Carex aperta

Boott

in W. J. Hooker, Fl. Bor-Amer. 2: 218, plate 219. 1839.

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Carex accedens T. Holm Carex acutina var. tenuior L. H. Bailey Carex aperta var. umbrosa Kükenthal Carex aperta var. viridans Kükenthal Carex stylosa var. virens L. H. Bailey Carex turgidula
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 395. Mentioned on page 381, 393.

Plants not cespitose. Culms acutely angled, 15–90 cm, scabrous. Leaves: basal sheaths red-brown; sheaths of proximal leaves with blades, backs glabrous, fronts with pale brown spots, veinless, glabrous, apex U-shaped, membranous, colorless; blades 3–6 mm wide. Inflorescences: proximal bract subequal to inflorescence, 2–4 mm wide. Spikes: erect; proximal 2–3 spikes pistillate, 1.5–3.5 cm × 4–6 mm, base obtuse; terminal 1–2 spikes staminate. Pistillate scales red-brown, longer than perigynia, apex acute or acuminate, awnless. Perigynia divergent, olive-brown with red-brown spots on apical 1/2, veinless, inflated, loosely enclosing achenes, obovoid, 2.5–2.8 × 1.5–2 mm, dull, apex rounded, papillose; beak green, 0.1–0.3 mm. Achenes not constricted, dull. 2n = 54.


Phenology: Fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Wet meadows
Elevation: 0–900 m

Distribution

V23 703-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Carex aperta and C. haydenii appear to be a very closely related, allopatric pair of species that may not be closely related to other members of the section. This species-pair is distinguished by the inflated perigynia, the acute scales that are longer than the perigynia, and the unique chromosome number. Carex aperta is distinguished from C. haydenii by its rhizomatous habit, the dull brown achenes, and the entire beak. It is sometimes mistaken for the sympatric taxa that also lack veins on the perigynia, C. aquatilis and C. scopulorum; mature specimens can easily be identified by the inflated perigynia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex aperta"
Lisa A. Standley +, Jacques Cayouette +  and Leo Bruederle +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
0–900 m +
Wet meadows +
Fruiting Jul–Aug. +
in W. J. Hooker, Fl. Bor-Amer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex accedens +, Carex acutina var. tenuior +, Carex aperta var. umbrosa +, Carex aperta var. viridans +, Carex stylosa var. virens +  and Carex turgidula +
Carex aperta +
Carex sect. Phacocystis +
species +