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Carex retrorsa

Deflexed Bottlebrush Sedge · Knot-sheath Sedge · Long-bracted Sedge · Knotsheath Sedge

Family CyperaceaeGenus Carex

A close view of a seed head, its swollen green sacs each drawn out into a long pointed beak
FruitMatt LavinCC BY-SA 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennial or rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, GraminoidPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). t C. retrorsa germ. 70L(3%)-40-7ÖL{3%) and none in 70D. Seeds DS 2 y failed to germinate, but this may not be significant in view of the very low germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). t C. retrorsa germ. 70L(3%)-40-7ÖL{3%) and none in 70D. Seeds DS 2 y failed to germinate, but this may not be significant in view of the very low germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

    3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). C. retrorsa had very low viability and germ. 70L(3%)-40-70L(3%) and 70D(none). Seeds DS 6 m or 1 y germ. none in either 70D or 70L.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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