Longbract sedge (Carex extensa, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 175 (1794))

Family: Cyperaceae

Author: Gooden.

Bibliography: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 175 (1794)

Year: 1794

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Carex

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Macaronesia, Europe, Medit. to N. Iran

Description

Longbract sedge, scientifically known as Carex extensa, is a perennial plant that belongs to the Cyperaceae family. It was first formally described by botanist Samuel Goodenough in the year 1794, as recorded in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, volume 2.

This species of sedge thrives in a wide geographical range that includes regions such as Macaronesia, Europe, and lands that stretch from the Mediterranean basin to Northern Iran. Longbract sedge is notable for its ability to adapt to various environmental conditions within these locales.

The distinct features of Carex extensa include its elongated bract, which is a key identifying characteristic that lends the plant its common name. This trait sets it apart from other members of the genus Carex. Typically found in moist, marshy environments, the longbract sedge is well-suited to habitats such as coastal salt marshes and wetlands, where it often plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance.

Given its robust nature and extensive distribution, Carex extensa is an integral component of the flora in the regions it inhabits, contributing to biodiversity and providing essential habitat for a variety of wildlife. The plant’s ecological importance, combined with its distinctive morphology, makes it a significant subject of study for botanists and ecologists alike.

Common Names

Eng: longbract sedge, long-bracted sedge
Deu: strand-segge, strandsegge
Dan: udspilet star
Nor: vipestarr
Fin: itämerensara
Swe: itämerensara, segstarr
Nld: kwelderzegge
Fra: laîche étirée
Pol: turzyca wyciagnieta
Nob: vipestarr
Nno: vipestorr
Cym: hesgen ddeiligol hirian, hesgen hirfain, hesgen hirian, hesgen morfa-hallt, hesgen-yr-heli bractau hir, hesgen-yr-heli bractau hirion
Gla: cíb fhada
En: Longbract sedge, Long-Bract Sedge, Long-bracted sedge
Ca: Càrex extens
Da: Udspilet star
Nl: Kwelderzegge
Et: Randtarn
Fi: Itämerensara
Fr: Laîche étirée, Laiche étirée
De: Strand-Segge, Strandsegge
It: Carice delle lagune
No: Vipestarr, Vipestorr
Nb: Vipestarr
Nn: Vipestorr
Fa: کارکس اکستنسا
Pl: Turzyca wyciągnięta, Turzyca wyciagnieta
Ru: Осока растянутая
Gd: Cíb fhada
Sv: Segstarr, Itämerensara
Cy: Hesgen-yr-heli bractau hir, Hesgen Ddeiligol Hirian, Hesgen Hirfain, Hesgen Hirian, Hesgen Morfa-Hallt, Hesgen-yr-Heli Bractau Hirion

Synonyms

• Carex arcuata (Wahlenb.)
• Carex nervosa (Desf.)
• Carex extensa f. gynobasis (Ciocârlan)
• Trasus extensus ((Gooden.) Gray)
• Carex extensa f. pumila ((Andersson) Kük.)
• Carex extensa var. nana (Husn.)
• Carex extensa f. tenuifolia ((DC.) Kük.)
• Carex extensa subsp. viestina (Fen.)
• Carex extensa var. graeca (Hausskn.)
• Carex extensa subsp. sacalinensis (Ciocârlan)
• Carex extensa f. balbisii ((Schkuhr ex Balb.) Kük.)
• Carex extensa var. tenuifolia (DC.)
• Carex extensa var. balbisi ((Schkuhr ex Spreng.) Rchb.)
• Carex extensa var. pumila (Andersson)
• Carex peruviana (Dombey ex Boott)
• Carex extensa var. puberula (Merino)
• Carex balbisii (Schkuhr ex Balb.)
• Carex extensa var. balbisii ((Schkuhr ex Balb.) Rchb.)
• Carex extensa var. nervosa ((Desf.) Barbey)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Norway (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Maryland (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Sep 1, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 24, 2010 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 20, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 18, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Guillaume FRIED (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 15, 2020 by Ruiz Martínez Antonio Luis (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken Jun 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 1850 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 1878 by Tela Botanica − Anne-Marie GRIMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jun 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2726545)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:299690-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Carex extensa Gooden.)

Specifications

Growth