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| ## Nebraska Sedge {#nebraska-sedge .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Carex nebrascensis* Dewey                                            |
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| Plant symbol = CANE2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.9972222222222222in"
height="4.495833333333334in"}

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Wildlife and Livestock*: Nebraska sedge is a valuable forage species
used by big game and livestock. The annual production and nutrient
levels are quite high. It has half the protein level of alfalfa. It
provides cover for nesting waterfowl, seeds for small mammals and birds,
and muskrats and geese graze the shoots. It can be used as a key species
to determine grazing pressure. It has moderate to good palatability
early in the season, but becomes tough as the temperatures grow colder.

*Conservation Uses*: This species has utility for erosion control,
constructed wetland system applications, wildlife food and cover,
wetland creation and restoration, and for increasing plant diversity in
wetland and riparian communities. Its dense root mass (214 cm of
roots/cm3 of soil) makes this species resistant to soil compaction and
erosion. It also makes it an excellent choice for soil stabilization in
wetland and riparian sites. Nebraska sedge is used extensively in
bioengineering techniques, because of its root system. The rhizomes also
form a matrix for many beneficial bacteria making this plant an
excellent choice for wastewater treatment.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Sedge Family (Cyperaceae). Nebraska sedge is a native,
perennial, heavily rhizomatous wetland plant that is found in low
valleys to mid-elevations. It will form dense stands, but more often, it
is the dominant member of the wetland community. It grows in wet to
moist meadows, marshes, swamps, ditches, seeps, stockwater ponds, low to
moderate gradient streams, riparian wetlands, and lake shores. It
reproduces by rhizomes and seed. However, seedling establishment is rare
probably, because it needs freshly deposited, fertile, moist soil.
Shoots from rhizomes are produced throughout the growing season and into
late fall.

It forms a dense deep root system with root biomass to 3000g/m2 in the
top 20 cm of the soil. The stems are upright and triangular. The plants
growing in saturated soils will grow to about 90 cm. The leaves are
elongated, alternate, longer or shorter than the stem, up to 12 mm wide,
and often with a bluish tinge. The flowers are borne in spikes. Male and
female spikes are usually separate and on the same plant (monoecious).
One or two male spikes are found above the female spikes. They are
narrowly cylindrical and up to 5 cm long. Female spikes number from 2-5.
They are 1-5 cm long and the lowest spike is subtended by a leafy bract.
Plants flower in June to August.

The fruits are brown lenticular achenes, up to 2 mm long. Seed ripens in
August to September. They are surrounded by a \"leathery capsule\"
called a perigynium. Perigynia are elliptic to ovate, 3 to 4 mm long,
and yellowish brown to light brown in color. The seed (if present) is
found in the base of the perigynial cavity. There are 2.7 million
perigynia/kg. The perigynia is not held tightly in the seed head and
high winds and frost will cause the perigynia to drop off.

*Distribution*: Nebraska sedge is common throughout the western Midwest
and western United States. For current distribution, please consult the
Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

It tolerates alkaline conditions very well. It is a wetland obligate
plant. Nebraska sedge grows in areas that are saturated. It can handle
standing water for long periods as long as there are periods where the
soils dry. The sites where it is found rarely have the water table drop
more than 1 m below the root zone late in the growing season. It can
tolerate total inundation for about 3 months.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

*Collection and cleaning*: Seeds may be collected by hand striping the
seed from the plant or clipping it using a pair of hand shears. A power
seed harvester may also be used. The perigynia is often mistaken for the
seed. In many cases, especially if there is a frost during flowering,
the seed will not fill, but the perigynia will still form. It is
recommended the collector open several perigynia to see if it actually
contains a seed.

If debris or other seed mixed in the collection, cleaning may be
desirable. The hammer mill is used to break up the large debris and
knock the seed loose from the stem. It may not always be needed.
Cleaning can be accomplished using a seed cleaner with a No. 8 top
screen and a No. 20 bottom screen. Screens should be sized so desired
seed will fall through and debris and weed seed are removed. Air
velocity should be adjusted so chaff and empty perigynia is blown away.
Air flow and screen size may require adjustment to optimize cleaning
process for given situation.

Once the \"seed\" is cleaned, the perigynia must be removed. It can be
removed with a seed scarifier or a sandpaper box. The seed is then
re-cleaned using the top and bottom screens to separate the seed from
the empty perigynia.

#####  {#section .Header-3}

*Special procedures*: The germination rate may be enhanced by removing
the perigynia and by stratifying the seed in a mixture of water and
sphagnum moss at 2° C for 30 days.

*Greenhouse* Seeds need light, moisture, and heat for germination. Place
seeds on surface of soil and press in lightly to assure good soil
contact. Do not cover seed. Soil should be kept muddy. Greenhouse should
be kept hot (32°C to 38°C). Germination should begin with in about one
week. Maintain moisture until plants are to be transplanted.

##### *Wild transplants*: Wild plants can be collected and transplanted directly into the desired project site. As long as no more than 4 dm squared and 13 to 15 cm deep is removed from any 1 m2 area, the hole will fill in within one growing season. Care should be taken not to collect plants from weedy areas as these weeds can be relocated to the transplant site and the hole left at the collection site may fill with undesirable species. {#wild-transplants-wild-plants-can-be-collected-and-transplanted-directly-into-the-desired-project-site.-as-long-as-no-more-than-4-dm-squared-and-13-to-15-cm-deep-is-removed-from-any-1-m2-area-the-hole-will-fill-in-within-one-growing-season.-care-should-be-taken-not-to-collect-plants-from-weedy-areas-as-these-weeds-can-be-relocated-to-the-transplant-site-and-the-hole-left-at-the-collection-site-may-fill-with-undesirable-species. .Header-3}

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Planting plugs (either from the greenhouse or wild transplants) is the
surest way to establish a new stand of this species. Plug spacing of 30
to 45 cm will fill in within one growing season. The soil should be kept
saturated with no more than 2.5 to 5.1 cm of standing water until the
plants are well established and the aerenchymous material (the above
ground biomass) is about 0.3 m tall. Fluctuating the water level during
the establishment period may speed establishment and spread. Water
levels can be managed to enhance rhizome spread and to control weeds.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

The soil should be kept saturated. The water table should rarely drop
below the root zone. This species can tolerate periods of drought and
total inundation. Water levels can be managed to control terrestrial
weeds.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

Few insect or disease problems have been encountered in the greenhouse.
Aphids will feed on the stems, but little or no damage has been noted
and the vigor of the plant has not been affected.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government". The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS. *Wetlant plant fact sheet -- creeping spikerush (Eleocharis palustris)*. Interagency Riparian/Wetland Project, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. {#usda-nrcs.-wetlant-plant-fact-sheet-creeping-spikerush-eleocharis-palustris.-interagency-riparianwetland-project-plant-materials-center-aberdeen-idaho. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

Dan Ogle, USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

Dan Ogle, USDA NRCS Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho.

##### Edited: 28sep05 jsp {#edited-28sep05-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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