Grasses, carex, rushes suitable for Monroe County woodlands
Species listed are generally conceded to be either native to Monroe County, Pennsylvania or, if absent on distribution maps, are found in distribution in surrounding counties and may have been missed in distribution analysis, extirpated due to development, or are reasonably expected to do well in local landscapes.
The list is restricted to those species that are commercially available for purchase, with relative availability measured by few (one to five mail order nurseries), several (six to fourteen mail order nurseries) and many (more than fifteen nurseries). In some cases, named varieties exist, but were not included in the rankings.
The purpose of the list is to provide for general groupings of species; once grouped, user is encouraged to evaluate relationships in greater detail to establish ecologically sound landscape patterns or woodland restoration.
Light references (SU for sun, PS for part shade and SH for shade) may not be accurate predictors in a specific habitat and should be used only as general guidance. See other articles relating to shade evaluation elsewhere on this site for details.
Moisture requirements are as reported by many observers. "Dry to moist" can suggest a range of habits or mesic, and both dry and moist are relative terms.
Soil notes are reported as discovered from many sources and are designed to assist in narrowing combinations to useful habitat collections.
| Species | Light | Water | Soil | Cty? | Avail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adiantum pedatum | PS SH | moist | sandy organic loam | Y | many |
| Bromus altissimus | SU PS | dry - moist | rich sandy loam | Y | few |
| Bromus kalmii | PS | dry - moist | rocky sandy loam | N | many |
| Bromus pubescens | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex adusta | PS SH | dry | sandy, acidic loam | N | few |
| Carex albursina | PS SH | moist | sandy loam | N | few |
| Carex amplifolia | SU PS | dry - moist | acidic loam | Y | few |
| Carex annectens | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Carex appalachica | PS SH | dry - moist | rocky sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex argrantha | PS SH | dry | rocky sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex bicknellii | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Carex blanda | SU PS | dry - moist | rich sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex bushii | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | few |
| Carex cephaloidea | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | N | several |
| Carex conjuncta | SU PS | moist | sandy clay loam | N | few |
| Carex davisii | SU PS SH | moist | rich humus | Y | few |
| Carex festucacea | SU PS | moist | clay loam | N | few |
| Carex gracillima | PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Carex grisea | PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | N | few |
| Carex hirsutella | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex hirtifolia | PS SH | dry | rich humus | N | few |
| Carex laxiflora | PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex molesta | SU PS | dry - wet | clay loam | Y | few |
| Carex normalis | SU PS | moist - wet | sandy clay loam | Y | few |
| Carex penslvanica | PS | dry - moist | sandy rocky loam | Y | many |
| Carex radiata | PS | dry - moist | sandy clay loam | Y | few |
| Carex rosea | PS SH | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Carex sparganoides | SU PS | dry - moist | humusy loam | Y | few |
| Carex swanii | SU PS | dry -moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex tenera | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Carex virescens | SU PS | dry | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Chasmanthium latifolium | SU PS | dry - moist | rich sandy loam | Y | many |
| Cinna arundinacea | PS | wet | humusy loam | Y | several |
| Elymus hystrix | SU PS SH | moist | sandy clay loam | Y | several |
| Elymus trachycaulus | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Elymus villosus | PS SH | moist | loam | Y | several |
| Elymus virginicus | PS SH | dry - moist | clay loam sandy organic | Y | many |
| Festuca subverticillata | PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Luzula acuminata var acuminata | PS SH | wet | rich humus | Y | few |
| Luzula multiflora | SU PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | several |
| Muhlenbergia frondosa | PS | moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Muhlenbergia schreberi | PS | dry - moist | sandy loam | Y | few |
| Agropyron trichophorum | PS SH | dry | rich | Y | few |