Carex microptera

Mackenzie

Muhlenbergia 5: 56. 1909.

Illustrated
Synonyms: Carex festivella Mackenzie Carex limnophila F. J. Hermann Carex macloviana subsp. festivella (Mackenzie) Á. Löve & D. Löve Carex microptera var. crassinervia F. J. Hermann
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 351. Mentioned on page 334, 342, 350, 352.

Plants densely cespitose. Culms 20–110 cm. Leaves: sheath adaxially white-hyaline, summits usually U-shaped, occasionally prolonged to 3 mm beyond collar; distal ligules (1–)2–3(–6) mm; blades (2–)3–7 per fertile culm, 10–50 cm × 2–5 mm. Inflorescences usually dense, light to dark brown and green, (0.8–)1.1–2.6 cm × 9.5–17.5 mm; proximal internode 0.5–3(–4) mm; 2d internode 0.5–2(–3) mm; proximal bracts scalelike or rarely leaflike, occasionally bristlelike, shorter than inflorescences. Spikes 4–10(–14), densely aggregated, individually indistinct, usually broadly ovoid, 5–9(–11) × 4.3–7 mm, base and apex rounded or sometimes acute. Pistillate scales brown, often red, purple, or coppery tinged, with pale or green midstripe, ovate, 2.4–3.5 mm, shorter than and narrower or as wide as perigynia, white margin 0–0.1 mm wide, apex acute. Perigynia ascending to spreading, green or straw colored to brown when mature, conspicuously (0–)3–8(–11)-veined abaxially, conspicuously 0–8-veined adaxially, veins usually not reaching top of achene, ovate to broadly ovate, flat except over achene or ± plano-convex because of air within, (2.8–)3.4–4.5(–5.2) × 1.1–2.4 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm thick, margin flat, including wing 0.2–0.5 mm wide, ciliate-serrulate at least on distal body, without metallic sheen, dull to slightly shiny; beak tip gold or red-brown to dark brown, cylindric, unwinged, at least 1 mm, ± entire for 0.2–0.6(–0.9) mm, abaxial suture inconspicuous or with white margin, distance from beak tip to achene 1.5–2.5(–2.8) mm. Achenes ovate to obovate, 1.1–1.6 × 0.7–1.2 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm thick. 2n = 80, 90.


Phenology: Fruiting late spring–fall.
Habitat: Moderately wet to dry meadows, slopes, along watercourses, disturbed habitats
Elevation: 200–3400 m

Distribution

V23 608-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Man., N.W.T., Sask., Yukon, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Mexico.

Discussion

In high montane habitats it is sometimes difficult to distinguish Carex microptera from C. haydeniana.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex microptera"
Joy Mastrogiuseppe +, Paul E. Rothrock +, A. C. Dibble +  and A. A. Reznicek +
Mackenzie +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, N.W.T. +, Sask. +, Yukon +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Oreg. +, S.Dak. +, Utah +, Wash. +, Wyo. +  and Mexico. +
200–3400 m +
Moderately wet to dry meadows, slopes, along watercourses, disturbed habitats +
Fruiting late spring–fall. +
Muhlenbergia +
Illustrated +
Carex festivella +, Carex limnophila +, Carex macloviana subsp. festivella +  and Carex microptera var. crassinervia +
Carex microptera +
Carex sect. Ovales +
species +