Carex oreocharis

T. Holm

Amer. J. Sci. 159: 358, fig. 2. 1900.

Illustrated
Synonyms: Carex oreocharis var. enantiomorpha Kelso
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 567. Mentioned on page 566.

Culms trigonous, not filiform or wiry, angles proximal to spike blunt or sharp, 10–50 cm, usually longer than leaves. Leaves: basal leaf sheaths ± fibrillose when old; blades light to bright green, folded or channeled, not quill-shaped, 5–15 cm, (0.7–)1–2 mm wide near base. Spike 17–40 × 4–6.5 mm; staminate portion 10–16(–20) mm. Proximal pistillate scales golden-brown (cream-colored) with white margins to 1.2 mm wide or cream-colored throughout, orbiculate, 3–5.5 × 2–3.5 mm, shorter than mature perigynia, apex obtuse to awned. Staminate scales gold with white margins, oblong-lanceolate, apex obtuse to acute. Perigynia 3–15, erect to appressed, white to gold, broadly obovate to broadly ovate, 3–4.5 × 1.4–2.2 mm, body hirsute or puberulent at least proximal to beak; beak (0.4–)0.5–1 mm; rachilla present. Achenes obovate to elliptic, 2.2–2.6(–3) × 1.2–1.9 mm. Stigmas ± black.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–summer.
Habitat: Dry slopes in granitic soils
Elevation: 2200–3300 m

Distribution

V23 1081-distribution-map.jpg

Colo., Wyo., Mexico (Coahuila).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.