Indian Valley Sedge (Carex aboriginum)
Description
Carex aboriginum is a species of sedge endemic to Idaho in the western United States, known as Indian Valley sedge. It was not observed in the wild between 1910, when it was first described, and 1999. Until its rediscovery, C. aboriginum was considered the only plant native to Idaho to have become extinct, and it remains one of the state's rarest and most endangered plant species. Carex aboriginum grows in tussocks around 55–80 centimeters (22–31 in) tall, with linear leaves about 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) wide. It produces inflorescences comprising 1–3 pistillate (female) spikes, and a terminal spike which is either staminate (male) or gynecandrous (male at the base and female towards the tip). Each spike is typically 15–30 mm (0.6–1.2 in) long and 9–12 mm (0.35–0.47 in) wide. Carex aboriginum is only known from eight sites near Council, Idaho, at altitudes of 2,875–4,445 feet (876–1,355 m). Its total range is around 25 miles (40 km) long and 10 miles (16 km) wide. The area around Indian Valley is not a significant center of endemism, although it does house one other endemic taxon – Allium tolmiei var. persimile.[4] There are, however, taxa in other families with very restricted distributions that are only found on the kinds of dry gumbo soils that are found in Indian Valley.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Poales
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Family: Cyperaceae
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Genus: Carex
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