Carex straminea
in C. Schkuhr, Beschr. Riedgräs. 1: 49, plate G, fig. 34. 1801.
Plants densely cespitose. Culms 35–100 cm. Leaves: sheaths adaxially green-veined nearly to collar, narrow hyaline band or sharp Y-shaped region at collar, adaxially firm, summits U-shaped; distal ligules 1.5–4.5 mm; blades 3–4 per fertile culm, 15–30 cm × 1.5–3 mm. Inflorescences nodding, open, yellowbrown to reddish-brown, 3.5–8 cm × 5–14 mm; proximal internode 5–18 mm; 2d internode 5–17 mm; proximal bracts scalelike with bristle tips shorter than inflorescences. Spikes 3–7, distant, distinct, globose, (6–) 9–14 × 6–9 mm, base usually attenuate, apex rounded; lateral spikes with staminate portion 2–6 mm at base. Pistillate scales reddish-brown, with green or pale midstripe, lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm, shorter or longer and narrower than perigynia, margin reddish-brown, apex firm, acuminate or awned to 0.8 mm. Staminate scales with reddish-brown margins. Perigynia widely spreading, reddish-brown, conspicuously 5-veined or more on each face, ± orbiculate, flat except over achene, 4–5.6 × 1.8–2.8 mm, 0.4–0.5 mm thick, base rounded, margin flat, including wing 0.6–0.9 mm wide; beak widely spreading, pale to reddish-brown at tip, flat, ciliate-serrulate, abaxial suture with golden brown margin, distance from beak tip to achene 2–3 mm. Achenes elliptic, 1.5–1.8 × 0.8–1 mm, 0.3–0.4 mm thick. 2n = 74.
Phenology: Fruiting early summer.
Habitat: Freshwater marshes, shores, and swales, wet woods, in sandy or peaty, acidic soils
Elevation: 0–400 m
Distribution
Conn., Del., D.C., Ill., Ind., Ky., Md., Mass., Mich., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Va., W.Va., Wis.
Discussion
The distribution of Carex straminea is discontinuous: scattered occurrences or clusters of occurrences are widely separated from each other.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
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