Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges: An Introduction to the Genus Carex (Cyperaceae)

Carex Subgenus Carex

Bracts foliose in most species, sheathing the culm in many. Cladoprophylls present (hidden by the bract sheaths). Lateral spikes usually pistillate or androgynous, if androgynous then generally with more pistillate than staminate Xowers. Terminal spikes staminate or bisexual, the staminate Xowers usually more abundant. Perigynia highly variable in shape, typically terete or triangular in cross-section, biconvex or planoconvex in cross-section in species with 2 stigmas. Achenes generally triangular in cross-section, biconvex in species with 2 stigmas. Stigmas usually 3, sometimes 2.—Subgenus Carex is a large and morphologically heterogeneous group. In practice, the subgenus is easily recognized in the Weld because there is obvious division of sexes between the spikes of a given plant, each spike usually unisexual or dominated by either pistillate or staminate Xowers. The subgenus is referred to as subgenus “Eucarex” in Fernald and several other treatments, but that name is invalid under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, which precludes naming infrageneric taxa using the preWx Eu-. The label “eucarex” (plural “eucarices”) is used as an occasional convenience in this book to avoid the cumbersome phrase “members of subgenus Carex.” Species descriptions in this portion of the book are abbreviated, generally focusing on characteristics that are most easily seen in the Weld and/or important for distinguishing similar species. Descriptions are especially short if the species has been described more fully in Part 2 of this book, in which case the page number for the full description is provided. Section descriptions are tailored to Wisconsin species and provided only for sections represented in the state by more than one species. UNISPICATE “EUCARICES”—SECTIONS LEUCOGLOCHIN, LEPTOCEPHALAE, AND PHYLLOSTACHYAE Spike solitary, terminal (basal lateral spikes sometimes present in C. backii [2] and usually present in C. jamesii [1], in both cases typically inconspicuous ). Stigmas 3.—See text under Key A (p. 29). Carex Subgenus Carex 55 Section Phyllostachyae Tuckerman ex Kükenthal Plants cespitose, bases brown. Bracts lacking. Lateral spikes absent or basal, pistillate or androgynous. Terminal spike androgynous. Lowest pistillate scale foliose, suggesting the lowest bract of the inXorescence in most other sections, exceeding the tip of the spike. Perigynia 2-ribbed, beak untoothed.— The foliose lower pistillate scale of these species is highly distinctive, shared only with section Firmiculmes of western North America. 1. Carex jamesii Schweinitz. Plants strongly cespitose; leaves green, soft; lowest pistillate scales foliose, 1.5–3 mm wide, not concealing the perigynia; perigynium bodies globose, the beak abrupt, approximately as long as the body (p. 98). 2. Carex backii W. Boott. Like C. jamesii [1], but lowest pistillate scales 2.5–6.5 mm wide, concealing the perigynia they subtend. Uncommon in dry to mesic forests of Dane County and Juneau County to LaCrosse County and Door County and far northeastern Wisconsin. Section Leucoglochin Dumortier [= Orthocerates Koch] The only other North American species in this section, Carex microglochin Wahlenberg, is common in northern Canada, Alaska, and the central Rocky Mountains. 3. Carex pauciXora Lightfoot. Spike solitary, androgynous; perigynia 2– 6, reXexed, lance-shaped (p. 99). Section Leptocephalae L. H. Bailey [= Polytrichoideae (Tuckerman) Mackenzie] This section contains only one species and is closely related to the genus Uncinia , which has been shown to be derived from a unispicate Carex ancestor. 4. Carex leptalea Wahlenberg. Plants soft, very slender, rhizomatous; spike androgynous; perigynia few, appressed, Wnely and distinctly veined, often with a blunt or rounded, beakless apex (pp. 100–101). Section Hirtifoliae Reznicek [formerly included in section Triquetrae (L. H. Bailey) Mackenzie] 5. Carex hirtifolia Mackenzie. This species is easily recognized by the soft pubescence that covers the entire plant, including the distinctly beaked perigynia, which are 2-ribbed, otherwise veinless. Reminiscent of a softly pubescent C. blanda [50]. Plants loosely cespitose; rhizomes short; basal leaf sheaths pale to brown or green; leaf blades ≤ 8 mm wide, softly pubescent; perigynia 4–5 mm long, softly pubescent, beak ≥ 1 mm long, typically bent; stigmas 3. Rich forests throughout most of the state. 56 KEYS AND ABBREVIATED DESCRIPTIONS OF WISCONSIN CAREX SECTIONS AND SPECIES THE “PEACHFUZZ WOOD SEDGES”— SECTIONS CLANDESTINAE AND ACROCYSTIS Plants short, loosely cespitose or shoots arising singly (except Carex communis [12], which is short-rhizomatous and often densely cespitose); bases mostly Wbrous and/or colored. Rhizomes mostly slender, elongate, creeping. Leaf blades glabrous, in most species narrow. Spikes as long as thick or somewhat longer. Perigynia short-pubescent at least near the base of the beak but typically...