Carex brunnescens subsp. brunnescens
Culms erect or, sometimes, nodding, slender, 15–60 cm. Leaves mid green to yellowish or gray-green, (1–)1.5–2.5 mm wide. Inflorescences erect or, sometimes, nodding, 1.5–5(–7) cm; proximal spikes 0.5–2.5 cm apart; terminal spike ellipsoid to subclavate. Perigynia 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm. 2n = 56.
Phenology: Fruiting May–Jul.
Habitat: Damp, temporarily dry areas, thin-peated mires, thickets, woodlands, heaths, rocky slopes
Elevation: 0–3500 m
Distribution
Greenland, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Ga., Idaho, Ind., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Oreg., Pa., R.I., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.
Discussion
The mostly northern and western North America, Carex brunnescens subsp. brunnescens grades to subsp. sphaeostachya in the southeastern United States.
Selected References
None.