Carex fissa

Mackenzie in N. L. Britton et al.

in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 18: 64. 1931.

IllustratedEndemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 283. Mentioned on page 280, 282, 284.

Culms to 80 cm × 3–8 mm, scabrous. Leaves: sheath fronts not spotted, slightly thickened near hyaline margins, apex convex, membranous, rugose; ligule retuse or rounded, to 3 mm, free limb to 0.2 mm; blades 60 cm × 5 mm, shorter than flowering-stem. Inflorescences spicate, 3–7 cm × 15–25 mm, with 10–15 branches, proximal branches not distinctly separate; the proximal internode to 10 mm; bracts setaceous, usually only the proximal conspicuous. Scales hyaline, pale-brown, becoming colorless with green midrib, awn usually not longer than the body. Perigynia pale-brown, body broadly ovate, 3.2–4 × 2–2.6 mm, base rounded or cordate, apex abruptly contracted to beak; beak 1.3–1.5 mm, 1/3 length of perigynium. Achenes brown, ovate, 1.5–1.9 × 1.2–1.6 mm, dull.

Distribution

V23 480-distribution-map.jpg

Fla., Ga., Kans., Miss., Mo., Okla., Tex.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Carex fissa can be distinguished from other taxa in the section by the conspicuously larger perigynia. The two distjunct varieties appear to be consistently separable by the characteristics provided below and may warrant recognition as distinct species.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Awn of pistillate scale to 0.5–1.5 mm; perigynia veinless adaxially. Carex fissa var. fissa
1 Awn of pistillate scale to 1–3 mm; perigynia 3–5-veined adaxially. Carex fissa var. aristata

"shortened" is not a number.

... more about "Carex fissa"
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.19 cm1.9 mm <br />0.0019 m <br />) +
smaller +
1.2mm;1.6mm +
membranous +
Lisa A. Standley +
Mackenzie in N. L. Britton et al. +
usually not longer +
cordate +  and rounded +
Carex subsect. Multiflorae +
bidentate +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
60 cm600 mm <br />0.6 m <br /> (?) +
v--shaped +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (?) +
0.32 cm3.2 mm <br />0.0032 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.26 cm2.6 mm <br />0.0026 m <br />) +
glumaceous +  and foliaceous +
2-ranked +  and arranged +
ascending +  and appressed +
setaceous +
parallel +  and divergent +
terete +, rolled +  and plicate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
round +  and trigonous +
3mm;8mm +
Fla. +, Ga. +, Kans. +, Miss. +, Mo. +, Okla. +  and Tex. +
hypogynous +  and subtending +
biconvex +  and trigonous +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (7 cm70 mm <br />0.07 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
multi-ranked +, 2-ranked +, 3-ranked +  and alternate +
basal +  and cauline +
rounded +  and retuse +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
with (1-)3-6(-30) bristles and/or scales +
stipitate +, veinless +  and veined +
spreading +  and ascending +
2-3(-4)-carpellate +
3 (?) +  and 1 (?) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. +
adventitious +
colorless +, pale-brown +  and hyaline +
basal +  and proximal +
2-keeled +
cylindric +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
sessile +  and pistillate +
1 +  and 3 +
septate +, hollow +  and solid +
compressed +, terete +  and trigonous +
papillate +
deciduous +
2-3(-4)-fid +
Carex fissa +
Carex sect. Multiflorae +
species +
plant +  and cespitose +