Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier Flora -- Carex nardina -- (Lakeshore Sedge)

presented by Susan McDougall


Carex nardina

Spikenard Sedge is a high elevation plant, growing from 6,000-8,000 feet, and sometimes higher. It is small, tufted, with needlelike leaves. Each stem has a single brown spike.

Author: Susan McDougall
Skyline Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.8002, -121.7345, 6258
Date: August 14, 2014
Carex nardina

Reachable by trail, here the sedge grows at nearly 7,400 feet on Second Burroughs above Sunrise.

Author: Susan McDougall
Second Burroughs Trail, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.9067, -121.6897, 7363
Date: August 26, 2014
Carex nardina

The leaves of this "classic" sedge sometimes exceed the stems in length. The male spikel is the brown, narrow structure above the cylindrical female spike. The perigynia (the sack surrounding the seeds) is greenish.

Author: Susan McDougall
Longmire Meadow, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7522, -121.8131, 2745
Date: July 2, 2014

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