Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges: An Introduction to the Genus Carex

by Andrew L. Hipp, Rachel D. Davis (Illustrations), Merel R. Black (Contributor)

Sedges are among the world’s most diverse and ecologically important plant families, with almost two hundred species in Wisconsin alone. These grass-like plants, found mostly in wetlands, are increasingly popular with landscapers and home gardeners. Learning to identify sedges is challenging, however, and the available technical guides to the sedge family can be overwhelming to a nonspecialist. Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges is a beautifully illustrated introduction to the largest sedge genus, Carex, which alone makes up about 7 percent of the flora of the upper Midwest.

            Written primarily for naturalists, wild plant enthusiasts, and native landscapers, this book is unique in its accessible format and illustrations. With this book, readers can learn to recognize key structures needed to identify approximately 150 Carex species found in Wisconsin. Author Andrew Hipp shows how to identify many of the major groupings of sedges that are used in guides to the genus throughout the world.

           Fi eld Guide to Wisconsin Sedges includes information on habitat and range drawn from Hipp’s extensive field experience and inspection of thousands of herbarium sheets. Primarily an identification guide, the book is also a valuable source of habitat information for landscapers, gardeners, and restorationists.




• Keys to all Wisconsin Carex species, arranged by section

• Distribution maps for all species

• Species descriptions and detailed habitat information for more than 50 common species

• Color illustrations of whole plants or details for more than 70 species

• Appendix summarizing dominant Carex species by Wisconsin habitat

• A glossary of terms

• Water-resistant paperback cover

 

280 pages, Hardcover

First published February 6, 2008

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

I am once again re-reading/reviewing this well written and beautifully illustrated field guide written by a friend. It is a very ecological and accessible guide to typically a difficult group of plants to ID.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about sedges.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine book. The most useful part of the book to me is the back which includes the WI range maps and species habitat listings (for example, Southern WI dry sunny soil followed by a list of species that live in that habitat.) These really help to narrow down the potential species your unknown specimen could be.

The main limitation of this book is only including drawings for around half the species and many of those drawings are not ideal for identification (i.e. not showing shape of perigynia or comparing similar species)

I think the Midwest is blessed to have four better resources for Carex:

1) Michigan Flora Carex key by renowned expert Anton Recinzek

2) Minnesota Wildflowers website- outstanding photos of perigynia

3) The Sedges of Minnesota by Welby Smith

4) Sedges of Indiana Vol 2 (Carex) by Paul Rothrock