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 9)
Leaf: blade 1.54 mm wide
Inflorescence open, often nodding, 1550 mm; lowest internode generally > 5 mm, second lowest 2.510 mm; spikelets 27, distinct, base often long-tapered; lowest spikelet bract generally bristle-like; pistillate flower bract generally covering perigynium, reddish or brown, white-margined
Fruit: perigynium appressed to ascending, 3.76.5 mm, 1.22.5 mm wide, body planoconvex, ± abruptly narrowed above, generally cream-white, translucent, flat margin including wing 0.10.5 mm wide, veins on back weak, on front 0 or few, < 1/2 fruit length, beak 11.6 mm, tip cylindric, ± entire, brown, with white flap along middle of back, very tip white, 23.7 mm to fruit top; fruit 1.52.7 mm, 1.21.7 mm wide, 0.50.7 mm thick
Chromosomes: 2n=±70
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Moist to wet meadows
Elevation: < 3200 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast (Humboldt Co.), c&s High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: N.America
Synonyms: C. piperi Mack