Carex sect. Spirostachyae

Carex sect. Spirostachyae
Carex binervis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Carex
Subgenus: C. subg. Carex
Section: C. sect. Spirostachyae
(Drejer) L. H. Bailey in J. M. Coulter
Subsections [1]
  • C. subsect. Elatae
  • C. subsect. Spirostachyae

Carex sect. Spirostachyae is a section of the genus Carex, containing 38 species of sedge. Species in Carex sect. Spirostachyae share a suite of features, including the short internodes of the primary rhizomes, the presence of an antiligule, the leaf-like, sheathing bract at the base of the inflorescence, the presence of three stigmas in female flowers, and the shape of the seeds.[1]

The section is composed of two subsections, with differing edaphic preferences; subsection Elatae comprises species that lives on acidic soils, while those in subsection Spirostachyae live on basic or ultramafic soils.[1] The two sections also differ morphologically, with species in subsection Elatae having wider leaves, thicker stems and larger spikes, the lowest of which may hang downwards.[1]

The centre of diversity of the group is in Europe and adjacent parts of Africa and Asia; a few species occur in Australia, Africa, South America and on oceanic islands.[1] The three species present in North America are introductions.[2]

Subsection Elatae (Kük.) Luceño & M. Escudero
Subsection Spirostachyae
  • Carex blakei Nelmes – southeastern Australia
  • Carex burchelliana Boeck. – South Africa
  • Carex diluta M. Bieb. – central and western Asia
  • Carex distans L. – Europe, North Africa, central and western Asia
  • Carex ecklonii Nees – South Africa
  • Carex extensa Good. – Europe and Mediterranean Basin
  • Carex idaea Greuter et al.Crete
  • Carex lainzii Luceño, E. Rico & T. Romero – central Spain
  • Carex tasmanica Kük.Tasmania
  • Carex troodi TurrilCyprus
  • Carex vixdentata (Kük.) G. A. Wheeler – South America

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Marcial Escudero; Modesto Luceño (2009). "Systematics and evolution of Carex sects. Spirostachyae and Elatae (Cyperaceae)". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 279 (1–4): 163–189. doi:10.1007/s00606-009-0156-x.
  2. Peter W. Ball; A. A. Reznicek; David F. Murray (2002). "Carex Linnaeus sect. Spirostachyae (Drejer) L. H. Bailey in J. M. Coulter, Man. Bot. Rocky Mt. 381. 1885". Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 23. Oxford University Press. pp. 521–523. ISBN 978-0-19-515207-4.
  3. S. Martín-Bravo; M. Escudero; P. Jiménez-Mejías (2012). "Carex modesti (Cyperaceae), a new species from southern Tanzania". Blumea. 57 (2): 143–146. doi:10.3767/000651912X657576.

Further reading

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