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Carex

(Genus)

Overview

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Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as caricology.

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All species of Carex are perennials.[2] They typically have rhizomes, stolons or short rootstocks, but some species grow in tufts (caespitose).[2] The culm ? the flower-bearing stalk ? is unbranched and usually erect.[2] It is usually distinctly triangular in section.[2]

The leaves of Carex comprise a blade, which extends away from the stalk, and a sheath, which encloses part of the stalk.[2] The blade is normally long and flat, but may be folded, inrolled, channelled or absent.[2] The leaves have parallel veins, and where the blade meets the culm, there is a structure called the ligule.[2]

The flowers of Carex are small and are combined into spikes, which are themselves combined into a larger inflorescence. The spike typically contains many flowers, but can hold as few as one in some species.[2] Almost all Carex species are monoecious; each flower is either male (staminate) or female (pistillate).[2] A few species are dioecious. Sedges exhibit diverse arrangements of male and female flowers. Often, the lower spikes are entirely pistillate and upper spikes staminate, with one or more spikes in between having pistillate flowers near the base and staminate flowers near the tip.[3] In other species, all spikes are similar. In that case, they may have male flowers above and female flowers below (androgynous) or female flowers above and male flowers below (gynecandrous). In relatively few species, the arrangement of flowers is irregular.

The defining structure of the genus Carex is the bottle-shaped bract that surrounds each female flower.[3] This structure is called the perigynium or utricle, a modified prophyll. It is typically extended into a "rostrum" or beak, which is often divided at the tip (bifid) into two teeth.[3] The shape, venation, and vestiture (hairs) of the perigynium are important structures for distinguishing Carex species.

The fruit of Carex is a dry, one-seeded indehiscent achene or nut[2] which grows within the perigynium. Perigynium features aid in fruit dispersal.

Habitat

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Most (but not all) sedges are found in wetlands ? such as marshes, calcareous fens, bogs and other peatlands, pond and stream banks, riparian zones, and even ditches ? where they are often the dominant vegetation.[3]

Horticulture

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Carex species and cultivars are well represented in the horticulture industry, landscape design projects, and private gardens.[4] Native species are used in wildland habitat restoration projects, Natural landscaping and gardens, and in sustainable landscaping as drought tolerant grass replacements for lawns and garden meadows.[5][6] Both ornamental cultivars (many from Japan) and native species selections are used as perennials in traditional gardens.[7]< /a>

Taxonomy

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Carex disticha
Carex echinata
Carex riparia

The genus Carex was established by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753, and is one of the largest genera of flowering plants.[8] Estimates of the number of species vary from about 1100 to almost 2000.[9] Species include:

  • Carex abrupta Mack.
  • Carex acuta L.
  • Carex acutiformis Ehrh.
  • Carex albida L. H. Bailey
  • Carex albonigra Mack.
  • Carex alma L. H. Bailey
  • Carex amplifolia Boott
  • Carex angustata Boott
  • Carex appropinquata Schumach.
  • Carex aquatilis Wahlenb.
  • Carex arcta Boott
  • Carex arenaria L.
  • Carex atherodes Spreng.
  • Carex athrostachya Olney
  • Carex aurea Nutt.
  • Carex azuayae Steyerm.
  • Carex barbarae Dewey
  • Carex barrattii Schwein. & Torr.
  • Carex bigelowii Torr. ex Schwein.
  • Carex binervis Sm.
  • Carex buxbaumii Wahlenb.
  • Carex canescens L.
  • Carex capitata L.
  • Carex cespitosa L.
  • Carex chordorrhiza L. f.
  • Carex comosa Boott
  • Carex concinna R.Br.
  • Carex concinnoides Mack.
  • Carex cusickii Mack. ex Piper & Beattie
  • Carex depauperata Curtis ex With.
  • Carex diandra Schrank
  • Carex disperma Dewey
  • Carex disticha Huds.
  • Carex douglasii Boott
  • Carex echinata Murray
  • Carex emoryi Dewey
  • Carex ericetorum Pollich
  • Carex festucacea Schkuhr ex Willd.
  • Carex filifolia Nutt.
  • Carex flacca Schreb.
  • Carex fracta Mack.
  • Carex garberi Fernald
  • Carex geyeri Boott
  • Carex globularis L.
  • Carex hassei L. H. Bailey
  • Carex haydeniana Olney
  • Carex helleri Mack.
  • Carex heteroneura W. Boott
  • Carex hirta L.
  • Carex hoodii Boott
  • Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex illota L. H. Bailey
  • Carex inops L. H. Bailey
  • Carex interior L. H. Bailey
  • Carex intumescens Rudge
  • Carex jamesii Schwein.
  • Carex japonica Thunb.
  • Carex jonesii L. H. Bailey
  • Carex klamathensis B. L. Wilson & Janeway
  • Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh.
  • Carex lenticularis Michx.
  • Carex lepida Boott
  • Carex leporina L.
  • Carex leporinella Mack.
  • Carex leptalea Wahlenb.
  • Carex limosa L.
  • Carex livida (Wahlenb.) Willd.
  • Carex lutea LeBlond
  • Carex luzulina Olney
  • Carex lyngbyei Hornem.
  • Carex mariposana L. H. Bailey & Mack.
  • Carex mertensii Prescott ex Bong.
  • Carex microptera Mack.
  • Carex molesta Mack. ex Bright
  • Carex multicaulis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex multicostata Mack.
  • Carex nebrascensis Dewey
  • Carex nervina L. H. Bailey
  • Carex neurophora Mack. in Abrams
  • Carex nigra (L.) Reichard
  • Carex nigricans C. A. Mey.
  • Carex nudata S.Watson
  • Carex obnupta L. H. Bailey
  • Carex occidentalis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex oronensis Fernald
  • Carex pachystachya Cham. ex Steud.
  • Carex paleacea Schreb. ex Wahlenb.
  • Carex pansa L. H. Bailey
  • Carex pauciflora Lightf.
  • Carex paupercula Michx.
  • Carex pellita Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex pendula Huds.
  • Carex pensylvanica Lam.
  • Carex petasata Dewey
  • Carex phaeocephala Piper
  • Carex pilulifera? L.
  • Carex praeceptorum Mack.
  • Carex praegracilis W. Boott
  • Carex praticola Rydb.
  • Carex preussii K. Schum.
  • Carex proposita Mack.
  • Carex raynoldsii Dewey
  • Carex riparia Curtis
  • Carex roanensis F.J.Herm.
  • Carex rossii Boott
  • Carex rostrata Stokes
  • Carex saxatilis L.
  • Carex scoparia Schkuhr ex Willd.
  • Carex secta Boott
  • Carex serotina M?rat
  • Carex sheldonii Mack.
  • Carex siderosticta Hance
  • Carex simulata Mack.
  • Carex sodiroi K?k.
  • Carex sparganioides Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex specifica L. H. Bailey
  • Carex spectabilis Dewey
  • Carex specuicola J. T. Howell
  • Carex spissa L. H. Bailey
  • Carex straminiformis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex stricta Lam.
  • Carex subnigricans Stacey
  • Carex tessellata Spruce ex C. B. Clarke
  • Carex thouarsii Carmich.
  • Carex tiogana D.W. Taylor & J.D. Mastrog.
  • Carex toreadora Steyerm.
  • Carex tumulicola Mack.
  • Carex umbrosa Host.
  • Carex utriculata Boott
  • Carex vaginata Tausch
  • Carex vallicola Dewey
  • Carex vernacula L. H. Bailey
  • Carex vesicaria L.
  • Carex vulpinoidea Michx.
  • Carex williamsii Britton

In footwear

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A mix of dried specimens of several species of Carex (including Carex vesicaria) have a history of being used as thermal insulation in footwear (such as skaller used by Sami).[10] (Sennegras is one of the names, for such mixes.[11]) During the first human expedition to the South Pole in 1911, such a mix were used in skaller, when camps had been set (after each stretch of travelling had been completed).[12]

any from Japan) and native species selections are used as perennials in traditional gardens.[7]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]
Carex disticha
Carex echinata
Carex riparia

The genus Carex was established by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753, and is one of the largest genera of flowering plants.[8] Estimates of the number of species vary from about 1100 to almost 2000.[9] Species include:

  • Carex abrupta Mack.
  • Carex acuta L.
  • Carex acutiformis Ehrh.
  • Carex albida L. H. Bailey
  • Carex albonigra Mack.
  • Carex alma L. H. Bailey
  • Carex amplifolia Boott
  • Carex angustata Boott
  • Carex appropinquata Schumach.
  • Carex aquatilis Wahlenb.
  • Carex arcta Boott
  • Carex arenaria L.
  • Carex atherodes Spreng.
  • Carex athrostachya Olney
  • Carex aurea Nutt.
  • Carex azuayae Steyerm.
  • Carex barbarae Dewey
  • Carex barrattii Schwein. & Torr.
  • Carex bigelowii Torr. ex Schwein.
  • Carex binervis Sm.
  • Carex buxbaumii Wahlenb.
  • Carex canescens L.
  • Carex capitata L.
  • Carex cespitosa L.
  • Carex chordorrhiza L. f.
  • Carex comosa Boott
  • Carex concinna R.Br.
  • Carex concinnoides Mack.
  • Carex cusickii Mack. ex Piper & Beattie
  • Carex depauperata Curtis ex With.
  • Carex diandra Schrank
  • Carex disperma Dewey
  • Carex disticha Huds.
  • Carex douglasii Boott
  • Carex echinata Murray
  • Carex emoryi Dewey
  • Carex ericetorum Pollich
  • Carex festucacea Schkuhr ex Willd.
  • Carex filifolia Nutt.
  • Carex flacca Schreb.
  • Carex fracta Mack.
  • Carex garberi Fernald
  • Carex geyeri Boott
  • Carex globularis L.
  • Carex hassei L. H. Bailey
  • Carex haydeniana Olney
  • Carex helleri Mack.
  • Carex heteroneura W. Boott
  • Carex hirta L.
  • Carex hoodii Boott
  • Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex illota L. H. Bailey
  • Carex inops L. H. Bailey
  • Carex interior L. H. Bailey
  • Carex intumescens Rudge
  • Carex jamesii Schwein.
  • Carex japonica Thunb.
  • Carex jonesii L. H. Bailey
  • Carex klamathensis B. L. Wilson & Janeway
  • Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh.
  • Carex lenticularis Michx.
  • Carex lepida Boott
  • Carex leporina L.
  • Carex leporinella Mack.
  • Carex leptalea Wahlenb.
  • Carex limosa L.
  • Carex livida (Wahlenb.) Willd.
  • Carex lutea LeBlond
  • Carex luzulina Olney
  • Carex lyngbyei Hornem.
  • Carex mariposana L. H. Bailey & Mack.
  • Carex mertensii Prescott ex Bong.
  • Carex microptera Mack.
  • Carex molesta Mack. ex Bright
  • Carex multicaulis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex multicostata Mack.
  • Carex nebrascensis Dewey
  • Carex nervina L. H. Bailey
  • Carex neurophora Mack. in Abrams
  • Carex nigra (L.) Reichard
  • Carex nigricans C. A. Mey.
  • Carex nudata S.Watson
  • Carex obnupta L. H. Bailey
  • Carex occidentalis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex oronensis Fernald
  • Carex pachystachya Cham. ex Steud.
  • Carex paleacea Schreb. ex Wahlenb.
  • Carex pansa L. H. Bailey
  • Carex pauciflora Lightf.
  • Carex paupercula Michx.
  • Carex pellita Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex pendula Huds.
  • Carex pensylvanica Lam.
  • Carex petasata Dewey
  • Carex phaeocephala Piper
  • Carex pilulifera? L.
  • Carex praeceptorum Mack.
  • Carex praegracilis W. Boott
  • Carex praticola Rydb.
  • Carex preussii K. Schum.
  • Carex proposita Mack.
  • Carex raynoldsii Dewey
  • Carex riparia Curtis
  • Carex roanensis F.J.Herm.
  • Carex rossii Boott
  • Carex rostrata Stokes
  • Carex saxatilis L.
  • Carex scoparia Schkuhr ex Willd.
  • Carex secta Boott
  • Carex serotina M?rat
  • Carex sheldonii Mack.
  • Carex siderosticta Hance
  • Carex simulata Mack.
  • Carex sodiroi K?k.
  • Carex sparganioides Muhl. ex Willd.
  • Carex specifica L. H. Bailey
  • Carex spectabilis Dewey
  • Carex specuicola J. T. Howell
  • Carex spissa L. H. Bailey
  • Carex straminiformis L. H. Bailey
  • Carex stricta Lam.
  • Carex subnigricans Stacey
  • Carex tessellata Spruce ex C. B. Clarke
  • Carex thouarsii Carmich.
  • Carex tiogana D.W. Taylor & J.D. Mastrog.
  • Carex toreadora Steyerm.
  • Carex tumulicola Mack.
  • Carex umbrosa Host.
  • Carex utriculata Boott
  • Carex vaginata Tausch
  • Carex vallicola Dewey
  • Carex vernacula L. H. Bailey
  • Carex vesicaria L.
  • Carex vulpinoidea Michx.
  • Carex williamsii Britton

In footwear

[ Back to top ]

A mix of dried specimens of several species of Carex (including Carex vesicaria) have a history of being used as thermal insulation in footwear (such as skaller used by Sami).[10] (Sennegras is one of the names, for such mixes.[11]) During the first human expedition to the South Pole in 1911, such a mix were used in skaller, when camps had been set (after each stretch of travelling had been completed).[12]

References

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  1. ^ Ilkka Kukkonen & Heikki Toivonen (1988). Taxonomy of wetland carices< /i>. In J. M. Bernard. "CAREX, Trebon, Czechoslovakia, 13?23 June 1984". Aquatic Botany 30 (1?2): 5?22. doi:10.1016/0304-3770(88)90003-4. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Robert H. Mohlenbrock & Paul Wayne Nelson (1999). "Introduction". Sedges: Carex. Volume 14 of The Illustrated flora of Illinois. Southern Illinois University Press. pp. 3?7. ISBN 9780809320745. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1ZGekaNQ4YAC&pg=PA3. 
  3. ^ a b c d A. C. Jermy, D. A. Simpson, M. J. Y. Foley & M. S. Porter (2007). "General structure of Cyperaceae". Sedges of the British Isles. BSBI Handbook No. 1 (3rd ed.). Botanical Society of the British Isles. pp. 2?26. ISBN 978-0-901158-35-2. 
  4. ^ http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/descript/carex.html access date: 5/22/2010
  5. ^ http://www.nativeson.com/annotated_catalog/grasscatalog.htm access date: 5/25/2010
  6. ^ http://www.elnativogrowers.com/carex_subpage.htm access date: 5/22/2010
  7. ^ http://www.provenwinners.com; access date: 2/22/2010
  8. ^ David G. Frodin (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753?776. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449. 
  9. ^ Anthony Darrouzet-Nardi (May 5, 2003). "Systematics of the genus Carex". http://anthony.darrouzet-nardi.net/works/carex.html. 
  10. ^ http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/nouer/1994/nou-1994-21/16/5/11.html?id=455576
  11. ^ http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/nouer/1994/nou-1994-21/16/5/11.html?id=455576
  12. ^ Mathismoen, Ole (2011-12-14). "Blir ikke varm i r?tt reinskinn" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten: p. 17. "... skalder med senegress fra Kautokeino til bruk n?r de hadde sl?tt leir." 

Taxonomy

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The Genus Carex is further organized into finer groupings including:

References

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  1. ^ Ilkka Kukkonen & Heikki Toivonen (1988). Taxonomy of wetland carices. In J. M. Bernard. "CAREX, Trebon, Czechoslovakia, 13?23 June 1984". Aquatic Botany 30 (1?2): 5?22. doi:10.1016/0304-3770(88)90003-4. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Robert H. Mohlenbrock & Paul Wayne Nelson (1999). "Introduction". Sedges: Carex. Volume 14 of The Illustrated flora of Illinois. Southern Illinois University Press. pp. 3?7. ISBN 9780809320745. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1ZGekaNQ4YAC&pg=PA3. 
  3. ^ a b c d A. C. Jermy, D. A. Simpson, M. J. Y. Foley & M. S. Porter (2007). "G eneral structure of Cyperaceae". Sedges of the British Isles. BSBI Handbook No. 1 (3rd ed.). Botanical Society of the British Isles. pp. 2?26. ISBN 978-0-901158-35-2. 
  4. ^ http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/descript/carex.html access date: 5/22/2010
  5. ^ http://www.nativeson.com/annotated_catalog/grasscatalog.htm access date: 5/25/2010
  6. ^ http://www.elnativogrowers.com/carex_subpage.htm access date: 5/22/2010
  7. ^ http://www.provenwinners.com; access date: 2/22/2010
  8. ^ David G. Frodin (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753?776. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449. 
  9. ^ Anthony Darrouzet-Nardi (May 5, 2003). "Systematics of the genus Carex". http://anthony.darrouzet-nardi.net/works/carex.html. 
  10. ^ http://www. regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/nouer/1994/nou-1994-21/16/5/11.html?id=455576
  11. ^ http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/nouer/1994/nou-1994-21/16/5/11.html?id=455576
  12. ^ Mathismoen, Ole (2011-12-14). "Blir ikke varm i r?tt reinskinn" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten: p. 17. "... skalder med senegress fra Kautokeino til bruk n?r de hadde sl?tt leir." 

Further Reading

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  • Barbara L. Wilson, Richard Brainerd & Danna Lytjen (2008). Field Guide to the Sedges of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press. ISBN 978-0870711978. 

External links

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Sources

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  • The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
  • Photographs on this page are copyrighted by individual photographers, and individual copyrights apply.
  • The technology underlying this page, including the controls behind Keep Exploring, is owned by the BayScience Foundation. All rights are reserved.
Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 14:13:48