About Carex stricta Lam.
Carex stricta Lam. is a species of sedge with two common names: upright sedge and tussock sedge. This plant grows in moist marshes, forests, and along the edges of bodies of water. It reaches a maximum height and width of 2 feet (0.61 meters). As old leaves die, they accumulate around and on top of the living plant, forming a structure called a "tussock". Carex stricta is widely distributed across areas in and east of the Great Plains, and is one of the most common wetland sedge species found in eastern North America. Its seeds are dispersed by wind. After seeds land, they are eaten by a range of animals including birds such as the dark-eyed junco, northern cardinal, and wild turkey, and ducks including the mallard and wood duck. Seeds are also consumed by squirrels and other mammals. This plant can reproduce asexually through vegetative growth via rhizomes, and it frequently forms large colonies. It also acts as a larval host plant for three butterfly and moth species: the black dash, the dun skipper, and the eyed brown.
