Contains 149 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
CAREX Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 972. 1753, nom. cons.
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TYPE: Carex hirta Linnaeus, typ. cons.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carex abscondita | Thicket Sedge | |||
| Carex aestivalis | Summer Sedge | |||
| Carex alata | Broad-winged Sedge | |||
| Carex albicans var. albicans | White-tinged Sedge | |||
| Carex albicans var. australis | Southern White-tinged Sedge, Bellow's-beak Sedge | |||
| Carex albolutescens | Greenish-white Sedge | |||
| Carex albursina | White Bear Sedge | |||
| Carex allegheniensis | White Edge Sedge | |||
| Carex amphibola | Eastern Narrow-leaved Sedge | |||
| Carex annectens | Yellow-fruited Sedge | |||
| Carex appalachica | Appalachian Sedge | |||
| Carex atlantica | Prickly Bog Sedge | |||
| Carex aureolensis | Southern Frank’s Sedge | |||
| Carex austrina | Southern Sedge | |||
| Carex austrocaroliniana | South Carolina Sedge | |||
| Carex austrodeflexa | Canebrake Sedge | |||
| Carex austrolucorum | Appalachian Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex barrattii | Barratt's Sedge | |||
| Carex basiantha | Southern Willdenow's Sedge | |||
| Carex bicknellii | Bicknell’s Sedge | |||
| Carex biltmoreana | Biltmore Sedge | |||
| Carex blanda | Eastern Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex bromoides ssp. bromoides | Common Brome Sedge | |||
| Carex bromoides ssp. montana | Blue Ridge Brome Sedge | |||
| Carex bullata var. greenei | Button Sedge | |||
| Carex bushii | ||||
| Carex buxbaumii | Brown Bog Sedge, Buxbaum's Sedge | |||
| Carex calcifugens | Calcium-fleeing Sedge | |||
| Carex caroliniana | Carolina Sedge | |||
| Carex cephalophora | Oval-leaved Sedge | |||
| Carex chapmanii | Chapman's Sedge | |||
| Carex cherokeensis | Cherokee Sedge | |||
| Carex collinsii | Collins's Sedge | |||
| Carex communis | Fibrous-rooted Sedge | |||
| Carex comosa | Bottlebrush Sedge, Bristly Sedge | |||
| Carex complanata | Hirsute Sedge | |||
| Carex corrugata | Prune-fruited Sedge | |||
| Carex crebriflora | Coastal Plain Sedge | |||
| Carex crinita var. brevicrinis | Short-fringed Sedge | |||
| Carex crinita var. crinita | Long-fringed Sedge | |||
| Carex crus-corvi | Crowfoot Sedge, Ravenfoot Sedge | |||
| Carex cumberlandensis | Cumberland Sedge | |||
| Carex dasycarpa | Velvet Sedge | |||
| Carex debilis | White Edged Sedge | |||
| Carex decomposita | Cypress-knee Sedge, Epiphytic Sedge | |||
| Carex digitalis var. digitalis | Slender Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex digitalis var. floridana | Southern Slender Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex digitalis var. macropoda | Long-spiked Slender Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex eburnea | Ebony Sedge, Bristle-leaf Sedge | |||
| Carex echinata ssp. echinata | ||||
| Carex elliottii | Elliott’s Sedge | |||
| Carex emmonsii | Emmons’s Sedge | |||
| Carex festucacea | Fescue Sedge | |||
| Carex fissa var. aristata | Hammock Sedge | |||
| Carex flaccosperma | Meadow Sedge | |||
| Carex flexuosa | Flexuous White-edge Sedge | |||
| Carex floridana | Florida Sedge | |||
| Carex folliculata | Northern Long Sedge | |||
| Carex frankii | Frank’s Sedge | |||
| Carex fraseriana | Fraser's Sedge, Lily-leaf Sedge | |||
| Carex gholsonii | Gholson's Sedge | |||
| Carex gigantea | Giant Sedge | |||
| Carex glaucescens | Blue Sedge, Southern Waxy Sedge | |||
| Carex godfreyi | Godfrey's Sedge | |||
| Carex gracilescens | Slender Loose-flowered Sedge | |||
| Carex gracillima | Graceful Sedge | |||
| Carex granularis | Limestone Meadow Sedge | |||
| Carex gravida | Pregnant Sedge, Heavy Sedge | |||
| Carex grayi | Asa Gray’s Sedge | |||
| Carex gynandra | Nodding Sedge | |||
| Carex hirsutella | Fuzzy Sedge, Hairy-leaved Sedge | |||
| Carex howei | Howe's Sedge | |||
| Carex hyalinolepis | Shoreline Sedge | |||
| Carex ignota | ||||
| Carex impressinervia | Ravine Sedge, Impressed-nerve Sedge | |||
| Carex intumescens var. intumescens | Bladder Sedge | |||
| Carex jamesii | James's Sedge | |||
| Carex joorii | Joor's Sedge, Hummock Sedge, Cypress-swamp Sedge | |||
| Carex kraliana | Kral's Sedge | |||
| Carex laevivaginata | Smooth-sheathed Sedge | |||
| Carex laxiculmis | Spreading Sedge | |||
| Carex laxiflora | Broad Loose-flowered Sedge | |||
| Carex leavenworthii | Leavenworth’s Sedge | |||
| Carex leptalea var. harperi | Harper’s Sedge | |||
| Carex leptalea var. leptalea | Bristly-stalk Sedge | |||
| Carex leptonervia | Nerveless Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex lonchocarpa | Southern Long Sedge | |||
| Carex longii | Long's Sedge | |||
| Carex louisianica | Louisiana Sedge | |||
| Carex lupuliformis | False Hop Sedge | |||
| Carex lupulina | Hop Sedge | |||
| Carex lurida | Sallow Sedge | |||
| Carex lutea | ||||
| Carex manhartii | Blue Ridge Purple Sedge, Manhart's Sedge | |||
| Carex meadii | Mead's Sedge | |||
| Carex mesochorea | Midland Sedge | |||
| Carex mitchelliana | Mitchell's Sedge | |||
| Carex muehlenbergii var. enervis | ||||
| Carex muehlenbergii var. muehlenbergii | Muehlenberg’s Sedge | |||
| Carex nigromarginata | Black-edged Sedge | |||
| Carex normalis | Greater Straw Sedge | |||
| Carex oblita | Southern Dark Green Sedge | |||
| Carex oligocarpa | Eastern Few-fruited Sedge | |||
| Carex oxylepis | Sharp-scaled Sedge | |||
| Carex pigra | Lazy Sedge | |||
| Carex planispicata | Flat-spiked Sedge | |||
| Carex plantaginea | Plantainleaf Sedge, Seersucker Sedge | |||
| Carex platyphylla | ||||
| Carex prasina | Drooping Sedge | |||
| Carex projecta | Necklace Sedge | |||
| Carex radfordii | Radford's Sedge | |||
| Carex radiata | Eastern Star Sedge | |||
| Carex reniformis | Kidney Sedge | |||
| Carex retroflexa | Reflexed Sedge | |||
| Carex reznicekii | Reznicek’s Sedge | |||
| Carex rosea | Rosy Sedge | |||
| Carex rugosperma | Parachute Sedge | |||
| Carex ruthii | Ruth's Sedge | |||
| Carex scabrata | Eastern Rough Sedge | |||
| Carex scoparia | Broom Sedge | |||
| Carex seorsa | Weak Stellate Sedge | |||
| Carex socialis | Low Woodland Sedge | |||
| Carex sparganioides | Bur-reed sedge | |||
| Carex squarrosa | ||||
| Carex stipata var. maxima | Large Stalk-grain Sedge | |||
| Carex stipata var. stipata | Stalk-grain Sedge, Awl-fruit Sedge | |||
| Carex striata var. brevis | Walter’s Sedge | |||
| Carex striata var. striata | Walter’s Sedge, Pocosin Sedge | |||
| Carex striatula | Lined Sedge | |||
| Carex stricta | Tussuck Sedge, Upright Sedge | |||
| Carex styloflexa | Bent Sedge | |||
| Carex superata | Limestone Forest Sedge | |||
| Carex swanii | Swan’s Sedge | |||
| Carex tenax | Wire Sedge | |||
| Carex tenera | Slender Sedge | |||
| Carex texensis | Texas Sedge | |||
| Carex tonsa | Shaved Sedge | |||
| Carex torta | Streambed Sedge, Twisted Sedge | |||
| Carex triangularis | Eastern Fox Sedge | |||
| Carex tribuloides | Blunt Broom Sedge | |||
| Carex turgescens | Pinebarren Sedge | |||
| Carex typhina | Cattail Sedge | |||
| Carex umbellata | Parasol Sedge | |||
| Carex venusta | Dark Green Sedge | |||
| Carex verrucosa | Warty Sedge | |||
| Carex virescens | Ribbed Sedge | |||
| Carex vulpinoidea | Fox Sedge | |||
| Carex willdenowii | Willdenow’s Sedge | |||
| Carex woodii | Wood's Sedge |
Identification Key
1. Culms terminated by a single spike; margin of the staminate scales basally connate (subg. Euthyceras and Uncinia)
1. Culms mostly with 2 or more spikes; margin of the staminate scales free
2
2. Achene lenticular and stigmas 2; spikes sessile; cladoprophylls usually absent (subg. Vignea)
3
2. Achene trigonous and stigmas 3 (if lenticular and stigmas 2, then spikes pedunculate); spikes subsessile to pedunculate; cladoprophylls usually present (on adaxial side of peduncle base, as a tubular sterile sheath or a utriculiform sheath containing a pistillate flower) (subg. Carex)
6
3. Perigynium margins winged (sect. Cyperoideae, including former sect. Ovales)
3. Perigynium margins not winged
4
4. Some spikes gynecandrous (basally staminate, distally pistillate)
4. Spikes androgynous (basally pistillate, distally staminate), rarely otherwise
5
5. Leaf blades 1.4-3 mm wide; spikes not overlapping adjacent ones; perigynia spongy- or corky-thickened near the base (Carex rosea group)
5. Leaf blades 2-15 mm wide; spikes often overlapping adjacent ones; perigynia spongy- or corky-thickened or not near the base (Carex diandra group)
6. Achene lenticular and stigmas 2
6. Achene trigonous and stigmas 3
7
7. Perigynium glaucous or waxy (sect. Glaucescentes)
7. Perigynium not glacuous nor waxy
8
8. Perigynium (including beak) 10-20 mm long; achene body confluent with a hardened, persistent filiform style base (sect. Lupulinae)
8. Perigynium (including beak) 3-10 mm long; achene body with or without a persistent style base
9
9. Perigynium pubescent, or glabrous and leaves short-pilose
10
9. Perigynium glabrous, and leaves glabrous or sometimes papillose
15
10. Perigynium 2-4 mm long (sect. Acrocystis)
10. Perigynium 4-10 mm long
11
11. Pistillate scale truncate and short-aristate, the margin dark chestnut brown, the vein green, the rest hyaline (sect. Pictae)
11. Pistillate scale not truncate and short-aristate
12
12. Achene loose, not filling the perigynium
13
12. Achene tightly or wholely filling the perigynium
14
13. Peryngium 4-10 mm long, gradually tapering to an indistinct beak (sect. Hymenochlaenae, in part)
13. Peryngium 2-6 mm long, distally rounded then abruptly tapered to a distinct beak (sect. Paludosae, in part)
14. Perigynium pubescent (sect. Hallerianae)
14. Perigynium glabrous (sect. Porocystis)
15. Pistillate spikes 3-8 mm wide
16
15. Pistillate spikes 8-25 mm wide
18
16. Pistillate spikes (7)15-80 mm long (sect. Hymenochlaenae, in part)
16. Pistillate spikes 4-12 mm long
17
17. Culms obtustely trigonous; veins of the perigynium impressed to flattish and slightly raised, or raised and perigynium rounded at the base or peryngium sharply trigonous (sect. Griseae)
17. Culms acutely trigonous to faintly winged; veins of the perigynium raised or prominent, perigynium cuneate at the base, terete to rounded-trigonous (sect. Paniceae)
18. Pistillate spikes 1-2(3); achene 1.4-1.9 mm long (sect. Ceratocystis)
18. Pistillate spikes 1-9; achene 1.4-5 mm long
19
19. Perigynium abruptly contracted to a definite beak
20
19. Perigynium tapered to an indefinite beak
21
20. Perigynium body widest above the middle (sect. Squarrosae)
20. Perigynium body widest near or below the middle (sect. Vesicariae, in part)
21. Pistillate spikes congested and overlapping (sect. Vesicariae, in part)
21. Pistillate spikes sparse, mostly not overlapping
22
22. Perigynium with 10-15 (obscure) veins (sect. Paludosae, in part)
22. Perigynium with 20-26 veins (sect. Rostrales)
1. (Key A) Leaves 0.4-1.3 mm wide, usually subequal to shorter than the culm (subg. Euthyceras)
1. Leaves 1.2-4.6 mm wide, usually 1.2-3 times longer than the culm (subg. Uncinia)
2
2. Leaves 1.2-2 times longer than the culm; peduncles usually ascending to nodding; perigynia 6-7.5(8) mm long
2. Leaves 2-3 times longer than the culm; peduncles usually erect; perigynia (7)7.5-11 mm long
1. (Key B, sect. Alatae) Perigynia 2-3.3 times longer than wide
1. Perigynia 1-2 times longer than wide
2
2. Perigynia 1-1.2 times longer than wide
2. Perigynia 1.3-2 times longer than wide
3
3. Spikes tapering to the base; achene occupying ca. 1/2 of the perigynium width
3. Spikes rounded at the base; achene occupying ca. 1/3 of the perigynium width
4
4. Pistillate scale aristate
4. Pistillate scales obtuse to acuminate
5
5. Perigynia 4-6.1mm long, 3-4.4 mm wide
5. Perigynia 2.6-4.6 mm long, 1.5-2.8 mm wide
6
6. Pistillate scales acute, the midvein reaching the apex; perignyium beak spreading, slender, the winged margin not reaching the apex; styles laterally sinuous at base
6. Pistillate scales obtuse, the midvein not reaching the apex; perignyium beak appressed-ascending, triangular, the winged margin extending to the apex; styles straight
1. (Key C) Spikes 2-5 times longer than wide; perigynium lanceolate, 4-4.5 mm long, ascending-strict (sect. Deweyanae)
1. Spikes 1-2 times longer than wide; perigynium broadly ovate, 2-3.5 mm long, spreading to spreading-ascending (Carex elongata group)
2
2. Perigynium widest near the middle, the beak smooth
2. Perigynium widest near the base, the beak serrulate
3
3. Leaves 1.6-4(4.5) mm wide; inflorescence (1.5)1.8-5.5 cm long
3. Leaves (0.5)0.8-1.6 mm wide; inflorescence 0.8-2 cm long
1. (Key D, Carex rosea group) Pistillate scale 2-3 mm long; anthers 1.5-2.3 mm long; achene 1.3-1.6 mm long
1. Pistillate scale 1.4-2.1 mm long; anthers 0.8-1.3 mm long; achene 1.6-2.2 mm long
1. (Key E, Carex diandra group) Leaf blades 5-15 mm wide
2
1. Leaf blades 1-5(7) mm wide
4
2. Leaf sheath apex yellow, thickened, not fragile; leaf blade upper surface minutely papillose
2. Leaf sheath apex not yellow, thin, fragile; leaf blade not papillose
3
3. Leaf sheath smooth, red-dotted
3. Leaf sheath rugose, colorless; achene 2 mm long
4. Inflorescence 0.7-2 cm long, capitate
4. Inflorescence 1.5-15(18) cm long, cylindric
5
5. Inflorescence 1.5-4 cm long; achene 1.9-2.2 mm long
5. Inflorescence 3-15(18) cm long; achene 1.2-1.9 mm long
6
6. Inflorescence (6)7-15(18) cm long; peryngium biconvex, deep olive green to dark brown, with 8-11 veins
6. Inflorescence 3-10 cm long; peryngium plano-convex, green to pale brown, veinless or with 3 veins
7
7. Leaves shorter than the flowering stem; inflorescence 3-7 cm long; perigynia 3.2–4 mm long, 2–2.6 mm wide, beak 1/3 length of body
7. Leaves longer than the flowering stem; inflorescence (3)7-10 cm long; perigynia 2–3.2 mm long, 1.3–1.8 mm wide, beak 1/3–1/2 length of body
1. (Key F) Spikes 5-8 mm long; perigynia pubescent (sect. Acrocystis, in part)
1. Spikes 20-80 mm long; perigynia papillose (sect. Phacocystis)
1. (Key G, sect. Glaucescentes) Perigynia with 6-8 prominently veins; pistillate scale tapering to an acute or aristate apex
1. Perigynia veinless or with 3-8 weak veins; pistillate scales retuse or rounded with an aristate tip distinct from the body
2
2. Leaves strongly scabrous on margins and abaxial surface; pistillate spikes spreading to pendent; perigynia faces veinless or with 3-4 faint veins; achenes ellipsoid, longer than wide; fertile Jul-Oct
2. Leaves glabrous or sparsely scabrous on margins and abaxial surface; pistillate spikes erect to ascending; perigynia faces with 3-8 weak veins; achenes rhomboid, length and width subequal; fertile nearly year-round
1. (Key H, sect. Lupulinae) Sheath of the distal nonbracteal leaf 0–1.5(2.5) cm long; beak of perigynium 1.5–4.2 mm long; achenes elliptic or obovate, rounded at the middle
2
1. Sheath of the distal nonbracteal leaf (1.3)1.7-21 cm long; beak of perigynium 4.5–10 mm long; achenes broadly obovate, rhombic, to nearly triangular, rounded, angular, to knobby at the middle
3
2. Perigynia rhombic-ovoid, usually pubescent at least near the base, base cuneate, 8–35 per spike
2. Perigynia lanceoloid to ovoid, glabrous, base rounded, 1–12(20) per spike
3. Perigynia spreading to spreading-ascending; achenes wider than long, widest beyond midle
3. Perigynia ascending, sometimes some spreading-ascending; achenes longer than or as long as wide, widest near middle
4
4. Achenes (2.2)2.4–3.4 mm wide, often nearly as wide as long, angles of achenes knobby
4. Achenes 1.7–2.6(2.8) mm wide, longer than wide, angles of achenes smoothly rounded
5
5. Plants loosely colonial, long-rhizomatous; staminate peduncle (3)6–18 cm long, usually exceeding distal pistillate spike by 2–12 cm
5. Plants loosely cespitose or not, short-rhizomatous; staminate peduncle 0.5–6(7) cm long, shorter than to exceeding distal pistillate spike by <2 cm
1. (Key I, sect. Acrocystis) Pistillate spikes from basal nodes and also at cauline nodes in close proximity to staminate spike
1. Pistillate spikes produced only at cauline nodes in close proximity to staminate spike
2
2. Culms (10)20-45 cm long, the bases (remnants of old leaves) slightly or not at all fibrous; staminate peduncles 0.4–9.9 mm long
3
2. Culms 2–20(27) cm, the bases (remnants of old leaves) slightly to strongly fibrous; staminate peduncles 0.3–1.2 mm long
4
3. Rhizomes 18-70 mm long
3. Rhizomes 0-5(20) mm long
4. Leaves 1.2-2.2(2.5) mm wide; culms 1.9-10(13.7) cm tall
4. Leaves (1.9)2.3-4.5 mm wide; culms (4.5)6.6-38(51) cm tall
1. (Key J, sect. Hymenochlaenae) Base of culms brown from old bladed leaf bases; peryginium beak 2-2.5 mm long with hyaline teeth
1. Base of culms usually with dark maroon bladeless sheaths; peryngium beak 0.3-2 mm long and usually opaque
2
2. Leaf blades pilose and ciliate; perigynia ovoid-oblong to lance-ovoid, 2–6 mm long
2. Leaf blades glabrous and sometimes scabrous; perigynia fusiform to narrowly lance-ovoid, 4.5-9.5 mm long
3
3. Lateral pistillate spikes linear, 2–3 mm wide; pistillate scales white-hyaline with green midrib, less than 1/2 as long as mature perigynia; pistillate flowers attached 2–9 mm apart, each perigynium strongly overlapping only the 1 immediately above; perigynia 2-ribbed, obscurely and unevenly veined between ribs
3. Lateral pistillate spikes cylindric, 4–5 mm wide; pistillate scales chestnut-hyaline with green midrib, at least 1/2 as long as mature perigynia; pistillate flowers usually attached 1–3 mm apart, each perigynium strongly overlapping at least 2 perigynia above; perigynia strongly veind from base to apex
1. (Key K, sect. Paludosae) Leaf blades glaucous; perigynium with 10-15 veins, glabrous
1. Leaf blades green; perigynium with 14-22 veins, pubescent
1. (Key L, sect. Hallerianae) Hairs on distal part of perigynium 0.3-0.4 mm long; achenes 2.5–2.6 mm long, 1.3–1.7 mm wide, stipe to 1 mm long, filling only 1/2 of perigynia
1. Hairs on distal part of perigynium 0.1-0.2 mm long; achenes 3–3.5 mm long, 1.9–2 mm wide, sessile, almost wholly filling perigynia
1. (Key M, sect. Porocystis) Mature perigynia trigonous or plano-convex, ascending
1. Mature perigynia terete, spreading
1. (Key N, sect. Griseae) Perigynia veins raised or prominent
2
1. Perigynia veins impressed to flattish and slightly raised
6
2. Perigynia narrowly ellipsoid to lanceolate, sharply trigonous, the faces flat or concave, the base cuneate
3
2. Perigynia broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, terete to weakly trigonous, the faces convex, the base rounded
4
3. Longest vegetative shoot (1.4)1.7–3.7(4.9) times as long as longest flowering culm; pistillate peduncle usually shorter than its sheath; staminate spikes 0.6–1.4(1.6) mm wide; staminate scales obtuse, those from center of spike 2.6–3.6(3.8) mm long
3. Longest vegetative shoot 0.5–1.3(1.8) times as long as longest flowering culm; pistillate peduncle usually longer than its sheath; staminate spikes (1)1.2–2.7 mm wide; staminate scales acute, those from center of spike 3.6–5.5 mm long
4. Rhizomes elongate, >15 mm long, culms mostly solitary; terminal spike and distal lateral spike (unless staminate) usually separated; proximal spikes usually arising from proximal 1/2 of culms
4. Rhizomes absent or short, <15 mm long, culms cespitose; terminal spike and distal lateral spike usually overlapping; proximal spikes usually arising from distal 1/2 of culms
4
5. Leaves not glaucous; longest bract blade of distal lateral spike 1.5–4.5(7) cm; ligule of proximal bract 0.5–6.5 mm long; perigynia (1.6)1.9–3 times as long as wide
5. Leaves usually glaucous; longest bract blade of distal lateral spike 4–16 cm; ligule of proximal bract (2)3–18(26) mm long; perigynia 1.4–2.2(2.4) times as long as wide
6. Culm bases brown; leaf blades glaucous
7
6. Culm bases purplish or reddish; leaf blades not glaucous
8
7. Pistillate spikes (5)5.7–8(9.6) mm wide; perigynia (4)4.2–5.5(6) mm long; achene bodies 0.4–0.5 times as long as perigynia, the achene beak straight to bent less than 30°
7. Pistillate spikes (3.3)4.2–6.1(7.3) mm wide; perigynia (3.7)3.9–4.5(4.7) mm long; achene bodies 0.5–0.7 times as long as perigynia, the achene beak usually bent 30–90°
8. Proximal bracts with sheaths loose; perigynia spirally imbricate
9
8. Proximal bracts with sheaths tight; perigynia distichously imbricate
10
9. Purple-red part of culm base 0.3–2.4(7.3) cm high; widest leaf blades 3.3–8(9.1) mm wide; achene stipes 0.2–0.6 mm long
9. Purple-red part of culm base (3.4)4–7.3 cm high; widest leaf blades 2.4–4(5.3) mm wide; achene stipes 0.6–0.9 mm long
10. Longest lateral spike with (2)5–8 perigyina (including undeveloped or aborted ones); perigynia 2.1–2.5(2.7) times as long as wide, apex usually abruptly contracted, the beak (0.3)0.5–1.2 mm long
10. Longest lateral spike with 6–12 perigynia (including undeveloped or aborted ones); perigynia (2.4)2.5–3.3 times as long as wide, apex gradually tapering, beakless or beak 0.1–0.4 mm long
11
11. Plant loosely cespitose, rhizome internodes 7-58 mm long; longest vegetative shoot 1.4–2.2 times as long as longest culm; longest peduncle of terminal spike 0.9–3.2(6.8) cm; 2 distalmost lateral spikes usually overlapping
11. Plant cepsitose, rhizome internodes to 6.4 mm long; longest vegetative shoot 0.5–1.3 times as long as longest culm; longest peduncle of terminal spike (2.2)5.1–8.9(10.4) cm; 2 distalmost lateral spikes usually widely separate or occassionally overlapping
1. (Key O, sect. Paniceae) Bract blades of distal lateral spikes lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, wider than spikes, concealing them when viewed from abaxial surface, widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike (2.9)3.2–8.3 mm wide
1. Bract blades of distal lateral spikes linear, narrower than spikes, not concealing them, widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike 0.5–3.4 mm wide
2
2. Base of leaves purplish or reddish
2. Base of leaves brownish
3
3. Perigynia 2.5–3.8(4.1) mm long, 1.5–1.9 times as long as achene bodies; beak 0.2–0.6 mm long
3. Perigynia (3.3)3.4–5.5 mm long, 1.9–2.3 times as long as achene bodies; beak 0.5–1.7 mm long
4
4. Distal lateral spikes overlapping; terminal spike exceeded by or subequal to distal lateral spike; perigynia ascending; peduncle of proximalmost spike arising in distal 1/2 of culm
4. Distal lateral spikes separate; terminal spike clearly exceeding distal lateral spike; perigynia ascending or spreading; peduncle of proximalmost spike arising in proximal 1/3 of culm
5
5. Longer peduncles of proximal lateral spikes 4.6–14 times as long as spikes they subtend; perigynia spreading
6
5. Longer peduncles of proximal lateral spikes 1.4–3.3(5.3) times as long as spikes they subtend; perigynia ascending
7
6. Plant long-rhizomatous, rhizomes elongate, <1.5 mm wide, >20 mm long
6. Plant densely cespitose, rhizomes absent or short, >1 mm wide, <30 mm long
7. Widest leaf on vegetative shoots, including overwintered leaves, 2–6(7) mm wide; medial pistillate spikes loosely flowered with the ratio of number of perigynia to spike length 0.2–0.5
7. Widest leaf on vegetative shoots, including overwintered leaves, 6-14 mm wide; medial pistillate spikes densely flowered with the ratio of number of perigynia to spike length 0.5–1.0
1. (Key P, sect. Squarrosae) Terminal spike largely staminate; pistillate scales with long awns, exceeding perigynia bodies; achenes 1.2–2.1 mm long
1. Terminal spike gynecandrous; pistillate scales with short awns or awnless, completely hidden by perigynia; achenes 2–3 mm long
1. (Key Q, sect. Vesicariae) Pistillate spikes 10-15 mm long; pistillate scales awnless, margins entire
1. Pistillate spikes 15-50 mm long; pistillate scales scabrous-awned, margins often ciliate
2
2. Perigynia with 12–25 veins, veins (except for 2 prominent laterals) confluent at or proximal to mid beak, bodies elliptic to lance-ovate, 1–2.2 mm wide; achenes smooth
2. Perigynia with 5–12 veins, veins separate nearly to apex, bodies broadly elliptic to rotund, (1.8)2–4.2 mm wide; achenes rough-papillose
1. (Key R, sect. Rostrales) Perigynia lanceolate, (8.3)10.5–15.6 mm long, 4–7 times as long as wide, apex gradually tapered, bidentulate; achene beak absent
1. Perigynia ovate to narrowly ovate, 6.4–10.7 mm long, 2.6–3.9 times as long as wide, apex contracted; achene beak 1.3–3 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||