Carex microchaeta

T. Holm

Amer. J. Sci. 167: 305. 1904.

Illustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 415. Mentioned on page 413, 414, 416.

Culms 5–35 cm. Leaves basal; proximal leaves with blades 5–6 mm wide. Inflorescences: spikes approximate, oblong to elongate, 8–25 × 3–8 mm; proximal spike separate, sometimes pendent and long-pedunculate; lateral spikes 2–4; distal spikes erect, short-pedunculate. Pistillate scales dark brown to black, ovate or lanceolate, equaling and as wide as perigynia, apex acute or mucronate. Perigynia veinless, ovate, 3-5–4 × 1.5–2 mm, papillose; beak 0.3–0.5 mm, shallowly bidentate or truncate, sparsely papillose or smooth.

Distribution

V23 753-distribution-map.jpg

B.C., N.W.T., Yukon, Alaska, Asia (Russian Far East).

Discussion

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Perigynia, including beak, reddish brown or purple; midvein of pistillate scales dark, same color as body, inconspicuous. Carex microchaeta subsp. microchaeta
1 Perigynia greenish yellow or yellow-brown, beak black; midvein of pistillate scales lighter color than body, conspicuous. Carex microchaeta subsp. nesophila