Carex squarrosa L.

  • Authority

    Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

  • Family

    Cyperaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Carex squarrosa L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems 3–9 dm, rather stout, densely tufted, aphyllopodic; main lvs elongate, not clustered at base, 3–6 mm wide; ligule much longer than wide; spikes 1(–3), the lower third staminate, the pistillate part elliptic, 1–3 × 1–5.2 cm, rounded at both ends, very dense; lateral spikes, if present, pistillate, smaller, on erect short peduncles; bract of the terminal spike short and narrow, of the lateral ones foliaceous and elongate but not sheathing; staminate scales acute or acuminate; pistillate scales largely concealed, acuminate or short-awned; perigynia very numerous and crowded, squarrose-spreading, obconic or obconic-obovoid, inflated, the body 3.5–6 mm, its summit with 2 strong ribs and a few obscure nerves, the beak 2–3.5 mm, with teeth 0.2 mm; achene loosely enveloped, rather slenderly ellipsoid-trigonous, 2.2–3 mm, ca two-fifths as wide, the persistent style very strongly sinuous or abruptly bent below. Swampy woods and thickets; Conn. to N.C., w. to w. Que., se. Mich., Nebr., and Ark.