|  back  | forward |

Carex cephaloidea - (image 1 of 3)

Taxonomy

Family: Cyperaceae

Section Phaestoglochin

Habitat

Dry to mesic woods on neutral or calcareous soils.

Associates

Distribution

New Brunswick to MI and MN, south to NJ, OH, and IL.

Morphology

Tufted perennial, 40-80 cm; stems usually rough above, equaling of surpassing the leaves; spikes aggregated into an ovoid or narrowly ovoid head 2-4 cm long; spikes androgynous, subglobose or ovoid; bracts none or setaceous, shorter than the heads; pistillate scales acute or with a very short cusp, scarcely more than half as long as the body of the perigynium; achene lenticular, broadly ovate, the style-base slightly thickened.

Notes

Fruiting June to July

Wetland indicator: FACU

Similar to C. sparganioides but with the spikes more congested at the top of the inflorescence. Very much like C. aggregata which has longer pistillate scales (about as long as the body of the perigynium vs. only about half as long) that are acuminate and cuspidate at the apex (vs. merely acute or with a very short cusp)

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

Home