Plants and Animals
Carex richardsonii Richardson's sedge
Key Characteristics
Small densely clumped sedge (25 cm); leaves with reddish-brown sheaths; staminate spikelet separate, large (10-20 mm), pistillate spikelets short (10 mm); perigynia 3-sided and pubescent.
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S3S4 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from vulnerable to apparently secure
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa | 12 | 2023 |
| Delta | 6 | 1995 |
| Ionia | 1 | 1887 |
| Keweenaw | 3 | 1982 |
| Lapeer | 1 | 1997 |
| Livingston | 1 | 1898 |
| Mackinac | 1 | 1997 |
| Macomb | 2 | 2018 |
| Menominee | 1 | 1984 |
| Oakland | 6 | 2018 |
| Presque Isle | 1 | 1989 |
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.
Habitat
Common in alvar, bedrock glades, and rocky shoreline communities in northern Michigan; also occurs in remnant oak savanna areas in southern Lower Michigan.
Natural Community Types
- Alvar
- Boreal forest
- Dry-mesic prairie
- Dry-mesic southern forest
- Hillside prairie
- Lakeplain oak openings
- Limestone bedrock glade
- Limestone bedrock lakeshore
- Limestone cobble shore
- Northern fen
- Oak barrens
- Volcanic cliff
- Volcanic lakeshore cliff
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Associated Plants
Little bluestem, prairie dropseed, cat's foot, Canadian milk vetch, harebell, sedges, Indian paintbrush, field chickweed, bastard toad flax, grass, hair grass, prairie smoke, ground juniper, bee-balm, shrubby cinquefoil, old field goldenrod, bulrush sedge, beauty sedge, big bluestem, Pennsylvania sedge, ebony sedge, white cedar, golden ragwort. In oak barrens it might also be found with black oak, white oak, red maple, black cherry, pin oak, hickory, sassafras, service berry, New Jersey tea, sweetfern, and beaked hazelnut.
Management Recommendations
Protect habitat as well as hydrological and natural disturbance regimes. This species likely benefits from prescribed fire or brush removal to prevent woody plant succession.
Survey Methods
Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator.
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Meander search
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Survey Period: From third week of May to fourth week of June
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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
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 2002. Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 23: Magnoliaphyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. 608pp.
- 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.
- Voss, E. G. 1972. Michigan Flora. Part I. Gymnosperms and Monocots. Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 488pp.