Bermuda Sedge GOVERNMENT of BERMUDA Carex Bermudiana Department of Environment & Natural Resources Ecology Ability to Reproduced on Mainland Bermuda
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ermuda Protected Species ermuda Sedge C2DA1NMANT 2E BA1MUDA Carex bermudiana Department of Anvironment B Natural 1esources Ecology ability to reproduced on mainland Bermuda. 2n Nonsuch .sland, which is rat-free, Bermuda Sedge self-seeds and is growing well. Idenficaon Sedges are closely related to grasses and look very much like them. They grow as individual plants with long thin leaves. The Why protect this species? edges of the leaves can be very sharp. The leaves of Bermuda Bermuda Sedge is endemic to Bermuda. Today it is rarely seen Sedge grow to 45 – 75 cm (1.5 to 2.5 feet) long and can reach 5 and as such is listed due to its signi4cant decline. The Bermuda cm (2 inches) wide , but are usually narrower. The leaves have a Sedge popula,on was likely seriously impacted by the draining triangular-shaped depression in the middle of them, which can of the freshwater marshes for mosquito control in the 15th be useful in telling Sedge apart from grasses. century. Today the popula,ons and their habitats have been Range fragmented by development. Some of the remaining large popula,ons are not within protected areas, making them Unique to Bermuda. vulnerable to destruc,on. The habitat of the remaining wild Sedges has declined in quality over the last 50 years. As @ A. Copeland Habitat Bermuda8s forests have become dominated by invasive species, the forest canopy has become dense, allowing less light to reach Current Status Bermuda Sedge would have grown on the floor of the original the understory where Sedges used to grow. Bermudian forest, beneath a canopy of Bermuda Cedar and Endemic Palme+o. Bermuda Sedge can grow in very wet condi,ons like in freshwater marshes or in forest se-ngs. The decomposing PSA: Level 3 Threats faced by this species include9 leaves and low light on the forest (oor provide ideal nutrient- CITES: No rich, moist growing condi,ons. Bermuda Sedge became rare due • :abitat loss and fragmenta,on da Red List: C1 to clearing of forest habitats and compe,,on from invasive • Development on woodlands and wetlands plants. .t can s,ll be found in isolated places at Paget Marsh, • Compe,,on from invasive plants CMS: No and is now being planted in restored forests. • Lack of awareness leading to accidental destruc,on • Author: 1ats seriously impact reproduc,on and sustainability of Reproducon and Life Cycle popula,ons Alison Copeland Bermuda Sedge (owers in spring. Sedge only has a few (owers and these look like greyish brown fu00y spikes. The (ower spikes Biodiversity 2>cer are 2.5-5 cm 1-2 inches) long followed by a seed head. 1ats love Revised: April 2016 to eat the seed heads of Bermuda Sedge which limits this plants ermuda Protected Species Bermuda Sedge C2DA1NMANT 2E BA1MUDA Carex bermudiana Department of Anvironment B Natural 1esources What is being done to conserve it? Control invasive plant species 9 .nvasive plants should be Protected Species Act Lisng: Level 3, 2012 managed in places where specimens of this plant occur so that they do not become overwhelmed by other vegeta,on. IUCN Red List: Endangered [ C2a(i) ; D ] version 3.1. Controlling invasives on your property will stop them spreading Recovery Plan: Bermuda Sedge is included in the 2009 to nature reserves. Recovery Plan for eight species of flowering plants. Research: Distribu,on mapping and popula,on assessment for Informaon sources this species has been undertaken in support of .UCN 1ed To learn more please visit9 www.environment.bm Lis,ng Copeland et al. 2014) and gene,c barcoding is also underway. Copeland, A., Malcolm, P. B BJrrios, S. 2014. Carex bermudiana . The .UCN 1ed List of Threatened Species 20149 Propagaon 9 Bermuda Sedge is being propagated from seed h+p9//dL.doi.org/10.2305/.UCN.UM.2014- for sale to the public and plan,ng of this species for 3.1LTS.T56561131A56561134.en . ornamental use, as well as part of woodland restora,on proIects, is being promoted. Bri+on, N.L. 1518. Elora of Bermuda. Charles Scribner8s Sons, New Oork. Protecve legislaon Sarkis, S. 2005. 1ecovery Plan for eight species of (owering plants, Carex bermudiana, Peperomia septentrionalis, Protected Species Act 2003) Phaseolus lignosus, Erigeron darrellianus, Galium bermudense, Chiococca alba, Hypericum hypericoides, Psychotria What you can do? ligustrifolia , in Bermuda. Dept. of Conserva,on Services, Covernment of Bermuda pp.28. @ Alison Copeland Plant: Purchase this endemic plant for your home garden or woodland restora,on proIect. For Further Informaon #17 North Shore Road, Flatt’s, FL04, Learn: Understand how destruc,on of habitat leads to loss of Bermuda (441) 293 2727. endangered and threatened species and Bermuda8s plant and www.environment.bm animal diversity. Tell others what you have learned. Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on the knowledge and understanding at the time of )oin a conservaon group: such as the Bermuda Na,onal Trust writing. or the Bermuda Audubon Society to protect habitats. .