Life history and vegetative reproduction in Carex

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Bernard, John M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1990
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b90-182; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b90-182

The genus Carex is made up of about 2000 species of herbaceous perennials occurring in a wide range of habitats throughout the world but especially in north temperate and arctic regions. They are modular organisms that reproduce vegetatively by rhizomes or other means, some species forming extensive and long-lived clones, others tufts, clumps, or tussocks of various sizes. Most temperate and arctic species have shoots formed during the previous year, some emerging in autumn, others remaining below ground until spring. The maximum shoot life span for temperate species appears to be approximately 24 months but mortality is very high; sometimes 90% of shoots do not live for the whole 2-year life span. Snoots in arctic-alpine regions live longer, perhaps as long as 5–7 years, with lower mortality. Mortality is caused by differences in time of emergence, flowering, animal grazing, the age of the genet, and internal competition through the rhizome system.