Carex distans

ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS

Carex distans:

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Carex distans L. Distant Sedge __________________________________________________________________________________

Essex status: Native, Essex Scarce. Under-recorded but probably declining due to loss of grazing marshes.

This sedge is notoriously difficult to separate from Carex binervis, and has on several occasions resulted in erroneous Essex records. Even in the new 3^rd Edition of the BSBI Sedge handbook the dichotomous key clashes with the textual description in the colour of the basal sheaths. One of the best characters for separating the two is the utricle. In C. binervis it has two prominent lateral nerves, which presumably gave rise to the specific name, whereas the nerves in C. distans are all of about equal prominence. In addition the ripe female spikes take on a reddish-brown hue, and by August/September stand out against the surrounding vegetation, whereas the purplish female glumes of C. binervis give its spikes a darker less conspicuous hue. The two species, do however have a unique feature in common , the outside of their leaf sheaths on the upper stem leaves have a projecting tongue.

Unlike C. binervis which is a heathland/heathy-woodland plant, C. distans inhabits wet marshes inland and soggy often brackish patches on grazing marshes near the sea. Most of the plants occur as singletons or in small clusters of 1-5, but in places they can form large colonies. In Essex it has been grossly overlooked, probably because it’s invisible until late in the year. Although rare in Essex it is quite abundant nationally. Gibson's records (1862) have not been listed as some may have been confused with C. binervis.

Post 1930 records:

TL(52)41	43 ,11	19	Parndon Mead, as C. binervis. John L Fielding. Jerymn (1974). [most likely this species KJA].

TL43	????	19	Clavering, abundant. George Stacey Gibson. c.1840. Confirmed A C Jermy.

TQ(51)59	51 ,96	18	Curtismill Green. Jermyn . pre-1974.

TL(52)52	53 , 20	19	Hatfield Forest, lake delta marsh, 28 July 1956. John L Fielding. [Colchester Natural History Museum Herbarium].
	53 ,20	19	Hatfield Forest, Old Women’s Weaver Marsh, single clump in flower, 1984. John LFielding

TL(52)53	52,34+	19	Newport, Jermyn pre-1973.

TL(52)64	69,44+	19	Sturmer, Jermyn pre-1973.

TQ(51)78	725,837	18	Fobbing Marshes, 4 plants on wet berm, September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	734,826 735,826 736,827	18	Fobbing Marshes, edge of wet berm, north side of Manorway Creek, numerous plants. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	733,839	18	Fobbing Marshes, 1 plant north side of drain. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	739,842	18	Fobbing Marshes, 1 plant between sea wall and shallow drain. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	738,843	18	Fobbing Marshes, 3-4 plants by small knolls in SW corner, and 2-3 in SE corner of this triangular area. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	741,839	18	Fobbing Marshes, 2 patches on NE side of small drain. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	742,838	18	Fobbing Marshes, 4 patches in shallow drain just before it goes under the fence. September 2005. Kenneth J Adams.
	760,838	18	Canvey Island, 1 plant in grassland, derelict land north of Northwick Road. 2003. Tim Pyner.

TL(52)80	825,030	18	Purleigh C.P., Kent Wood, 27 June 2015. Marion Miller. [Det: K.J.Adams]

TL(52)84	864,415	19	Ballingdon, Valley Walk. 9 April 1988. Tony Butcher.

TQ(51)98	930,840	18	South Shoebury rifle butts, one large patch, 23 June 1980. Kenneth J Adams, Jeremy J Heath and John Skinner.
	93 ,84	18	South Shoebury, on two areas of fixed dune, with Carex arenaria, C, divisa, Carex otrubae and Puccinellia maritima. 23 June 1980.Kenneth J Adams, Jeremy J Heath and John Skinner.
	93,84	18	South Shoebury, on sandy soil and in grassy area with short grass and clovers, tussocks more compact in this area. 23 June 1980.Kenneth J Adams, Jeremy J Heath and John Skinner.
	930,840	18	South Shoebury, Gunner's Park and hilly marsh area of Old Ranges, frequent in marshy area Shoebury Old Ranges28 August 1998. Tim Pyner.
	93065-6, 84079	18	South Shoebury, Old Ranges Nature Reserve. 30 July 2011. two large plants and several small 93065-6,84079 - non in Juncus maritimus marsh this year. Ken Adams et LNHS and EFC.
	954,882	18	Great Wakering, pond near the tip. 18 June 1984. Tim Pyner [earlier mis-I.D. record by Stan Jermyn as ‘C. binervis’ pre-1973].
	96,86	19	Great Wakering C.P, Morrin's Point area, borrowdyke behind sea wall, frequent and also marsh near Morrins Point, frequent. 2 August 2014. Tim Pyner.
	96,87	18	Great Wakering C.P, Wakering Stairs, borrow dyke behind sea wall, frequent. 2 August 2014.
	97 ,89 ?	18	Foulness Island, damp area with Bolboschoenus maritimus, abundant in area by pond to north of road, and somewhat less in area to south of road, 1984. Jeremy J Heath.
	989,896	18	Foulness Island, Shelford Grass, one patch c.30m along creek, 28 June 2015. Ken Adams et EBS.
	9985,8957	18	Foulness Island, Shelford Head, one patch c.2 x2m north side of borrow dyke. 10 June 2016. Ken Adams & Tim Pyner.
	9987,8960	18	Foulness Island, Shelford Grass, one patchc.2 x2m north side of borrow dyke. 10 June 2016. Ken Adams & Tim Pyner.

TQ(51)99	91 ,98+	18	Althorne, Jermyn (1974).
	96 ,95	18	Burnham Wick, 100+ plants on sea wall. 14 June 2004. Graham Smith.

TL(52)90	906,047	18	Mundon C.P. Mundon Point, ECOA 356, locally frequent at edge of borrow dyke. 1990. National Rivers Authority.
	907,032	18	Lawling Creek. 12-15 plants in sea wall borrow dyke. 2001. Graham Smith.
	908,037	18	Mayland C.P. ,Lawling Creek, ECOA 370, locally frequent on dyke margins. 1990. National Rivers Authority.
	918,038	18	Steeple C.P., Mayland Creek east side, ECOA 381, locally frequent dyke margin. National Rivers Authority.
	934,044	18	Steeple C.P., Steeple Creek. ECOA 386, locally frequent in wet dyke. National Rivers Authority.

TL(52)92	94 ,26	18	Fordham Heath (C. binervis??). Jermyn pre-1973.

TL(51)91	98,11	19	Old Hall Marshes, 1984. RSPB records.
	99,11	19	Old Hall Marshes, 1984. RSPB records.

TM(62)01	08,15	19	Point Clear, 25 September 1986. Jerry Heath & Terri Tarpey.

TM(62)02	08,23	19	Frating C.P., 1987.,Ian Rose.


TM(62)11	12 ,12+	19	St Osyth, by salt marsh pool. Jermyn. Pre-1973.
	117,173	19	St. Osyth C.P., single plant Wellwick Warf. 20 June 2015. David Bain. [det: K.J.Adams].

TM(62)21	?	19	Frinton-Holland, pre 1974. Stanley T Jermyn (Flora of Essex)

TM(62)22	?	19	Kirby-Walton marshes. pre 1974. Stanley T Jermyn (Flora of Essex)

TM(62)23	?	19	Dovercourt, side of brackish dyke. pre 1974.Stanley T Jermyn (Flora of Essex)

TR(61)08	0005,8969	18	Foulness Island, Shelford Head, 20 x 20m patch on island in borrow dyke. 10 June 1016. Ken Adams & Tim Puyner.

TR(61)09	014,908 015,908-9	18	Foulness Island, Rugwood Head. Plentiful on berm between sea wall and borrow dyke. 29 July 2016. Ken Adams & Tim Pyner.