Carex purpurifera

Mackenzie

in J. K. Small, Man. S.E. Fl., 216, 1503. 1933.

IllustratedEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 437. Mentioned on page 433.

Culms densely tufted, erect, ascending, rarely decumbent, 28–56 cm × 0.7–1.2 mm. Leaves: basal sheaths purple; sheaths 7–54 mm; blades erect or ascending, midrib well developed especially abaxially, 2 lateral veins developed adaxially, flat, 24–48 cm × 5–10 mm, dead leaves lateral to new clumps; blade of owerwintered leaves desnsely papillose abaxially. Inflorescences: peduncles of pistillate spike absent; of terminal spike (0.4–)3.1–5.4(–15.7) cm. Bracts 0.14–0.92 cm × 2–3.5 mm, bract blade of distal lateral spikes linear, narrower than spikes; widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike 0.5–3.4 mm wide. Spikes usually 4 per culm; lateral spikes 14–45 × 2.2–4.5 mm; terminal spike linear, 12–32 × 2–3.5 mm; exeeding bract blade of distalmost lateral spike. Pistillate scales 3–5 × 1.4–2 mm, apex acute to aristate, awn to 2 mm, serrulate. Staminate scales 7–11 × 1.2–2 mm, margins hyaline or purplish. Anthers 3.2–4 mm. Perigynia 4–16 per spike, loosely overlapping, ratio of longer lateral spike length to perigynia number 1.9–3.4, finely, conspicuously (22–)25–32-veined, oblong-elliptic, 3.6–4.1 × 1.8–2.2 mm; beak slightly curved, 0.8–1.4 mm. Achenes ovate, 3.4–3.8 × 1.6–2 mm. 2n = 34, 36, 38.


Phenology: Fruiting spring.
Habitat: Moist, deciduous or, rarely, mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, around limestone escarpments, washes, sinks, and cave entrances
Elevation: 200–1100 m

Distribution

V23 801-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ga., Ky., N.C., Ohio, Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex purpurifera"
Charles T. Bryson +  and Robert F. C. Naczi +
Mackenzie +
Laxiflorae +
Ala. +, Ga. +, Ky. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Tenn. +  and Va. +
200–1100 m +
Moist, deciduous or, rarely, mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, around limestone escarpments, washes, sinks, and cave entrances +
Fruiting spring. +
in J. K. Small, Man. S.E. Fl., +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex purpurifera +
Carex sect. Laxiflorae +
species +