Ebony Sedge

Carex eburnea

Ebony Sedge
Black Fruited Sedge
Bristleleaf Sedge
Cyperaceae
Carex
Carex eburnea
Boott
BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL, YT, NT
Characteristics
Grass/Sedge
Deciduous
Partial Shade
Sand
Calciphile
Dry, Normal
Yes
No
No
No
Habitat Considerations
Taiga Shield, Boreal Shield, Atlantic Maritime, Mixedwood Plains, Prairies, Taiga Cordillera, Montane Cordillera
Savannah, Prairie/Meadow/Field, Riparian, Swamp/Marsh, Alvar, Rocky Bluff
Design Considerations
10 cm
30 cm
May - Jul
Green/Brown
No
No
Black
Birds, Butterfly Larvae
No
Conservation Status
Interesting Tidbits
Distinctive Sedge. Thin, wiry leaves. Tuft forming; good for dry areas that are damp in spring, especially beneath cedars. Tiny, jet-black seeds in fall. (Ontario Native Plants 2002) Found at altitudes of up to 2,000 metres, especially in the Rocky Mountains where it occurs frequently. (E-Flora BC, Flora of North America) Habitat Information: Woodland dry areas on calcium rich soils, rocky calcareous areas such as slopes, rocky outrcops, a common plant in alkaline dolomite lakeshores. Sedge spp. are in general quite deer resistant. (Illinois Wildflowers) Garden Uses: This small sedge with ornamental black and brown flowers in the spring is a nice plant for woodland gardens, especially for beside paths, and in large swaths. (Evergreen) Insect Relationships: This is a general record for Carex spp. (Sedges): They attract few insects. Larvae of butterflies, skippers, and moths (see Lepidoptera Table) eat leaves. The seeds of sedges are quite an important food for various waterfowl, rails, upland gamebirds, and granivorous songbirds depending upon sedge type and habitat. (Illinois Wildflowers) Traditional Edible, Medicinal Uses: There are no known records for this and other ethnobotanical uses of this plant. (Evergreen)

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