Carex limosa

Abstract: Three patterned fens in north central Alberta were analyzed to elucidate vegetation patterns in vascular plants and bryophytes. Two flark associations dominated by Menyanthes trifoliata and Carex limosa, both of which had Sphagnum jensenii and Drepanocladus exannulatus phases, were recognized. The strings consist of two associations; one is dominated by Betula glandulosa, Tomenthypnum falcifolium, and Aulacomnium palustre; the second is dominated by Picea mariana, Sphagnum magellanicum, and Ledum groenlandicum. An intensive analysis of one fen reveals that these mires are ‘poor fens’ with a mean pH of 5.2 and Ca2+concentration of 2.3 ppm. The fens occur on low drainage divides and Ca2+ is depleted as water flows through the fens. An ecological series of bryophytes is described in the transitions between flarks and strings.

Abstract: We tested whether a trade-off exists between tolerance to flooding and tolerance to drought in wetland plants by assessing biomass accumulation, relative growth rate (RGR), survival rate, and physiological response of three wetland plants growing in drought or flooded environments. In wetlands of China's Sanjiang Plain, Carex lasiocarpa typically occurs at low elevations (10–50 cm water depths), Carex limosa at medial elevation (10–30 cm depths), and Deyeuxia angustifolia at high elevation (0–10 cm depths). Plants of three species were subjected to flooding and drought treatments (25 days) in a greenhouse experiment. In the flooding treatments, biomass accumulation (range 0.007–0.031 g per plant) and survival rate (11%) were lowest in D. angustifolia. Relative growth rate (RGR) was highest in C. lasiocarpa (−0.006 d−1), intermediate in C. limosa (−0.051 d−1), and lowest in D. angustifolia (−0.118 d−1) at the end of the flooding experiment. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in C. lasiocarpa and...

Abstract: Few investigations deal with the subterranean phytomass in fens (minerotrophic peatlands), their results differing widely. This study was carried out in a "rich fen" in central Sweden, and involved excavation of peat monoliths, depth-sectioning and hand-sorting as to species, type of organ, and living or dead condition. The belowground living phytomass was large, over 4 kg m-2 in each of two sample plots, being no <97-96% in the dominants, Carex limosa and C. lasiocarpa, 89% on average in Menyanthes trifoliata, and c. 93% for all species. Carex limosa had its rhizome maximum slightly higher than C. lasiocarpa, but a greater part of its roots penetrated deeper. For Menyanthes, also net annual production above and below ground was estimated. The subterranean phytomass decreased with depth, but living roots were found even at 42 cm. The recognizable necromass did not decrease with depth. These recent constituents would render a very unequal age to the peat. The imbalance between the small green aerial phytomass and the much greater subterranean phytomass was emphasized. It could be related to a relatively very great translocation of photosynthates from above to below ground, and/or to longevity of below-ground organs, the latter at least in Menyanthes.

Abstract: Elements in surface peat and ground water were estimated on seven mire sites in central and north Sweden. The variation in tissue clement concentration was studied in eleven plants occurring on the studied sites. The elements estimated were: N, P, K. Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, Cu, Mo, Na, S, B, and Si. The species studied were; Carex diandra, Carex limosa, Carex rostrata, Epilobium palustre, Menyanthes trifoliate, Pedicularis palustris, Rumex acetosa, Saxifraga hirculus, Scirpus hudsonianus, Stellaria crassifolia and Tofteldia pusilla. In surface peat over the range of sites, the variation in total concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus was six and tenfold, respectively. The variation in total concentration of potassium was four-fold. Extractable concentrations of these three elements showed an even greater variation between sites. Over the range of sites, the variation in tissue element concentration was larger in roots than in above-ground parls. In above-ground parts, floral parts varied less in tissue element concentration than did stems and leaves. The largest variation in tissue element concentration was found in Carex rostrata and Menyanthes trifoliata. The smallest variation was found in Saxifraga hirculus. Tissues of the rich fen species Saxifraga hirculus and Stellaria crassifolia had the lowest concentrations of heavy metals. The correlation between substrate element concentration and tissue concentration differed both between tissues and species. Concentrations of N, P and K in tissues of the Carex species were highly correlated with the concentrations of these elements in the substrate, while N, P and K concentrations in tissues of the herbaceous species, especially Saxifraga hirculus. correlated less well.