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 |
(Groups 3,5) Cespitose or short-rhizomed
Stem 5080 cm
Leaf: blade 38 mm wide
Inflorescence: terminal spikelet staminate at least at tip; lateral spikelets generally purplish to brown, tips tapered, stalks long-exserted, ± nodding; lowest spikelet bract blade << inflorescence, sheath long, linear or ± expanded to mouth, mouth < 2 mm wide, generally Y- or V-shaped, purple bordered; pistillate flower bract brown, ± = perigynium in color, midstripe pale, ciliate, margin ciliate, tip acute or minutely pointed
Fruit: perigynium ascending, 3.25.5 mm, 0.92 mm wide, generally ± red-brown or purple, 2-ribbed, flat margin > 1/2 fruit width, faces sparsely hairy when young, upper margin ciliate, beak 0.81.8 mm, ciliate, tip to fruit top generally > 2 mm; fruit 1.52 mm, 0.81 mm wide
Ecology: Meadows, rocky streamsides
Elevation: 15003500 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s High Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: also in Idaho, ne Nevada, Utah
Intermediate between C. luzulaifolia , C. luzulina
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.