Carex lonchocarpa

Willdenow ex Sprengel

Syst. Veg. 3: 817. 1826.

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Carex folliculata var. australis L. H. Bailey Carex smalliana Mackenzie
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 516. Mentioned on page 515, 517.

Culms obtusely trigonous in cross section, (25–)35–125 cm, smooth. Leaves: ligules 1.5–13(–18) mm, narrower to wider than long; blades yellowish or light green, M-shaped to flat, widest leaves of vegetative shoots (3.5–)4–12 mm wide, smooth or sometimes papillose adaxially, especially distally. Inflorescences (3–)15–50 cm; bract sheaths prolonged, apex truncate to convex; proximal (1–)2–4 spikes usually androgynous or, occasionally, pistillate, erect or the proximal spreading, ovoid to short cylindric. Pistillate scales ovate to narrowly ovate, mostly 1/2–2/3 as long as perigynia, apex acute to acuminate-awned. Anthers 3–5 mm. Perigynia spreading to somewhat reflexed, pale green, 20–26-veined, essentially uninflated, lanceolate, (8.3–) 10.5–13.5(–15) × 1.5–2.4 mm, 4–7 times as long as wide, apex tapered to bidentulate; beak absent. Achenes 2.3–3.4(–3.8) × 1.8–2.4 mm, 1.3–1.8 times as long as wide.


Phenology: Fruiting late spring–summer.
Habitat: Wet savannas, forests, seeps, stream banks, lakeshores, in sandy, peaty, or acidic soils
Elevation: 0–600 m

Distribution

V23 964-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.

Discussion

Carex lonchocarpa, often regarded as a variety of C. folliculata, is smaller than C. folliculata and usually has narrower leaves, fewer lateral spikes (these usually with a staminate apex and erect or spreading), shorter but relatively broader achenes, shorter pistillate scales, and narrower perigynia that are somewhat reflexed at maturity. Substantial differences in achene micromorphology also support recognition of C. lonchocarpa as a distinct species (D. E. Wujek and F. J. Menapace 1986). The ranges of these two taxa are largely allopatric, although they overlap slightly in southern Virginia, eastern Maryland, and Delaware.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carex lonchocarpa"
A. A. Reznicek +
Willdenow ex Sprengel +
Ala. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Md. +, Miss. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +  and Va. +
0–600 m +
Wet savannas, forests, seeps, stream banks, lakeshores, in sandy, peaty, or acidic soils +
Fruiting late spring–summer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Carex folliculata var. australis +  and Carex smalliana +
Carex lonchocarpa +
Carex sect. Rostrales +
species +