand, M. D.; Goetz, H. 1978. Secondary succession of a mixed grass community in southwestern North Dakota. Annual Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science. 32(2): 67-78. [7512]
19. Brand, Michael D. 1980. Secondary succession in the mixed grass prairie of southwestern North Dakota. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 77 p. Dissertation. [14147]
36. Costello, David F. 1944. Natural revegetation of abandoned plowed land in the mixed prairie association of northeastern Colorado. Ecology. 25(3): 312-326. [25703]
37. Coupland, R. T. 1992. Mixed prairie. In: Coupland, R. T., ed. Natural grasslands: Introduction and western hemisphere. Ecosystems of the World 8A. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.: 151-182. [23825]
61. Fraas, W. Wyatt; Wambolt, Carl L.; Frisina, Michael R. 1992. Prescribed fire effects on a bitterbrush-mountain big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass community. In: Clary, Warren P.; McArthur, E. Durant; Bedunah, Don; Wambolt, Carl L., comps. Proceedings--symposium on ecology and management of riparian shrub communities; 1991 May 29-31; Sun Valley, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-289. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 212-216. [19124]
80. Hanson, Herbert C.; Whitman, Warren. 1937. Plant succession on solonetz soils in western North Dakota. Ecology. 18(4): 516-522. [55848]
83. Hayward, Herman E. 1928. Studies of plants in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Botanical Gazette. 85(4): 353-412. [1110]
84. Hazlett, Donald L.; Hoffman, George R. 1975. Plant species distributional patterns in Artemisia tridentata- and Artemisia cana-dominated vegetation in western North Dakota. Botanical Gazette. 136(1): 72-77. [1111]
91. Hoefs, Manfred. 1979. Flowering plant phenology at Sheep Mountain, southwest Yukon Territory. Canadian Field Naturalist. 93(2): 183-187. [54084]
98. Judd, B. I.; Jackson, M. L. 1939. Natural succession of vegetation on abandoned farm lands in the Rosebud soil area of western Nebraska. Journal of the American Society of Agronomy. 31(6): 541-557. [29788]
117. McColley, Phillip D.; Hodgkinson, Harmon S. 1970. Effect of soil depth on plant production. Journal of Range Management. 23(3): 189-192. [1591]
140. Quinnild, Clayton L.; Cosby, Hugh E. 1958. Relicts of climax vegetation on two mesas in western North Dakota. Ecology. 39(1): 29-32. [1925]
148. Ross, Robert L.; Hunter, Harold E. 1976. Climax vegetation of Montana: Based on soils and climate. Bozeman, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 64 p. [2028]
171. Tolstead, W. L. 1942. Vegetation of the northern part of Cherry County, Nebraska. Ecological Monographs. 12: 255-292. [4470]
174. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. PLANTS database (2006), [Online]. Available: http://plants.usda.gov/. [34262]

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Regeneration Processes

More info for the term: monoecious

Threadleaf sedge generally reproduces vegetatively via tillers, but does produce some viable seeds [72,93,165].

Pollination: Threadleaf sedge is wind pollinated [28].

Breeding system: Threadleaf sedge is monoecious [165,173].

Seed production: Threadleaf sedge produces very few viable seeds each year [72,170]. In the northern Great Plains, threadleaf sedge generally produces a poor seed crop since it flowers early and is susceptible to frost damage [151]. A threadleaf sedge plant collected in North Dakota contained a total of 232 seeds (viability not discussed) [161].

Seed dispersal: The seeds of threadleaf sedge are likely dispersed by wind.

Seed banking: Threadleaf sedge utilizes a soil seed bank [29].

Germination: In the field, threadleaf sedge seeds have a low rate of germination [72,170]. In a controlled study, stratified threadleaf sedge seeds did not germinate significantly (p<0.05) better than control seeds (33.3%). Scarification of threadleaf sedge seeds caused a significantly lower rate of germination than control seeds. Seeds that were cold-moist stratified at 41ÂºF (5 ÂºC) had germination rate of 25.3% to 40.1%, while seeds frozen-moist stratified at 19 ÂºF (− 7 ÂºC) had a germination rate 28.1% to 38.2%. Threadleaf sedge scarified with a razor germinated at a rate of 22.6% [72]. Threadleaf sedge seed viability does not decrease for at least 14 to 17 months when dry stored at room temperature [170].

Seedling establishment/growth: Threadleaf sedge seedlings in nature are rare [72,170]. On the northern Great Plains, seedlings of threadleaf sedge establish by the middle of March and grow to maturity by the 1st to middle of June [93]. To evaluate the establishment of seedlings, Griffin [72] planted threadleaf sedge plugs on the grasslands of Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Griffin planted sod plugs in fall (28 September to 3 October), late winter (6 March), and spring (26 to 27 May). At the end of 2 years of observations, the average rate of survival by seedlings was only 0.94%.

Asexual regeneration: Threadleaf sedge reproduces asexually from tillers [93,165].

References:

29. Chadde, Steve William. 1985. Initial recovery patterns of southwestern Montana foothill range. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 103 p. Thesis. [46917]
72. Griffin, Timothy L. 2002. Germination and establishment of threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia Nutt.). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. 63 p. Thesis. [53549]
93. Hopper, T. H.; Nesbitt, L. L. 1930. The chemical composition of some North Dakota pasture and hay grasses. Bulletin 236. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Agricultural College, Agricultural Experiment Station. 39 p. [3265]
151. Sarvis, J. T. 1941. Grazing investigations on the Northern Great Plains. Bull. 307. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Experiment Station. 110 p. In cooperation with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Great Plains Field Station. [10853]
161. Stevens, O. A. 1957. Weights of seeds and numbers per plant. Weeds. 5: 46-55. [44071]
165. Stubbendieck, James; Hatch, Stephan L.; Butterfield, Charles H. 1992. North American range plants. 4th ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 493 p. [25162]
170. Tichota, Gina R. 2000. The germination, propagation, and establishment of Carex filifolia (threadleaf sedge). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. 121 p. Thesis. [53548]
173. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook. Washington, DC. 532 p. [2387]
28. Catling, P. M.; Reznicek, A. A.; Crins, W. J. 1990. Introduction. [Introductory paper presented at the 1st international symposium on the systematics and ecology of Carex; 1987 June 16]. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68: 14005-1408. [14524]

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Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

More info on this topic.

More info for the term: hemicryptophyte

RAUNKIAER [143] LIFE FORM:
Hemicryptophyte

References:

143. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]

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Life Form

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

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Cyclicity

Phenology

More info on this topic.

Across its range, threadleaf sedge generally flowers from April to May [22,69,90,125,165]. In dry grasslands, threadleaf sedge is considered an "early bird" species in a phenological sense because it flowers early and reaches annual maximum growth before other associated forage species [91,151,171]. On the northern Great Plains, threadleaf sedge begins growing in middle to late March. On 15 May the average leaf height is 4.2 inches (10.7 cm) and achieves a maximum leaf height of 5.0 inches (13 cm) by 10 June [92].On the mixed-grass prairies of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, threadleaf sedge begins growth during the 1st week of April and the heads appear by the end of the month. Flowering occurs by mid-May, with seeds shedding by the 1st of July [38].

From 1946 to 1954 flowering data were collected on threadleaf sedge at the Experimental Farm, Swift Current, Saskatchewan. On average, threadleaf sedge begins flowering on 7 May, with the earliest and latest flowering dates occurring on 25 April and 25 May, respectively. The latest threadleaf sedge was observed in flower was 19 June and the mean flowering period was 30 days [22].

At the Dickinson Experimental Station in western North Dakota, threadleaf sedge mean leaf and stalk heights from April through June were measured and averaged for an 8-year period (1955-1962) and are presented in the table below [67]:

April May June 8 15 22 29 1 8 15 22 29 1 8 15 22 Mean leaf height (cm) 1.5 3.0 3.0 5.5 6.3 7.0 8.2 8.9 10.1 10.3 10.4 10.4 10.6 Mean stalk height (cm) ---* --- --- 2.5 4.0 6.5 8.8 11.7 11.8 12.2 13.0 13.4 14.4 *No data

The phenological development of threadleaf sedge at the Cottonwood Range Field Station in southwestern South Dakota is presented below [32]:

Date Phenological stage June 17 Early vegetative June 28 Vegetative July 17 Seed ripe August 16 Shattered September 13 Dormant

The phenological of development of threadleaf sedge was investigated at 5 elevations on Sheep Mountain, Yukon Territory. Plants developed faster at an elevation of 3,280 feet (1,000 m) than plants at 3,068 feet (935 m). The author suggests that the threadleaf sedge plants grew slower at 3,068 feet (935 m) than at 3,280 feet (1,000 m) due to shadows cast by surrounding trees. The following table shows the date threadleaf sedge plants achieved maximum height at 5 different elevations [91]:

Date Elevation 30 June 935 m 18 June 1,000 m 26 June 1,330 m 5 July 1,590 m 15 July 1,910 m

References:

22. Budd, A. C.; Campbell, J. B. 1959. Flowering sequence of a local flora. Journal of Range Management. 12: 127-132. [552]
32. Cogswell, C.; Kamstra, L. D. 1976. The stage of maturity and its effect upon the chemical composition of four native range species. Journal of Range Management. 29(6): 460-463. [35472]
38. Coupland, Robert T. 1950. Ecology of mixed prairie in Canada. Ecological Monographs. 20(4): 271-315. [700]
67. Goetz, Harold. 1963. Growth and development of native range plants in the mixed grass prairie of western North Dakota. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 141 p. Thesis. [5661]
69. Goodrich, Sherel; Neese, Elizabeth. 1986. Uinta Basin flora. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ashley National Forest; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal District. 320 p. [23307]
90. Hitchcock, C. Leo; Cronquist, Arthur; Ownbey, Marion. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 914 p. [1169]
91. Hoefs, Manfred. 1979. Flowering plant phenology at Sheep Mountain, southwest Yukon Territory. Canadian Field Naturalist. 93(2): 183-187. [54084]
92. Holscher, Clark E.; Woolfolk, E. J. 1953. Forage utilization by cattle on northern Great Plains ranges. Circ. No. 918. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 27 p. [5205]
125. Moore, P. E.; Cole, D. N.; van Wagtendonk, J. W.; McClaran, M. P.; McDougald, N. 2000. Meadow response to pack stock grazing in the Yosemite wilderness: integrating research and management. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O'Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. Wilderness science in a time of change conference-volume 5: wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT. RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 160-164. [54156]
151. Sarvis, J. T. 1941. Grazing investigations on the Northern Great Plains. Bull. 307. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Experiment Station. 110 p. In cooperation with: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Great Plains Field Station. [10853]
165. Stubbendieck, James; Hatch, Stephan L.; Butterfield, Charles H. 1992. North American range plants. 4th ed. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. 493 p. [25162]
171. Tolstead, W. L. 1942. Vegetation of the northern part of Cherry County, Nebraska. Ecological Monographs. 12: 255-292. [4470]

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Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Carex filifolia

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

Source:

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Conservation Status

National NatureServe Conservation Status

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

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NatureServe

NatureServe Conservation Status

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

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Management

Management considerations

More info for the terms: cover, natural

Disturbance:
Soil disturbance may have long-lasting negative effects of threadleaf sedge. In 1976 the
basal cover (%) and mean aboveground production (g/mÂ²) of threadleaf sedge was investigated
on 4 plowed (P) and unplowed (U) sites on the mixed-grass prairie of southwestern North Dakota.
The plowed sites were formerly farmland which had been abandoned and unworked for 40 years.
Threadleaf sedge basal cover and mean aboveground production was greater on unplowed than plowed
sites [19].

PUBasal cover (%)0-0.10.1-2.2Mean aboveground production (g/mÂ²)0-2.40.1-21.0

Fertilization:
Two authors discuss the effects of nitrogen fertilization on threadleaf sedge [45,68].

Forage production:
Threadleaf sedge production is 2nd only to bluebunch wheatgrass, which has a forage production
value of 341.8 lbs./acre, on the Palouse Prairie of eastern Washington [117]. On the northern
Great Plains, the average forage yield of threadleaf sedge is approximately 40 lbs./acre [39].
Threadleaf sedge has a forage production of 308.3 lbs./acre on silty loam soil outside of Davenport,
Washington. On grasslands southwest of Virginia City, Montana, the herbage production of threadleaf
sedge for the 10-year period 1964 to 1973 ranged from 27 to 51 lbs./acre on southwest exposure sites
and 1 to 12 lbs./acre on northeast exposure sites [127].

Grazing:
Research on threadleaf sedge response to grazing suggests that it decreases under grazing pressure
[12,92,158]. However, 2 studies [123,148] found that threadleaf sedge increases when grazed. Ross
and Hunter [148] list threadleaf sedge as an increaser on the eastern glaciated plains, sandy, silty,
and limey range sites, western glaciated plains, eastern and western sedimentary plains, badlands, and
foothills and mountains of Montana. In the Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado, natural barriers such
as ravines have excluded cattle from grazing small pockets of short-grasses. The percent cover of threadleaf
sedge in the exclusion areas is 3.36%, which is significantly (p<0.05) less than in grazed areas (4.51%) [123].

In the following studies, threadleaf sedge decreased under various levels of
grazing:

On the mixed-grass prairie of Billings County, North Dakota, cattle grazing caused a decrease in the basal
cover and herbage production and a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the height of threadleaf sedge [18]
:

UngrazedGrazedbasal cover (%)2.10.6average herbage production (g/mÂ²)37.112.5height (cm)21.68.9

A grazing study on the mixed-grass prairie in the Little Missouri Badlands of southwestern North
Dakota, found that cattle grazing on 3 sites reduced basal cover and aboveground production, and
significantly (p<0.05) reduced mean leaf height of threadleaf sedge [19,20]:

East Tracy MountainWest Tracy MountainSandy UplandGrazedUngrazedGrazedUngrazedGrazedUngrazedBasal cover (%)0.20.40.72.23.34.5Aboveground production (g/mÂ²)2.525.613.041.841.369.4Mean leaf height (cm)13.228.410.121.116.121.3

In Yosemite National Park, California, recreational pack stock grazing caused a significant
(p<0.01) decrease in threadleaf sedge biomass (g/mÂ²). The study, conducted from 1994 to 1998,
found that threadleaf sedge biomass decreased 18% on grazed plots in 5 years [33,125].

The colonization of and grazing by black-tailed prairie dogs on the mixed-grass prairie on northeastern
Montana has had a significant (p<0.05) detrimental effect on threadleaf sedge communities. On colonized
prairies, standing threadleaf sedge biomass (kg/haÂ±sx)
is 2.3Â±1.2 and 6.8Â±1.2 on uncolonized prairies [97].

At the Northern Great Plains Field Station, North Dakota, heavy and moderate cattle grazing caused a
decrease in relative cover of threadleaf sedge. The heavily used area was summer grazed for 44 years at
an average rate of 1.25 AUM's per acre.
The moderately used area was summer grazed for 46 years at an average rate of 0.50 AUM per acre. The
ungrazed area had been grazed at an average rate of 1.19 AUM per acre for 23 years but had not been
grazed for 19 years preceding the study. The relative cover of threadleaf sedge on heavily, moderately,
and ungrazed sites was 9.9%, 24.4%, and 81.7%, respectively [144].

Herbicides:
Two references discuss the effects of 2,4-D on threadleaf sedge [45,128]. One author discusses the effects
of picloram, clopyralid, and metsulfuron methyl on threadleaf sedge [27].

Mechanical control:
Mueggler and Blaisdell [128] discuss the effects of railing and rotobeating on threadleaf sedge.

References:

18. Brand, M. D.; Goetz, H. 1978. Secondary succession of a mixed grass community in southwestern North Dakota. Annual Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science. 32(2): 67-78. [7512]
19. Brand, Michael D. 1980. Secondary succession in the mixed grass prairie of southwestern North Dakota. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 77 p. Dissertation. [14147]
20. Brand, Michael D.; Goetz, Harold. 1986. Vegetation of exclosures in southwestern North Dakota. Journal of Range Management. 39(5): 434-437. [507]
33. Cole, David N.; van Wagtendonk, Jan W.; McClaran, Mitchel P.; Moore, Peggy E.; McDougald, Neil K. 2004. Response of mountain meadows to grazing by recreational pack stock. Journal of Range Management. 57(2): 153-160. [47849]
39. Coupland, Robert T. 1961. A reconsideration of grassland classification in the northern Great Plains of North America. Journal of Ecology. 49: 135-167. [12588]
45. Currie, P.O.; Erickson, L.R.; White, R.S. 1986. Productivity changes from multiple renovation practices on Northern Great Plains rangelands. In: Joss, P.J.; Lynch, P.W.; Williams, O.B., eds. Rangelands: a resource under siege. Proceedings of the 2nd international rangeland congress; 1984 May 13-18; Adelaide, Australia. Canberra, Australia: Australian Academy of Science: 306-307. [54103]
92. Holscher, Clark E.; Woolfolk, E. J. 1953. Forage utilization by cattle on northern Great Plains ranges. Circ. No. 918. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 27 p. [5205]
117. McColley, Phillip D.; Hodgkinson, Harmon S. 1970. Effect of soil depth on plant production. Journal of Range Management. 23(3): 189-192. [1591]
123. Milchunas, Daniel G.; Noy-Meir, Imanuel. 2004. Geologic grazing refuges and grassland diversity: a shortgrass steppe study. Journal of Range Management. 57(2): 141-147. [48529]
125. Moore, P. E.; Cole, D. N.; van Wagtendonk, J. W.; McClaran, M. P.; McDougald, N. 2000. Meadow response to pack stock grazing in the Yosemite wilderness: integrating research and management. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O'Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. Wilderness science in a time of change conference-volume 5: wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT. RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 160-164. [54156]
127. Mueggler, Walter F. 1983. Variation in production and seasonal development of mountain grasslands in western Montana. Research Paper INT-316. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 16 p. [1710]
128. Mueggler, Walter F.; Blaisdell, James P. 1958. Effects on associated species of burning, rotobeating, spraying, and railing sagebrush. Journal of Range Management. 11: 61-66. [1712]
144. Rauzi, Frank. 1963. Water intake and plant composition as affected by differential grazing on rangeland. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. May-June: 114-116. [16218]
148. Ross, Robert L.; Hunter, Harold E. 1976. Climax vegetation of Montana: Based on soils and climate. Bozeman, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 64 p. [2028]
12. Beetle, Alan A. 1952. A relic area on the Wyoming shortgrass plains. Journal of Range Management. 5: 141-143. [48300]
27. Carpenter, Jeffrey L. 1986. Responses of three plant communities to herbicide spraying and burning of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) in western Montana. Missoula, MT: University of Montana. 110 p. Thesis. [24496]
68. Goetz, Harold. 1969. Composition and yields of native grassland sites fertilized at different rates of nitrogen. Journal of Range Management. 22(6): 384-390. [1029]
97. Johnson-Nistler, Carolyn M.; Sowell, Bok F.; Sherwood, Harrie W.; Wambolt, Carl L. 2004. Black-tailed prairie dog effects on Montana's mixed-grass prairie. Journal of Range Management. 57(6): 641-648. [38014]
158. Smoliak, S. 1965. A comparison of ungrazed and lightly grazed Stipa-Bouteloua prairie in southeastern Alberta. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 45: 270-275. [12391]

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NatureServe

NatureServe Explorer

Source:
ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143777

Classification

Synonyms:

Taxonomy:

Informal Taxonomy:

Plants, Vascular - Flowering Plants - Sedge Family

Formal Taxonomy:

Plantae - Anthophyta - Monocotyledoneae - Cyperales - Cyperaceae - Carex - as here).

Ecology and Life History

Short General Description:

Description:

Habitat Type Description:

Migration:

Non-migrant:

Locally Migrant:

Food Comments:

Phenologies:

Reproduction Comments:

Ecology Comments:

Length:

Unit of Length:

Weight:

Unit of Weight:

Conservation Status

NatureServe Conservation Status:

NatureServe Global Status Rank:

Global Status Last Reviewed:

1984-12-07

Global Status Last Changed:

1984-12-07

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Search for Species

Utilizing double quotes for exact terms can narrow your search results. Ex. A common name search of Northwestern Sedge matches 'Northwestern Sedge' and 'Northwestern Showy Sedge'. Typing "Northwestern Sedge" return only 'Northwestern Sedge'.

Abarenicola claparedi - (Rough-skinned lugworm)
Abarenicola pacifica - (Pacific lugworm)
Abarenicola sp.
Abies amabilis - (Pacific Silver Fir)
Abies concolor - (White Fir)
Abies grandis - (Grand Fir)
Abies lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
Abies procera - (Noble Fir)
Abietinaria sp

Carex filifolia

Threadleaf Sedge

Data Sources

Table of Contents

National Distribution

Canada

United States

States or Provinces

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

Distribution

Localities documented in Tropicos sources

Description

Description

Habitat characteristics

Key Plant Community Associations

Habitat: Rangeland Cover Types

Habitat: Cover Types

Habitat: Plant Associations

Habitat: Ecosystem

Fire Management Considerations

Broad-scale Impacts of Plant Response to Fire

Plant Response to Fire

Immediate Effect of Fire

Post-fire Regeneration

Fire Ecology

Successional Status

Regeneration Processes

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Carex filifolia

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