TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information) |
|
©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 6) Rhizomed, forming beds or large, dense, raised clumps
Leaf: blade 37 mm wide; sheath front with purplish prickles, thickened mouth, lower shredding to network or fringe of veins
Inflorescence: lateral spikelets generally staminate at tip, 2.525 cm, 4.510 mm wide, tapered at base, flexible and nodding, stalk 0 or generally erect, ± short; lowest spikelet bract > inflorescence; pistillate flower bract margin white, tip long-tapered
Fruit: perigynium ascending to spreading, 23.8 mm, 1.42.2 mm wide, not papillate, ± unveined, dark brown, purple-dotted, shiny, wall very thick, very tough, beak 0.10.3 mm, tip notch 0 or < 0.1 mm; fruit 1.42.5 mm, 0.71.7 mm wide, often deeply indented on 1 or both sides, sessile
Chromosomes: 2n=70,72,74,±76
Ecology: Moist to wet, often saline places
Elevation: < 900 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, nw Klamath Ranges, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia; also in north-central Washington
Horticultural information: WET: 4, 5, 17 &SHD: 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 24; INV; STBL.