{{Short description|Species of grass-like plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = Carexrossii.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | genus = Carex | parent = Carex sect. Acrocystis | display_parents = 2 | species = rossii | authority = Boott | synonyms_ref = <ref name=trop/><ref name=plants/> | synonyms = {{collapsible list| *''Carex&nbsp;brevipes'' <small>W.Boott ''ex'' B.D.Jacks.</small> *''C.&nbsp;deflexa'' var.&nbsp;''farwellii'' <small>Britton</small> *''C.&nbsp;d.'' var.&nbsp;''media'' <small>L.H.Bailey</small> *''C.&nbsp;d.'' var.&nbsp;''rossii'' <small>(Boott) L.H.Bailey</small> *''C.&nbsp;diversistylis'' <small>A.Roach</small> *''C.&nbsp;farwellii'' <small>(Britton) Mack.</small> *''C.&nbsp;novae-angliae'' var.&nbsp;''rossii'' <small>(Boott ''ex'' Hooker) L.H.Bailey</small> }} }}

'''''Carex rossii''''', commonly known as '''Ross's sedge''', is a hardy species of sedge that is often a pioneer species in areas with little or no established vegetation, or in places where disturbance has occurred. Ross's sedge grows in a variety of habitats throughout much of western North America, from Alaska to Ontario, south to New Mexico and California. It flowers in May and June.<ref name=feis/><ref name=jeps/><ref name=fna/>

==Taxonomy== ''Carex rossii'' was first described by Francis Boott in Hooker's ''Flora Boreali-Americana'' (1839). The type locality was listed as "Hab. N. W. Coast. Douglas. Rocky Mountains. Drummond" (sic)".<ref name=ipni/>

==Description== ''Carex rossii'' produces a dense clump, or solid mat of slender stems up to about {{convert|40|cm}} from a shallow network of rhizomes. The pale to dark green leaves are usually longer than the stems. The inflorescences contain one or more staminate flower spikes above more rounded pistillate spikes. The fruit is three-sided, and covered in a greenish or brownish perigynium.<ref name=feis/><ref name=jeps/>

==Distribution and habitat== ''Carex rossii'' is native to, and sometimes abundant in, Alaska and subarctic Canada (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory); western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan); and the contiguous U.S. (Arizona, California, Colorado, the Dakotas, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.) It is found only sporadically in Ontario, Michigan, and Nebraska.<ref name=plants/><ref name=feis/><ref name=grin/>

It grows in many habitat types, including wet and dry areas in forest, sagebrush, prairie, and alpine meadows.<ref name=feis/><ref name=jeps/><ref name=calflora/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=calflora>[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=1622 Calflora: ''Carex rossii'' (Ross sedge)]</ref> <ref name=feis>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/carros/all.html |title=''Carex rossii'' |author=Anderson, Michelle D. |year=2008 |work=Fire Effects Information System (online) |publisher=U.S.D.A; Forest Service |location=Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer)|accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> <ref name=fna>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242357435 Flora of North America: ''Carex rossii'']</ref> <ref name=jeps>{{ cite web |url=http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7928,7931,8048 |title=Jepson Manual treatment for ''CAREX rossii'' |author=Raymond Cranfill |work=Jepson Manual Online |publisher=University & Jepson Herbaria; Regents of the University of California |year=1993 |accessdate=August 24, 2010}}</ref> <ref name=grin>{{GRIN |accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> <ref name=ipni>{{ cite web |url=http://www.ipni.org:80/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=47015-2 |title=Plant Name Details for ''Carex rossii'' |work=IPNI |accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> <ref name=plants>{{cite web |url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CARO5 |title=Profile for ''Carex rossii'' (Ross' sedge) |work=PLANTS Database |publisher=USDA, NRCS |access-date=August 2, 2010}}</ref> <ref name=trop>{{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/NameSynonyms.aspx?nameid=9900282 |title=Name - ''Carex rossii'' Boott synonyms |work=Tropicos |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |accessdate=August 23, 2010}}</ref> }}

==External links== *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Carex+rossii UC CalPhotos gallery: ''Carex rossii'' ]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2938638}}

rossii Category:Flora of Canada Category:Flora of the United States Category:Plants described in 1839