Carex sect. Scirpinae

(Tuckerman) Kükenthal

in H. G. A. Engler, Pflanzenr. 20[IV,38]: 81. 1909.

Basionym: Scirpinae Tuckerman Enum. Meth. Caric., 8. 1844
Synonyms: Undefined sect. Scirpoideae Pax Undefined sect. Trysanolepis V. I. Kreczetowicz
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23.

Plants usually cespitose, short to long rhizomatous, sometimes inconspicuously rhizomatous. Culms red-brown at base. Leaves: basal sheaths fibrous or not, persistent sheaths usually absent; sheath fronts membranous, puberulent; blades V-shaped in cross section when young, glabrous or puberulent. Inflorescence usually 1 spike, rarely short second spike; bractless or bract filiform, sheathless, prophyllate; spikes unisexual, mostly staminate and pistillate spikes on different plants. Proximal pistillate scales with apex obtuse to acute, ciliate. Perigynia erect, veinless or obscurely veined, with 2 prominent marginal veins, stipitate, lanceolate to ovate or obovate, rounded-trigonous in cross section, less than 10 mm, base tapering or rounded, apex tapering or rounded to beak, pubescent; beak 0.1–0.5 mm, emarginate or shortly bidentate, teeth less than 0.8 mm. Stigmas (2–)3(–4). Achenes usually trigonous, smaller than bodies of perigynia; style deciduous. x = 29, 31.

Distribution

w and n North America, Europe (Norway), and Asia.

Discussion

Species 3 (3 in the flora).

Key

1 Culms 5–35(–40) cm; achenes tightly enveloped by perigynia, occupying full width and at least 3/4 length of perigynia; North America, Europe, Asia. Carex scirpoidea
1 Culms (25–)35–91 cm; achenes loosely enveloped by perigynia, occupying 1/3–2/3 width and 1/3–3/4 length of perigynia; restricted to North America. > 2
2 Perigynia tawny to red-brown, distal 3/4 hirsute; leaves sparsely pilose adaxially at 20X; n Arizona and s Utah. Carex curatorum
2 Perigynia purple-black, distal 1/3 sparsely hairy; leaves glabrous adaxially; sw Oregon and nw California. Carex scabriuscula