Carex hostiana

Illustrator: Susan A. Reznicek

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants not cespitose. Culms straight, 25–60 cm. Leaves of flowering stems shorter than stem, to 13.5 cm × 1.5–3.1(–4.3) mm. Inflorescences: peduncles of staminate spikes 5–70 mm; bracts 90 × 0.7–2.2 mm; inner band of sheaths with brown, convex projection to 3.2 mm. Spikes: proximal pistillate spikes 1–3(–4), distant, erect or ascending, usually conspicuously pedunculate, ovoid to short-cylindric, proximal 10–20 × 5–9.5 mm; terminal staminate spikes 10–33 × 1.6–4.2 mm. Scales: pistillate scales dark brown, 2.1–3.9 × 1.4–2.4 mm, margins conspicuously white-hyaline; staminate scales with broad, white, hyaline margins. Anthers 2–3.6 mm. Perigynia ascending, yellowish, 3.1–5.5 × 1.2–2.1 mm, apex gradually narrowed into straight, serrulate beak; beak 0.7–1.6 mm. Achenes 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm.

Phenology: Fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Moist to wet, open fens and meadows, on lime-rich soils
Elevation: 0–500 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

St. Pierre and Miquelon, Nfld. and Labr., Que., Mass., Europe.

Discussion

Carex hostiana was last collected in Massachusetts prior to 1836.

Selected References

Crins, W. J. and P. W. Ball. 1987. Variation in Carex hostiana (Cyperaceae). Rhodora 89: 247–259.

Lower Taxa

None.