Carex "It is not unlikely that a number of other species of this large and difficult genus (Carex) may still be found in the vicinity of the Falls; and, as our specimens have not been submitted to any one who has made the Carices a special study, it is quite probable that some of our determinations may prove erroneus," Day (1888).

I would like to thank W. J. Crins for annotating various specimens of Carex back in 1989.

Carex adusta Boott. SEDGE. "Macoun ... 'woods near Niagara Falls, Ont.; ...' Cat. Can. Pls. IV p. 129, Heimburger (1955).

 Not reported for the Niagara Frontier flora by Zander and Pierce (1979). Mitchell (1986) reported this species as rare and endangered in New York State , and Morton and Venn (1990) list it for the Ontario flora.

.Carex alopecoidea Tuckerman. FOX SEDGE. Ontario: Navy Island, island NW river margin, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

Carex annectens (Bickn.) Bickn. SEDGE. Ontario: Navy Island, dry embankment base, river margin, mid island, west side, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

Carex aquatilis Wahl. NORTHERN WATER SEDGE. New York: "Niagara Falls," Torrey (1843). "Margin of the River above the Falls," Day (1888). "Goat Island, Niagara Falls (Johnson)," Zenkert (1934).

New York: flats above the Horseshoe Falls, Eckel & Zander, July 18, 1988 (BUF). New York: Buckhorn Island, southern park boundary; abundant with C. lacustris, marsh edge, Eckel, May 20, 1999 (BUF); marsh, with Angelica atropurpurea, Rorippa palustris var. hispida, Cardamine pensylvanica: this may be a dominant Carex, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF); Woods Creek margin, fishing area; creek side; with Scirpus americanus, S. torreyi, Carex bebbii, C. vulpinoidea, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). Only the variety altior (Rydb.) Fern. is reported in New York State (Mitchell 1986), where it is not rare. It is probable that most of the specimens cited above are misidentifications of the common Carex stricta Lam. It is necessary to have the basal parts, specifically tufts of the dried-up bases of the leaves of previous years to identify this material with certainty. Zenkert (1943) in his ecological comments seems to reflect this difficulty in distinguishing the two species. For Carex aquatilis he indicates it grows in Erie County in "wet meadows along Niagara River, Grand Island Ferry and northward in town of Tonawanda." For Carex stricta  he indicates the same stations, but in Niagara Co. he has "wet, grassy places on the American side [of the Niagara River] above the Falls,"  a quote from Day's Catalogue of the Niagara Flora. See discussion under Carex stricta below.

Carex arctata Boott. DROOPING WOODSEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

 Carex artitecta Mackz. SEDGE. Ontario: "one mile south of Queenston Power House, Stamford Twp., J. H. Soper & J. K. Shields (4385), May 19, 1950; Ambrose, H. H. Brown, May 23, 1937; Walsh, H. H. Brown, May 23, 1937 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

 Carex aurea Nutt. GOLDEN SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York:  First of the Three Sisters Islands, east end on dolomite flats. det. R. H. Zander. P. M. Eckel 890112 May 18, 1987 (BUF).

 Carex backii Boott. BACK'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992).

Carex bebbii Olney. BEBBĚS SEDGE. New York: Buckhorn Island, Woods Creek margin, fishing area; creek side; with Scirpus americanus, S. expansus, C. vulpinoidea, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

Carex blanda Dewey. SEDGE. New York: (As C. laxiflora var. blanda (Dewey) Boott) First Sister, wet west end, 1988 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, south park boundary, wet woods boundary, south side of marsh, embankment overlooking the marsh, Eckel, May 12, 1999 (BUF); Whirlpool State Park on the Niagara River, central, galleried wood on axis between the park & DeVeaux woods, shaded pathside. P. M. Eckel s.n. May 18, 2000 (BUF); DeVeaux College woods, old growth area, with rich, moist soil, light-well from fallen tree, with C. rosea, Poa trivialis P. M. Eckel s.n. May 25, 2000 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Wet slopes below Brock's Monument, Queenston Heights. Seepage. P. M. Eckel 880961 June 13, 1988, annotation W. J. Crins 1989 (BUF); Navy Island; W side; frequent, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex bromoides Schkuhr. BROME SEDGE. "Wet places near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

[Carex canescens L. New York: Erie County, City of Buffalo, Swamps, Niagara River. Frank W. Johnson June 30, 1923 (BUF).]

Carex careyana Torr. CAREY'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).                     

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).

 

Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).  Rare in Ontario. Grows in "mesic to dry-mesic hardwood forests," (Argus & White, 1982). It is rare in Canada.

Carex cephaloidea (Dewey) Dewey. SEDGE. Ontario: Navy Island, north west river margins, beach, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

Carex cephalophora Muhl. SOUTHERN SEDGE, WOODBANK SEDGE.  Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895); "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

 

New York: Second of the Three Sisters Islands, east end, in grassy area, wood's edge near path. Near bridge. Caespitose. det. Zander P. M. Eckel 880786 Aug. 6, 1988 (BUF) First of the Three Sisters Islands, south of Goat Island in the Niagara River. West end wet island margins. P. M. Eckel 59605 July 7, 1986 annot. Crins, 1989(BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).

 

Carex communis L. Bailey. FIBROUS-ROOTED SEDGE. Ontario:  Niagara Gorge, upper slopes along N side of Whirlpool. Edge of path through dry hardwood forest along lip of Gorge above Whirlpool. Very local, 3 loose clumps seen in one area. Reznicek, A.A., Catling, P.M. Oldham, M. 8767 May 30, 1991 (BUF).

Carex comosa Boott. BRISTLY SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Niagara Glen, Hamilton, May 25, 1941 (NFO).

  Carex complanata Torr. & Hook. NORTHERN HIRSUTE SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. triceps), Cameron (1895). (As Carex triceps var. hirsuta) "abundant in rocky thickets, Queenston Heights, and Foster's Flats, near the Whirlpool ... (Macoun), 1888, Cat. Can. Pls. IV p. 137, Heimburger (1955). (As Carex hirsutella Mackenzie), "Ontario: abundant, Queenston Heights and near Whirlpool, Niagara gorge (Macoun, Cat. of Can. Pl.)," Zenkert (1934).

(As Carex hirsutella Mack.), range: Ont-swPQ. Status: Rare in Canada, Argus & White (1977). Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). Mitchell (1986) reported this species as rare and endangered in New York State. This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992).

 Carex conoidea Schkuhr ex Willd. FIELD SEDGE. "Moist places on the American side above the Falls," Day (1888). "Moist places on the American side above Niagara Falls (Day, Cat. Niag. Fl.) no corresponding specimen found in Gen. Herb.," Zenkert (1934).

Ontario: Navy Island, north west and northern river margins. Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

Range: Ont-NB, NS, Nfld.  Status: Rare in Minnesota and Indiana (rare in Ontario), Argus & White (1977). Listed as a doubtful member of the Niagara Frontier region by Zander and Pierce (1979). Mitchell (1986) reports it as a member of the New York State flora (not rare).

Carex crawei Dewey. CRAWE'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: Table Rock, Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO); Niagara Gorge lip ca. 1 km NE of Whirlpool, between Heritage Parkway and cliff edge. Dry open dolomite pavement (alvar) dominated by Andropogon scoparius. Single big clone (BUF). Reznicek, A.A., P.M.Catling, M.J. Oldham 8768 May 30, 1991 (BUF). 

 

Listed as rare by Zander and Pierce (1979). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992).

 Carex crinita Lam. FRINGED SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

 Carex cristatella Britt. CRESTED SEDGE. (As C. tribuloides var. cristata), "Goat Island," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. tribuloides var. cristata), Cameron (1895). (As C. cristata), "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).  

 Carex debilis Michx. "With C. prasina...wet places above Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Panton (1890).

Ontario: seepy base Brock's Monument, Eckel, June 13, 1988 (BUF).

 [Carex demissa Hornem.] (As Carex oerderi) New York: "Niagara Falls (Prof. Dewey)," Torrey (1843). (As C. oederi), "rather rare ... Niagara Falls," Day (1882). (As C. oederi), "Goat Island, near the Horse-shoe Fall. Niagara (Provancher, Flore Canadienne, p. 658)," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. oederi), Cameron (1895).

 Not listed as occurring in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979) or for New York State by Mitchell (1986) (at least under this name). This species occurs in the area of the Maritimes, Canada, and "rarely on ballast southwest," Fernald (1950).

 Carex deweyana Schw. DEWEY'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. deweyi), Cameron (1895).

 Carex diandra Schrank. LESSER PANICLED SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as Carex tertiuscula), Cameron (1895).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

Carex digitalis Willd. SLENDER WOOD SEDGE. "Goat Island," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "Ontario: Queenston heights, Niagara escarpment (Macoun, Cat. of Can. Pl.)," Zenkert (1934). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Niagara Glen, Vampley, May 15, 1964 (NFO).

Carex disperma Dewey. SOFT-LEAVED SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. tenella), Cameron (1895). (As C. tenella), "... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

 Carex eburnea Boott. BRISTLE-LEAVED SEDGE. "Goat Island (Prof. Dewey)," Torrey (1843). "On the American side of the [Goat] Island, by the river, & above the Bridge found all out of season Carex eburnea," August 22, 1864 (Clinton's Journal). "Goat Island and near DeVeaux College," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Whirlpool, Wm. Scott, July 19, 1897, Heimburger (1955). "Goat Island and Niagara gorge (Day, Cat. Niag. Fl.). Ontario: gorge of River at Niagara Glen (1898) (Edna Porter, Gen. Herb.)," Zenkert (1934). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York: First of the Three Sisters Islands, "luxuriant on tops of dolomite boulders," Eckel 87511 Sept. 10, 1986 (BUF, NYS); First of the Three Sisters Islands in the Niagara River, just S of Goat Island. West end. P. M. Eckel June 4, 1988 (BUF); gorge of the Niagara River, base twn Whirlpool & Lower Arch Bridge, pathside away from river, mat-forming, P. M. Eckel Sept. 21, 2008 (PME).

 

Ontario: Niagara Glen, Edna Porter, May 7, 1898 (BUF); Niagara Glen, "limestone rocks," Johnson, June 17, 1923 (BUF); Niagara Glen, Leighfield, Nov. 16, 1969 (NFO); Sheltered woods in basin just S of Whirlpool Basin. Damp, old woods, loose dolomite talus, much Anomodon bryophyte communities. Dense, on boulder tops all along base of gorge. P. M. Eckel 9005042 May 4, 1990 (BUF).

 

[Carex echinata Murr.] Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). (As C. angustior) Ont.: "Niagara Falls, Wm. Scott, June 28, 1897 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

Not listed as occurring in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). Cited for the New York State flora by Mitchell (1986) and the Ontario flora by Morton and Venn (1990). Fernald (1950) gives the distribution of this species as boreal, growing in Greenland, Labrador and the Maritimes.

 Carex festucacea Schk. FESQUE SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex flava L. YELLOW SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Carex garberi Fern. ELK SEDGE. New York:  Goat Island on the Niagara River, dolomite flats near ballast at the southeastern margins of the island. probably OK but perigynia" ver. R. Zander.  widely spaced Crins,89" P. M. Eckel 881203 May 24, 1987 (BUF); First Sister, east end extremity on dolomite flat, occasionally inundated Eckel,  June 4, 1988, annot. Crins, 1989 (BUF); Growing in wet seep at base of cap rock, just below rim of Niagara Gorge about halfway between sewage treatment plant and Lower Arch Bridge. Alfred Schotz 253 June 3, 1989 (BUF).

 

This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992).

 Carex gracillima Schw. GRACEFUL SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Roundhouse, Niagara, Scott, June 17, 1899, Heimburger (1955). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO); Navy Island, moist woods (Oak, Ash, Maple),with Carex rosea, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex granularis Muhl. MEADOW SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: "Niagara Falls, Wm. Scott, June 28, 1897 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

New York: First of the Three Sisters Islands, south of Goat Island in the Niagara River. West end wet river margins, south side. det. Bill Crins P. M. Eckel 59612 June 15, 1987 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands, south of Goat Island in the Niagara River. East end extremity on dolomite flats, occasionally inundated.    det. Bill Crins P. M. Eckel 59608 June 4, 1988 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

The Carex viridula (as C. oederi) of Provancher "near the Horse-shoe Fall" on the Canadian side (Provanchere, Flore Canadienne), Day, 1888, may be this species, as might be Clinton's references to this plant.

 Carex grayii Carey. GRAY'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

New York:  (as C. asa-grayi) Niagara Falls, LaSalle area, Cayuga Island on the Niagara River. Edna Porter Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO)

Listed as rare in Zander and Pierce (1979).

Carex grisea Wahl. GRAY SEDGE. "With C. conoidea, moist places on the American side above the Falls," Day (1888).

Range: sOnt-NB. Rare in Ontario, Argus & White (1977).  Reported as rare in the Niagara Frontier region by Zander and Pierce (1979 

[Carex haydenii Dew.] CLOUD SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as Carex stricta var. decora), Cameron (1895).

Not listed as occurring in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).  Mitchell (1986) lists this taxon as rare in New York State; it grows in regions north and east of our area. It is rare in Ontario and is "probably extirpated at many of the southeastern Ontario localities [east of Lake Ontario]," Argus & White (1982). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program: "No extant sites known but it may be rediscovered," (Young, 1992). This species easily resembles others in the species-group Acutae (C. aquatilis and C. stricta), which do grow in the Niagara area. 

Carex hormathodes Fern. SEDGE. Ontario: "Whirlpool, Wm. Scott, June 21, 1898 (TRT).

Not reported for the Niagara Frontier flora by Zander and Pierce (1979). Reported as rare in New York State by Mitchell (1979). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program(Young, 1992).

 

Carex hystricina Muhl. PORCUPINE SEDGE.

 

New York: Niagara Falls. Luna Island.  L. N. Johnson  June 23, 1890, herbarium of L. H. Lighthipe (information conveyed by Benito Santos Lorenzo, BBG Herbarium);  Goat Island, Eckel, July 5 ,1986 (BUF); Goat Island on the Niagara River.Dolomite flats above the Horseshoe Falls w. R. Zander. P. M. Eckel 8809460 July 18, 1988 (BUF); Far east end of First Sister Island, in the Niagara River just S of Goat Island. On dolomite riverbed. Staminate scales w. rough awns, perigynia inflated, spreading-ascending P.M. Eckel 880624 July 14, 1987 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands, west end in wet alluvium. Frequent. ver. R. H. Zander. P. M. Eckel 890113 June 15, 1987 (BUF); Second of the Three Sisters Islands, south of Goat Island in the Niagara River. depauperate det. R. H. Zander. P. M. Eckel 890109 Oct. 21, 1988 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, SW part of park, W of I90, near path along Niagara River from West River Parkway to Burntship Creek, Eckel, Oct. 1, 1997 (BUF); Buckhorn marsh; with C. aquatilis, C. stipata, Cardamine pensylvanica, Lysimachia thyrsifolia, Carex vulpinoidea, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF).

Ontario: Navy Island, moist central Acer rubrum wood, with Eleocharis erythropoda, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

Carex interior Bailey. INLAND SEDGE. "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

 Carex intumescens Rudge. BLADDER SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). New York: Cayuga Island, Edna Porter, Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF), Eckel (1991). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Dufferin Islands, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).

[Carex jamesii Schwein.] JAMES'S SEDGE. (As C. sterdellii), "near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, (as Carex steudellii Kunth.), Panton (1890). "Reported by Day from Niagara Falls, Ontario, but no corresponding specimen found in Gen. Herb.," Zenkert (1934).

Range: sOnt. Status: Rare in Canada, Argus & White (1977). Listed by Zander and Pierce (1979) as a doubtful member of the flora of the Niagara Frontier Region. Mitchell (1986) reports this species as rare in New York State. This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program(Young, 1992).

 Carex lacustris Willd. LAKE-BANK SEDGE. New York: (As C. riparia var. lacustris), "eastern side of Goat Island," Day (1888); Cayuga Island, Eckel (1991).

New York: Buckhorn Island, southern park boundary; extensive colonies on marsh edge, Cardamine pensylvanica, Salix eriocephala, Eckel, May 20, 1999 (BUF); City of Niagara Falls,LaSalle section, Cayuga Island on the Niagara River, Jane Park, north side. Open shoreside meadow on the Little Niagara River, dense old vegetation, Typha, Stachys, Impatiens, Justicia. P. M. Eckel July 9, 1988 (BUF); City of Niagara Falls, LaSalle section, Jayne Park on the Little Niagara River, Cayuga Island, N side. Small marsh with Impatiens capensis, Sagittaria, Stachys hispida. P. M. Eckel s.n. June 19, 2001 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Navy Island, marsh, with Calamagrostis canadensis, Juncus nodosus, J. dudleyi, Eleocharis palustris, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

 

Carex lanuginosa Michx. WOOLY SEDGE. New York: Second Sister Island in the Niagara River S of Goat Island, sw marsh, irrigated island edge, open, with Iris virginica var. shrevei, Poa trivialis, Glyceria melicaria. P. M. Eckel s.n. June 18, 2001 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Navy Island just south of Niagara Falls in the Niagara River; northwest and northern river margins. Marsh west side, on the north. P. M. Eckel & R. Zander s.n. July 15, 1998 (BUF).

 

New York Erie Co. City of Buffalo. Wet meadows, Niagara River. Frank W. Johnson May 29, 1921 (BUF).

 

Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh. var. latifolia (Boeck.) Cl. WOOLLY SEDGE. New York: First of the Three Sisters, west end in wet alluvium. Frequent, Eckel, June 15, 1987 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands in the Niagara River just S of Goat Island. East end, grassy island margins. P. M. Eckel 881053 June 15, 1987 (BUF); Second of the Three Sisters Islands, east end, dolomite flats. P. M. Eckel July 4, 1987 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Navy Island, marsh, west side, on the north end, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex laxiculmis Schwein. SPREADING SEDGE. (As Carex retrocurva Dew.), "Goat Island," Day (1888).

Range; sOnt. Ontario: Grey Co. and Ontario Co. Status: Rare in Canada. Endangered in Wisconsin. Rare in Minnesota, Argus & White (1977). Not listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex laxiflora Lam. SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. laxiflora var. patulifolia), Cameron (1895).

New York: Goat Island, 1988 (BUF). Luna Island, 1988 (BUF); First Sister, east end, flats promontory, 1988 (BUF); west end, 1987 (BUF). Second Sister, west end, wet muck, 1987 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, moist woods edge, with Carex rosea, Glyceria striata, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF); Luna Island just N of Goat Island in the Niagara River, bridge to Goat Island. Close to C. digitalis but for obtuse, cuspidate scales, indistinct perigynia lines, etc. P. M. Eckel 880701 May 26, 1988 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO) [two specimens, one sub var. patulifolia]; Niagara Glen [Foster's Flats] Wickes May 7, 1898 (BUF).

var. blanda Ontario: Navy Island; W side; frequent, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF); First Sister, wet west end, 1988 (BUF).

The var. striatula Carey was listed by Heimburger (1955) as "Macoun ... 'Queenston Heights, near Niagara Falls (Macoun) Cat. Can. Pls. IV p. 155." The var. serrulata Herm. was reported as rare in New York State by Mitchell (1986) and is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992), the only known New York station from Suffolk County

 [Carex laxiflora Lam. var. plantaginea Boott.] "Near DeVeaux College, Day (1888).

Not listed by Zander & Pierce (1979); equivalent perhaps to Carex plantaginea Lam., which is.

 Carex leptalea Wahl. BRISTLE-STALKED SEDGE. (As C. polytrichoides) "wet places above Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park (as Carex polytrichoides Muhl.) Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System (as C. polytrichoides), Cameron (1895). Ontario: "Niagara Falls, Wm. Scott, July 28, 1897 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

 

Carex leptonervia Fern. NORTHERN WOODLAND SEDGE. New York: Luna Island, Eckel, May 26, 1988 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, southern park boundary. Service rd., gravel, Oak-Hickory moist wood, forest edge, Eckel, May 20, 1999 (BUF); DeVeaux College woods, old growth area, with rich, moist soil, light-well from fallen tree, with C. blanda, C. rosea, Poa trivialis P. M. Eckel s.n. May 25, 2000 (BUF).

Ontario: seepy wooded slopes below Brock's Monument, Eckel, June 13, 1988 (BUF); Navy Island, wet Ash, Oak, Maple woods, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex lupulina Muhl. HOP SEDGE. "Wet grounds above the Falls on either side," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Niagara Falls, Scott, July 15, 1897 (TRT 7322), Heimburger (1955). New York: Cayuga Island, Edna Porter, Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF), Eckel (1991)."... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943).

New York, Niagara Falls (LaSalle), Cayuga Island, Niagara River, Edna Porter, Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, southern park boundary. Service rd., gravel, Oak-Hickory moist wood, forest edge, Eckel, May 20, 1999 (BUF).

Ontario: "near Cedar Island," Cameron, 1892 (NFO); Navy Island, central woods, Quercus rubra, Q. palustris, Carya ovata, C. laciniosa, elevated borders of vernal pools, Eckel, Sept. 21, 1998 (BUF); Navy Island; just S of Niagara Falls, NW and northern river margins; wet Oak-Hickory

swamp woods with Acer rubrum, Ulmus americana,mid moss Hypnum lindbergii. P. M. Eckel with  R. H. Zander s.n. July 15, 1998 (BUF).

 

[Carex mexicana SEDGE. Ont.: Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

                          Not reported as occurring in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander &  Pierce (1979), for New York by Mitchell (1986) or Ontario by Morton and Venn (1990). In a copy of Gray's Manual of Botany, ed. 6, for 1889, there is no plant listed with this name. Perhaps Muhlenbergia mexicana was meant, which did appear in the Manual.

 Carex molesta Mack. TROUBLESOME SEDGE. New York: First Sister Island, east end, 1988, annotated by Crins, 1989 (BUF).

This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992).

Carex muhlenbergii Schk. MUHLENBERG'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: crest of the Niagara River gorge, north section limestone alvar vegetation on Wintergreen Flats (above Niagara Glen) with Pentstemon hirsutus, Comandra umbellata. P. M. Eckel s.n. May 29, 1998 (BUF).

Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex muricata L. var. sterilis (Carey) Gl. BARREN PRICKLEY SEDGE. (As C. sterilis), "near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park (as Carex sterilis Willd.), Panton (1890). (As Carex stellulata and C. angustior) Ontario: "Niagara Falls, Wm. Scott, June 28, 1897 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

Var. cephalantha Bailey and var. sterilis (Carey) Gl. are listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex nigromarginata var. muhlenbergii (Gray) Gl. BLACK-MARGINED SEDGE. (As C. varia), "near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park (as C. varia) Panton (1890). (As C. varia),"... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

(Without varietal rank) this species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992), and of Canada where it occurs in Ontario (Argus & White, 1982) in "open deciduous woods on sand."

Carex normalis Mackenzie. LARGER STRAW SEDGE. New York: Goat Island, flats above the Horseshoe Falls, P. M. Eckel, July 18, 1988 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands, Eckel, July 11, 1988 (BUF); Second of the Three Sisters Islands, east end, dolomite flats, with Carex lasiocarpa, P. M. Eckel, July 4, 1987 (BUF).

 Carex oligocarpa Schkuhr. FEW-FRUITED SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "Ontario: gorge of River at Niagara Glen (Johnson)," Zenkert (1934). "... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943).

New York: First Sister of the Three Sisters Islands in the Niagara River just S of Goat Island. West end. Det. R. H. Zander. P. M. Eckel 890106 June 4, 1988 (BUF).

Range: sOnt-swPQ. Status: Rare in Canada. Rare in Michigan, Argus & White (1977). A pre-1925 collection was made near the Niagara River area in Ontario (Argus & White, 1982), in "dry woods and banks." Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex pedunculata Muhl. LONG-STALKED SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: "gravel pit," Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).  First Sister, west end, Eckel, 1988 (BUF).

 Carex pensylvanica Lam. PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE. "Lewiston," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "Ontario: gorge of River at Niagara Glen, 1898 (Edna Porter, Gen. Herb.)," Zenkert (1934). Ontario: north of Whirlpool, high land, Miller (53), April 23, 1952; 2 miles S of Queenston, high land, Miller (33), May 7, 1952, Heimburger (1955). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York: DeVeaux College; base of the DeVeaux steps,north of where the steps meet the lower path. Top of boulder, with Tortella tortuosa, Carex blanda, Actaea spicata. P. M. Eckel s.n. May 14, 2001 (BUF);  Lewiston. Remnant of old vegetation on the gorge crest overlooking Lewiston (Niagara River). Quercus alba, Q. borealis, Carya, Ostrya virginiana. Woods, Hepatica americana. P. M. Eckel 8910015 June 16, 1989 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO); Niagara Glen, Edna Porter, May 7, 1898 (BUF).

  Carex plantaginea Lam. PLANTAINLEAF SEDGE. "Near Lewiston," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Stamford Twp., Niagara Gorge, rocky soil, Miller (16), April 25, 1949; Niagara Glen, T. J. Ivey, 8/6, 1907; William Scott, May 24, 1899, Heimburger (1955). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

 Carex platyphylla Carey. "Near DeVeaux College," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Whirlpool, Wm. Scott, June 18, 1896 (TRT 7418), Heimburger (1955). "Niagara Co.: Whirlpool, Niagara gorge, 1863 (Day, Gen. Herb.)," Zenkert (1934).

New York: Whirlpool, David F. Day, June 6, 1863 (BUF).

 Carex prasina Wahl. DROOPING SEDGE. "Wet places above Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890).

Range: sOnt-swPQ.  Status: Rare in Canada. Endangered in Wisconsin, Argus & White (1977).  Not listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). A pre 1925 collection was made near the area of the Niagara River (Argus & White, 1982) in "mesic to wet-mesic hardwood forests." It is similar to Carex arctata Boott.

 Carex pseudocyperus. CYPERUS-LIKE SEDGE. New York: Second of the Three Sisters Islands,  P. M. Eckel, July 7, 1987 (BUF).

 Carex retroflexa Muhl. REFLEXED SEDGE. (As C. rosea var. retroflexa), "Goat Island in damp places," Day (1888). "A Clinton specimen, probably local, in Gen. Herb.," Zenkert (1934).

Listed as rare and probably absent from the Niagara Frontier flora due to possible habitat destruction by Zander and Pierce (1979). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992). It is rare in Canada and recorded only from the Windsor area in Ontario. It "may be distinguished [from Carex radiata (Wahlenb. Small and C. rosea Schkuhr ex Willd.] by its smooth perigynium beak and spongy, distended, often dark-coloured perigynium base," (Oldham & Reznicek, in Argus, et al. 1987).

Carex richardsonii R. Br. SEDGE. Ontario: near Niagara, John Macoun, May 18, 1901 (TRT), Heimburger (1955).

Not reported for the Niagara Frontier flora by Zander and Pierce (1979). Reported as rare and endangered in New York state by Mitchell (1986). It occurs in Ontario (Morton & Venn, 1990). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program (Young, 1992) where it is only reported from Monroe County.

Carex rosea Schkr. ROSE SEDGE. "Goat Island, in damp places," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). (As Carex convoluta Mackenzie), "Goat Island, Niagara Falls ... Ontario: gorge of River at Niagara Glen," Zenkert (1934). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York: Goat Island on the Niagara River, woods margins facing the Meadow (east side). beak of perigynium rough-awned, scales obtuse staminate flowers above. Stigmas two. P.M. Eckel 880629 June 15, 1987 (BUF); Goat island in the Niagara River. Edge of woods facing the eastern meadow.

det. Bill Crins, 1989 P. M. Eckel 59613 June 4, 1988 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands in the Niagara River just S of Goat Island. West end, wet island thickets. det. W. J. Crins, 1989. P. M. Eckel 59614 June 4, 1988 (BUF); First of the Three Sisters Islands, Eckel, July 11, 1988 (BUF); Luna Island in the Niagara River, just N of Goat Island, American Channel. Northern thicket, wet river margins. det. W. J. Crins, 1989 P. M. Eckel 59609 July 26, 1988(BUF); Lewiston. Scovell's Knoll, elevation several hundred yards east of the Niagara River, dense, rich dry woods with occasional damp areas. Staminate flowers at tops spikes, spongy pergy.base P. M. Eckel 880942 June 16, 1988 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, with Apios tuberosa in moist Acer rubrum, Oak- Hickory woods, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF); Buckhorn Island State Park, wet woods south of the marsh, tufts frequent in shade. With Poa palustris. P. M. Eckel s.n. June 9, 1999 (BUF); DeVeaux College woods, old growth area, with rich, moist soil, light-well from fallen tree, with C. blanda, Poa nemoralis, P. trivialis. P. M. Eckel s.n. May 25, 2000 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO);  Navy Island; W side, frequent, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex rostrata Stokes. BEAKED SEDGE. (As C. rostrata var. utriculata), "with C. lupulina, wet grounds above the Falls on either side," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). "... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943). Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex scabrata Schw. ROUGH SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

 Carex scoparia Schkr. BROOM SEDGE. "With C. sterilis ... near Clifton, Ontario)," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Chippewa, Wm. Scott, July 8, 1896, Heimburger (1955). "... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO). New York: Buckhorn Island, with Apios tuberosa in moist Acer rubrum, Oak- Hickory woods, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF); Woods Creek margin, fishing area; with C. vulpinoidea, C. bebbii; Scirpus validus, S. expansus, S. americanus, S. torreyi, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF). Ontario: Navy Island, central woods area, Quercus rubra, Q. palustris, Carya ovata, C. laciniosa, rotten bed log in dry, vernal pool area, Eckel, Sept. 21, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex sparganioides Muhl. BURREED SEDGE. "In Wesley Park, Niagara Falls, John Macoun, June 5, 1891 (TRT), Heimburger (1955). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).  (var. sparganioides) Ontario: Navy Island, northwest and northern river margins, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex stipata Muhl. AWL-FRUITED SEDGE. "With C. vulpinoides, above the Falls, on the American side, in low places," Day (1888). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York: First of the Three Sisters Islands, west end on dolomite riverbed, Eckel, June 15, 1987 (BUF); Dolomite flats just above the Horseshoe Falls off Goat Island in the Niagara River. Ver. R. H. Zander. P. M. Eckel 890103 June 15, 1987 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, marsh, with Eleocharis ovata, Carex aquatilis, Cardamine pensylvanica, Eckel, June 14, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex straminea Willd. STRAW SEDGE. "Near DeVeaux College," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

 

Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979). This species is on the Rare Plant Status List of the New York Natural Heritage Program, (Young, 1992).

Carex stricta Lam. TUSSOCK SEDGE. "In wet, grassy places on the American side above the Falls," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). "... reported growing in the Parks, Hamilton (1943).

New York: Goat Island, shallow water, F. W. Johnson, Aug. 10, 1918 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

See comments above under Carex aquatilis. Specimens identified as that species are probably Carex stricta instead. Voss (1972) indicates Carex stricta grows "often in large clumps and may form extensive meadows of 'wild hay'", as it is probable this species once did on Strawberry Island (see Clinton's collecting journal 1863: June), where it was harvested to stuff mattresses. Carex stricta and C. lacustris are the predominant sedges at Buckhorn Island marsh.

Carex tenera Dewey. SLENDER STRAW SEDGE. Ontario: Navy Island, with C. rosea, C. blanda, moist woods, P. M. Eckel, Sept. 1997 (BUF); Navy Island, northwest and northern river margins, Eckel, July 15, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex torta Boott. TWISTED SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890).

Range: Ont-NB. Rare in Ontario, Argus & White (1977). There appears to have been a single collection in Ontario, pre-1925, outside the Niagara region, but it "has not been collected in the province since 1910," in "moist grasslands," (Argus & White, 1982). Not listed as rare for the Niagara Frontier region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 Carex tribuloides Wahl. BLUNT BROOM SEDGE, BRISTLEBACK SEDGE. "With C. scoparia ... near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO).

 Carex trichocarpa Muhl. HAIRY-FRUITED SEDGE. "Near Clifton, Ontario," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, Panton (1890).

New York: Niagara Falls (LaSalle), Cayuga Islanad, Niagara River, Porter, Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF). Ontario: "whirlpool," Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).

 

Range: swOnt-swPQ. Status: Rare in Canada. Rare in Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana, Argus & White (1977), on riverbanks.  Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979), but not rare in the State (Mitchell 1986).

 Carex tuckermani Dewey. TUCKERMAN'S SEDGE. Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). New York: Cayuga Island, Edna Porter, Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF), Eckel (1991).(As var. niagarensis C.P. Smith (Rhodora 17:57. 1915), "Youngstown, Niagara Co., is the station for the type collection," Zenkert (1934).

New York:  Niagara Falls (LaSalle), Cayuga Island, Niagara River. Herb. of Buffalo Botanic Garden" Edna Porter Aug. 9, 1899 (BUF).

 Smith (1915) described the varietal type locality in Youngstown at the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario as an area "of level, poorly- drained, open woodland and thickets, [the plant] confined to edges of vernal pools and depressions where moisture lingers well into the hot days of summer, but where the surface soil-layers dry out and crack before the akenes [sic] are mature." The varietal epithet refers to the county.

Carex vesicaria var. monile (Tuckerman) Fernald. BLADDERY SEDGE. Ontario: Navy Island, NW & N river margins. P. M. Eckel, July 28, 1998 (BUF).

 Carex virescens Muhl. DOWNY GREEN SEDGE. "Near DeVeaux College," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: "Niagara, Wm. Scott, July 3, 1897 (TRT), Heimburger (1955). "Ontario: Niagara Falls (Macoun, Cat. of Can. Pl.)," Zenkert (1934). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

Ontario: Dufferin Islands, Cameron, 1893 (NFO).

 

Range: sOnt-swPQ. NS. Rare in Ontario, Argus & White (1977), and Quebec, in mesic hardwood forests Argus & White (1982).  Listed as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979) but not in the State (Mitchell 1986).

Carex viridula Michx. GREEN SEDGE. (As C. oederi var. pumila), "Niagara Co.: Niagara Falls (Clinton, Gen. Herb.)," Zenkert (1934).

New York: Niagara Falls, Clinton, ca. 1860's  (BUF); Niagara Falls, Clinton, ca. 1860's (BUF).   

 

Reported as rare in the Niagara Frontier Region by Zander and Pierce (1979), but not rare for New York State by Mitchell (1986).

 Carex vulpinoidea Michx. FOX SEDGE. "Above the Falls, on the American side, in low places," Day (1888). Ontario, Niagara Park System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: Chippewa, Wm. Scott, July 8, 1896 (7709), Heimburger (1955). "... reported growing in the Parks," Hamilton (1943).

New York: First of the Three Sisters Islands, Eckel, July 11, 1988 (BUF); Buckhorn Island, Woods Creek margin, fishing area; with C. bebbii; Scirpus validus, S. expansus, S. americanus, S. torreyi, Eckel, July 2, 1998 (BUF).

 

Ontario: Queen Victoria Park, Cameron, [ca.1890] (NFO); moist slopes below Brock's Monument, Eckel, June 13, 1988 (BUF).

 

 

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