Carex

All species of Carex are perennial, although some species, such as C. bebbii and C. viridula can fruit in their first year of growth, and may not survive longer. They typically have rhizomes, stolons or short rootstocks, but some species grow in tufts (caespitose). The culm – the flower-bearing stalk – is unbranched and usually erect. It is usually distinctly triangular in section. '', the upper spike contains male flowers, and the lower spike contains female flowers. The flowers of Carex are small and are combined into spikes, which are themselves combined into a larger inflorescence. The spike typically contains many flowers, but can hold as few as one in some species. Almost all Carex species are monoecious; each flower is either male (staminate) or female (pistillate). In other species, all spikes are similar. In that case, they may have male flowers above and female flowers below (androgynous) or female flowers above and male flowers below (gynecandrous). In relatively few species, the arrangement of flowers is irregular. The defining structure of the genus Carex is the bottle-shaped bract surrounding each female flower. This structure is called the perigynium or utricle, a modified prophyll. It is typically extended into a "rostrum" or beak, which is often divided at the tip (bifid) into two teeth. ==Ecology and distribution==

Carex species are found across most of the world, albeit with few species in tropical lowlands, and relatively few in sub-Saharan Africa. Most (but not all) sedges are found in wetlands – such as marshes, calcareous fens, bogs and other peatlands, pond and stream banks, riparian zones, and even ditches. They are one of the dominant plant groups in arctic and alpine tundra, and in wetland habitats with a water depth of up to . ==Taxonomy and cytogenetics==

The genus Carex was established by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753, and it is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Estimates of the number of species vary from about 1100 to almost 2000. The genomes of Carex kokanica, Carex parvula and Carex littledalei have been sequenced. Carex has been divided into subgenera in a number of ways. The most influential was Georg Kükenthal's classification using four subgenera – Carex, Vignea, Indocarex and Primocarex – based primarily on the arrangement of the male and female flowers. • Carex subg. Psyllophora (Degl.) Peterm. (equivalent to Kükenthal's "Primocarex") – 70 species) – 100 species, tropical and subtropical Asia ==Fossil record==

Several fossil fruits of two Carex species have been described from strata of the middle Miocene in the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark. ==Uses==

Ornamental Carex species and cultivars are popular in horticulture, particularly in shady positions. Native species are used in wildland habitat restoration projects, natural landscaping, and in sustainable landscaping as drought-tolerant grass replacements for lawns and garden meadows. Some require damp or wet conditions, others are relatively drought-tolerant. Propagation is by seed or division in spring. The cultivars Carex elata 'Aurea' (Bowles' golden sedge) and Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Other uses A mix of dried specimens of several species of Carex (including Carex vesicaria) have a history of being used as thermal insulation in footwear (such as nutukas used by Sámi people). Sennegrass is one of the names for such mixes. Carsten Borchgrevink of the British Antarctic Expedition 1898-1900 said "Socks are never used in Finnmarken in winter time, but 'senne grass' which they... had a special method of arranging in the 'komager' (Finn boots)." Species serve as a food source for numerous animals, and some are used as a livestock hay. Use by Native Americans The Blackfoot put carex in moccasins to protect the feet during winter. The Cherokee use an infusion of the leaf to "check bowels". The Ohlone use the roots of many species for basketry. The Goshute use the root as medicine. The Jemez consider the plant sacred and use it in the kiva. The Klamath people weave the leaves into mats, use the juice of the pith as a beverage, eat the fresh stems for food and use the tuberous base of the stem for food. The indigenous people of Mendocino County, California use the rootstocks to make baskets and rope. The indigenous people of Montana also weave the leaves into mats and use the young stems as food. The Navajo of Kayenta, Arizona grind the seeds into mush and eat them. The Oregon Paiute weave it to make spoons. The Pomo use the roots to make baskets, and use it to tend fishing traps. They also use it to make torches. The Songhees eat the leaves to induce abortions. The Wailaki weave the roots and leaves into baskets and use the leaves to weave mats. The Yuki people use the large roots to make baskets. == See also ==