Carex laxiculmis var. copulata

(L. H. Bailey) Fernald

Rhodora 8: 183. 1906.

IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Carex digitalis var. copulata L. H. Bailey Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 1: 47. 1889
Synonyms: Carex ×copulata (L. H. Bailey) Mackenzie
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 446. Mentioned on page 445.

Leaves usually bright green; widest blade 5.3–8.3 mm wide. Longest staminate spike 6–20(–23) mm.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–early summer.
Habitat: Low, wet, deciduous or mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, mesic slopes to along edges of springs, seeps, and streams, usually clay soils
Elevation: 0–1000 m

Distribution

V23 822-distribution-map.jpg

Ont., Ala., Ark., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Mich., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Tenn., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Carex laxiculmis var. copulata has been treated as a variety of C. digitalis or C. laxiculmis, as a distinct species, and as a hybrid between C. digitalis and C. laxiculmis. Regular pairing during metaphase-I indicates that C. laxiculmis var. copulata is not a by-product of hybridization (R. F. C. Naczi 1999). In lateral spikes, a proximal sterile scale or scale subtending a staminate flower clearly places the affinity of this variety with C. laxiculmis rather than C. digitalis (C. T. Bryson 1980).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Charles T. Bryson +  and Robert F. C. Naczi +
(L. H. Bailey) Fernald +
Carex digitalis var. copulata +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Ky. +, Mich. +, Mo. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Tenn. +, Va. +, W.Va. +  and Wis. +
0–1000 m +
Low, wet, deciduous or mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, mesic slopes to along edges of springs, seeps, and streams, usually clay soils +
Fruiting spring–early summer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex ×copulata +
Carex laxiculmis var. copulata +
Carex laxiculmis +
variety +