Background and Aims In wetland plant communities, species-specific responses to pulses of white light and to
red : far-red light ratios can vary widely and influence plant emergence from the seed bank. Carex species are the
characteristic plants of sedge meadows of natural prairie wetlands in mid-continental USA but are not returning to
restored wetlands. Little is known about how light affects seed germination in these species—information which is
necessary to predict seed bank emergence and to develop optimal revegetation practices. The effects of light on
germination in eight Carex species from prairie wetlands were investigated.