Invasive Sedge in New Mexico

An exotic sedge native to China was relatively recently introduced to New Mexico. Thanks to efforts from volunteers like Missy Bacigalupa and Ali Fretz we now know a bit more about this species that was, until now, unreported in North America. By documenting what’s new in our state’s flora and sending specimens to herbaria nationwide we can alert a wider audience to this species presence that colonizes newly formed and established wetlands. Annual plants can colonize an area quite quickly when conditions are right. This state land office wetland was established only 4 or 5 months prior to this exotic species setting seed. Many exotic plants don’t cause significant perceivable disruptions in the communities they invade but it is important to document their presence and ecological impact as best we can.