Carex disperma
Amer. J. Sci. Arts 8: 266. 1824.
Plants with loose, branching system of slender, pale brown rhizomes. Culms very slender, nodding, 15–60 cm, exceeding leaves, scabrid. Leaves: basal sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band white-hyaline, truncate at summit; ligules broader than long; blades mid to dark green, flat, 15–30 × 0.75–1.5 mm, scabrid. Inflorescences 1.5–2.5 cm × 3–5 mm; proximal bract 5–20 mm; distal bracts scalelike. Spikes 2–4(–5), proximal separate, distal aggregate, globose, 3–5 × 2–4 mm. Pistillate scales white-hyaline with green center, ovate, narrower and shorter than perigynia, apex acuminate. Perigynia 1–6, pale green, often brown or even purplish in age, plump, 2.25–3 × 1.3–1.5 mm, membranous, shiny. Achenes red-brown, oblong-elliptic, 1.5–1.75 × 1 mm, glossy. 2n = 70.
Phenology: Fruiting May–Aug.
Habitat: Swamps, bogs, wet meadows, mossy and shady coniferous woods
Elevation: 0–3500 m
Distribution
Greenland, Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Calif., Colo., Conn., Idaho, Ind., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.Dak., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., S.Dak., Utah, Vt., Wash., Wis., Wyo., Eurasia.
Discussion
Selected References
None.