Photo by Emmet J. Judziewicz 

Key Characteristics

Perennial loosely clustered rush of fens in the Upper Peninsula; leaves without hard cross-partitions; inflorescence terminal, hemispherical, with only 1-4 flowers; margins of tepals white; seeds relatively large (3 mm) with pale tails.

Status and Rank

• State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
• State Rank: S1S2 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from critically imperiled to imperiled
• Global Rank: G5 - Secure

Occurrences

County Name	Number of Occurrences	Year Last Observed
Delta	1	1985
Luce	1	1979
Mackinac	2	1991
Marquette	1	1889

Updated 05/08/2013. Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Natural Community Types

• Northern fen
• Patterned fen
• Bog
• Muskeg
• Poor fen

Associated Plants

Northern white cedar, black spruce, tamarack, leatherleaf, twig-rush, sedge (Carex gynocrates, C. lasiocarpa, C. limosa), bulrush (Scirpus hudsonianus), beak-rush, grass-pink orchid, bog buckbean, sundew, pitcher-plant, and bog clubmoss.

Management

This species requires protection of habitat and maintenance of hydrology. Prescribed fire may also play a role in maintaining suitable habitat.

General Survey Guidelines

Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator.

Survey Methods

• Meander search

  Survey Period: From fourth week of June to fourth week of July

Page Citation

References

Survey References

• Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.

• Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316

• Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.

• Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.

• Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.

Technical References

• Clemants, S.E. 1990. Juncaceae (Rush Family) of New York State. Bulletin Number 475. New York State Museum, Albany, NY. 67 pp.

• Coffin, B. and L. Pfannmuller, eds. 1988. Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 473pp.

• Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 2000. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 22: Magnoliaphyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae (in part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford University Press, New York. 352pp.

• Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.

• Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.

• Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.

• Scoggan, H.J. 1978. The Flora of Canada. National Museum of Natural Science Publications Botany 4: 1711pp.

• Voss, E. G. 1972. Michigan Flora. Part I. Gymnosperms and Monocots. Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 488pp.

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