Carex interrupta

Boeckeler

Linnaea 40: 432. 1876.

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Carex interrupta var. distenta Kükenthal
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 396. Mentioned on page 381, 393.

Plants not cespitose. Culms obtusely angled, 20–75 cm, glabrous. Leaves: basal sheaths red-brown; sheaths of proximal leaves glabrous, fronts lacking spots and veins, entire, apex U-shaped; blades 3–5 mm wide. Proximal bract subequal to inflorescence, 2–3 mm wide. Spikes erect; proximal 4–7 spikes pistillate, 4–9 cm × 3–4 mm, base attenuate; terminal 1(–2) spikes staminate. Pistillate scales red-brown or black, shorter than or equaling perigynia, apex acute, awnless. Perigynia ascending, olive-green, veinless, distended by and tightly enclosing achenes, ellipsoid or obovoid, 1.5–2.1 × 0.9–1.4 mm, dull, apex rounded, glabrous; beak green, 0.1–0.3 mm, orifice oblique. Achenes not constricted, dull. 2n = 68.


Phenology: Fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Sandy soils along rivers, occasionally wet meadows
Elevation: 0–600 m

Discussion

Carex interrupta, an uncommon species, is distinguished by the very small, green, glabrous perigynia distended and often split by the developing achenes. Relationships of the species with other members of the section are not clear; it shares distinctive characteristics with C. torta and C. endlichii, the next two species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex interrupta"
Lisa A. Standley +, Jacques Cayouette +  and Leo Bruederle +
Boeckeler +
B.C. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
0–600 m +
Sandy soils along rivers, occasionally wet meadows +
Fruiting Jul–Aug. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex interrupta var. distenta +
Carex interrupta +
Carex sect. Phacocystis +
species +