Carex cristatella - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Cyperaceae
Section Ovales
Habitat
Low open ground of swamps, wet meadows, shores.
Associates
Distribution
NH and western Quebec to VA, west to ND, NE, and eastern KS.
Morphology
Tufted perennial to 90 cm; aphyllopodic. Leaves 3-7 mm wide, shorter than or equaling the stout stems, sheaths ventrally green-veins nearly to the summit. Spikes 6-12, gynaecandrous, to 8 mm, subglobose to ovoid, sessile in a crowded spike or head to 2-4 cm; lowest bract prolonged but shorter than the inflorescence. Pistillate scales lanceolate, shorter and narrower than perigynia, acute, hylaine with a green midvein; perigynia crowded, spreading or slightly recurved, oblong, finely nerved, to 3.9 mm long and 2-3 times as long as wide, the winged margin broadest above the achene and tapering to the base. Achene lenticular, 1.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; stigmas 2.
Notes
Flowers June to August
Wetland indicator: FACW
Carex cristatella has a perigynium that is not winged to the base and has a stiffly spreading to recurved beak. The perigynium of Carex bebbii is winged to the base and has a stiffly ascending beak.
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
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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© Michael Hough 2010 |