Carex occidentalis

L. H. Bailey

Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 1: 14. 1889.

IllustratedEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 290. Mentioned on page 287, 291.

Plants without conspicuous rhizomes. Culms 25–90 cm, 1.6–2 mm wide basally, 0.6–0.7 mm wide distally. Leaves: sheaths tight, green, fronts hyaline; ligules less than 2 mm, as long as wide; widest leaf blades 1.5–2.5(–3) mm wide. Inflorescences with 4–10 spikes, 1.5–3.5 cm × 6–10 mm; proximal internodes as long as to slightly longer than proximal spikes, rarely 2 times as long; proximal bracts to 3 cm; spikes with 3–10 ascending to spreading perigynia. Pistillate scales brown with green, 3-veined center, ovate, 3.4–4 × 1.6–2 mm, body wider than and as long as perigynium, apex acuminate to short-awned, awn less than 1 mm. Anthers 2.5 mm. Perigynia brown, sometimes with green margins, faces obscurely veined, 2.5–4.5 × 1.5–1.9 mm, base of body somewhat spongy, margins serrulate distally; beak 0.6–1.3 mm, apical teeth 0.2–0.3 mm. Stigmas straight, 0.07 mm wide. Achenes elliptic-circular, 1.9–2 × 1.5–1.6 mm.


Phenology: Fruiting spring–early summer.
Habitat: Dry grasslands, forests
Elevation: 1200–3500 m

Distribution

V23 494-distribution-map.jpg

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Mont., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

There are questionable records from central Mexico of Carex occidentalis, which is otherwise endemic to the flora area.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex occidentalis"
Peter W. Ball +
L. H. Bailey +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, N.Dak. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
1200–3500 m +
Dry grasslands, forests +
Fruiting spring–early summer. +
Mem. Torrey Bot. Club +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex occidentalis +
Carex sect. Phaestoglochin +
species +