Carex mertensii

J. D. Prescott ex Bongard

Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Pétersbourg Divers Savans 2: 168. 1832.

Illustrated
Synonyms: Carex columbiana Dewey
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 407. Mentioned on page 403.

Plants cespitose. Culms 30–80 cm, distally scabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, 4–8 mm wide; proximal leaves reduced to sheaths. Inflorescences: proximal bracts usually exceeding, occasionally shorter than, inflorescences; spikes separate, the proximal often distant, pendent, long-pendunculate, elongate, cylindric or clavate, 10–40 × 7–9 mm; lateral 4–6(–9) spikes pistillate; terminal spike gynecandrous. Pistillate scales dark brown or black to margins, ovate or lanceolate, conspicuously shorter and narrower than perigynia, midvein lighter colored than body, conspicuous, often raised, prominent, mucronate. Perigynia ascending, green becoming pale yellow or brown, faintly veined, ovate, 4–5 × 2.5–3.5 mm, apex gradually beaked, smooth; beak 0.3–0.4 mm, truncate or obscurely bidendate, smooth. Achenes filling proximal 1/2 or less of perigynia. 2n = 62.


Phenology: Fruiting Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Open forests, meadows, stream banks
Elevation: 0–2000 m

Distribution

V23 730-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash., Asia.

Discussion

Carex mertensii is represented in Japan and the Russian Far East by the vicariant C. urostachys Franchet [C. mertensii J. D. Prescott var. urostachys (Franchet) Kükenthal].

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex mertensii"
David F. Murray +
J. D. Prescott ex Bongard +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +, Wash. +  and Asia. +
0–2000 m +
Open forests, meadows, stream banks +
Fruiting Jun–Aug. +
Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Pétersbourg Divers Savans +
Illustrated +
Carex columbiana +
Carex mertensii +
Carex sect. Racemosae +
species +