[Sedges: The Genus Carex in Mt. Adams Country]

Fragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge

Carex fracta

ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta

The photo above shows fragile-sheath sedge as seen along the moist ditches of Laurel Road in Conboy Lake NWR.........June 21, 2008. Click the photo to see an enlarged view. This species has a distinctive leaf sheath that is whitish and extends 3-10 mm upwards from the junction with the leaf on the side opposite the leaf blade (visible when the photo is enlarged).

ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta

The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence of fragile-sheath sedge as seen along the moist ditches of Laurel Road in Conboy Lake NWR........June 21, 2008. This species typically has 2 stigmas per perigynia.

ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta

The photo above shows a close-up of several spikes of the inflorescence of fragile-sheath sedge as seen along the moist ditches of Laurel Road in Conboy Lake NWR.........June 21, 2008.

Leaf sheath of ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta - Leaf sheath of ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta - Inflorescence of ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta

ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta - ragile-sheath Sedge, Fragile-sheathed Sedge: Carex fracta

The 5 photos above show close-up details of the inflorescence and stem leaves of fragile-sheath sedge as seen along the riparian areas surrounding sections of Road K1000 just south of the Yakima-Klickitat County line to the east of Mt. Adams........June 17, 2007. Note the 2 close-ups of the distinctive, memraneous leaf sheath front on the sde of the stem opposite of the leaf attachment.

Paul Slichter