Sedges
Carex spp.
Family: Cyperaceae
Examples: C. arenaria, C. binervis, C. capillaris, C. dioica, C. elata, C. flacca, C. nigra, C. paniculata, C. serotina, C. vesicaria)
Fire effect on plant
Sedges are likely top-killed by fire, with rhizomes surviving (Mallik and Gimingham 1985; Chadwick 2002; Anderson 2008)
Key traits
Many sedge species have rhizomes at or below the soil surface from which they can resprout quickly after fire (Mallik and Gimingham 1985; Bradley et al. 1992, Alberdi and Cavero 2002; Trabaud and Grandjanny 2002; Arnan et al. 2007). High severity fires can kill shallow rhizomes and delay recovery (Arno et al. 1985; Doyle et al. 1998). Sedges can also recruit after fire from soil-stored seed banks (Smith and Fischer 1997); seeds of some species have tolerance to heat shock (Clarke 1991), but those of others are not (Mallik and Gimingham 1985).
Plant response to fire
Sedges tend to be highly resistant to fire (Chadwick 2002; Anderson 2008). Post-fire regrowth can be rapid; regeneration of biomass, flowering and seed production by some species are possible within 1 or 2 years after fire (Houston et al. 2001; Taylor 1969). Population increases after fire have been reported in several sedge species (Leege and Godbolt 1985; Smith and Fischer 1997; Bradley et al. 1992).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowers May to July.
Conservation status
BAP - Carex depauperata, Carex divisa, Carex ericetorum, Carex maritima, Carex vulpina; Protected - Carex depauperata.
References
Alberdi, L., Cavero, Y. 2002. Effect of fire on the understorey species of a Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. forest in Navarra, Spain. Pages 25-32 in L. Trabaud and R. Prodon, editors. Fire and biological processes. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Anderson, M. D. 2008. Carex rossii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov /database/feis/plants/graminoid/carros/all.html [2024, February 1]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Arnan, X., Rodrigo, A., Retana, J. 2007. Vegetation type and dryness drive the post-fire regeneration of Mediterranean plant communities at regional scale. Journal of Vegetation Science 18: 111-122. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Arno, S.F.; Simmerman, D.G.; Keane, R.E. 1985. Forest succession on four habitat types in western Montana. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-177. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 74 p. [Empirical evidence; Grey literature]
Bradley, A.F., Fischer, W.C.., Noste, N. V. 1992. Fire ecology of the forest habitat types of eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-290. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 92 p. [Empirical evidence; Grey literature]
Chadwick, A.C. 2002. Carex geyeri. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov /database/feis/plants/graminoid/cargey/all.html [2024, February 1]. [Expert opinion; Grey literature]
Clark, D.Lee. 1991. The effect of fire on Yellowstone ecosystem seed banks. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 115 p. Thesis. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Doyle, K.M., Knight, D. H., Taylor, D. L., Barmore, W. J. Jr. Benedict, J. M. 1998. Seventeen years of forest succession following the Waterfalls Canyon Fire in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. International Journal of Wildland Fire 8): 45-55. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Houston, K. E. Hartung, W.J., Hartung, C. J. 2001. A field guide for forest indicator plants, sensitive plants, and noxious weeds of the Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-84. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 184 p. [Empirical evidence; Grey literature]
Leege, T. A., Godbolt, G. 1985. Herbaceous response following prescribed burning and seeding of elk range in Idaho. Northwest Science 59: 134-143. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Mallik, A.U. and Gimingham, C.H. 1985. Effects on Seed Germination and Vegetative Regeneration. Journal of Ecology 73: 633-644. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Smith, J. K., Fischer, W. C. 1997. Fire ecology of the forest habitat types of northern Idaho. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-363. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. 142 p.
Trabaud, L., Grandjanny, M. 2002. Post-fire reconstitution of the flowering phenology in Mediterranean shrubland plants. Pages 99-113 in L. Trabaud, and R. Prodon, editors. Fire and biological proccesses. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands.