TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual or perennial herb, often rhizomed, often of wet open places, generally monoecious; roots fibrous, hairy
Stem generally 3-sided
Leaves often 3-ranked; sheath generally closed; ligule generally 0; blade (0) various, parallel-veined
Inflorescence: spikelets variously clustered; flowers generally sessile in axil of flower bract
Flower small, generally wind-pollinated; perianth 0 or bristle-like; stamens generally 3, anthers attached at base, 4-chambered; ovary superior, 1-chambered, 1-ovuled, style 23-branched
Fruit: achene, generally 3-sided
Genera in family: ± 110 genera, 3600 species: worldwide, especially temp
Reference: [Tucker 1987 J Arnold Arbor 68:361445]
Difficult: taxa differ in technical characters of inflorescence and fruit.
Perennial, cespitose or from rhizomes, generally monoecious
Stem generally sharply 3-angled, generally solid
Leaves 3-ranked, generally glabrous except generally scabrous on midrib, margin; sheath closed, back (blade side of stem) green, ribbed, front generally thin, translucent, forming generally U-shaped mouth at top
Inflorescence: spikelets generally severalmany, arrayed in raceme, panicle, or head-like cluster, each 1many-flowered, generally subtended by a spikelet bract
Flowers unisexual, each subtended by 1 flower bract; perianth 0
Staminate flower: stamens generally 3
Pistillate flower enclosed by perigynium (sac-like bract); perigynium body 23-sided or round, wall generally delicate; perigynium beak tip open, often notched; style 1, generally deciduous, stigmas 24, exserted
Fruit 24-sided
Etymology: (Latin: cutter, from sharp leaf and stem edges)
Reference: [Standley 1985 Syst Bot Monogr 7:1106]
Fully mature perigynia needed for identification, so are described under "FR" (long-persistent perigynia are often atypical); perigynium "front" faces spikelet axis; "fruit" refers to achene body (excluding beak). "Shredding" lower leaf sheath fronts become a network or fringe of veins; some others shred longitudinally only. Difficult because of many species and minute key characters; longer key statements and descriptions are designed to enhance both ease and probability of correct identification. Group descriptions are assumed in specific descriptions
Horticultural information: Many species especially those with rhizomes are INVASIVE. This is one of the most effective genera for knitting moist or wet soil.
Native |
(Group 8) Cespitose, rhizomed
Stem 1590 cm
Leaf: blade 25 mm wide
Inflorescence 38 cm; spikelet generally > 13 mm, linear to oblong, generally not jagged-sided, base of lower spikelets staminate, narrowly tapered; lowest spikelet bract leaf-like or not, generally < inflorescence; pistillate flower bract generally covering fruit, generally golden-brown at least near center, awn often > 1.2 mm
Fruit: perigynium appressed to ascending, 3.35 mm, 11.4 mm wide, generally > 3 X longer than wide, green, body lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, lower wall filled with pithy tissue, beak 12.7 mm, long-tapered, teeth > 0.2 mm, often outcurved, tip to fruit top generally 1.22.7 mm; fruit 1.51.8 mm, 11.3 mm wide
Ecology: Moist meadows, forests
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, New Mexico
Horticultural information: IRR: 4, 5, 6, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; STBL.