Compilation
Carex tetanica

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Name

Identification
Carex pertenuis L.H.Bailey [family CYPERACEAE ] Verified by L.H.B., Carex viviflora unrecorded [family CYPERACEAE ] (stored under name); Carex tetanica Schkuhr [family CYPERACEAE ] Verified by F.B., Carex misera Buckley [family CYPERACEAE ] Verified by Clarke, C.B.,
Related name
  • Carex polymorpha
  • Carex viviflora
  • Carex conoidea
  • Carex misera
  • Carex meadii
  • Carex panicea
  • Carex pertenuis
  • Carex tetanica
  • Carex colorata
  • Carex woodii

Flora

Entry for Carex meadii Dewey [family CYPERACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 23,
Names
Carex meadii Dewey [family CYPERACEAE], Amer. J. Sci. Arts, 43: 90, plate Cc, fig. 94. 1842
Carex tetanica Schkuhr var. meadii (Dewey) L. H. Bailey [family CYPERACEAE]
Treatment Author(s)
Peter W. Ball
A. A. Reznicek
Information
Plants colonial, long-rhizomatous, vegetative shoots widely scattered and inconspicuous from deep rhizomes. Culms 15–60 cm, usually scabrous distally. Leaves: proximal sheaths with blades, brownish, 1.5–5 mm diam.; ligules 0.4–3.6 mm, 0.4–1.2 times wider than long; blades gray-green, flat, 7–15 cm × 2–5(–7) mm, folded near bases, margins often revolute, herbaceous. Inflorescences 4–25 cm, 1–1.6 times as long as proximal bracts; proximal bract 2.5–20 cm, sheath 0.5–4 cm, blade 2–16 cm; pistillate spikes ovoid to cylindric, 6–37 × 3.5–8 mm; lateral spikes erect or ascending on stiff peduncles. Pistillate scales purple tinged or brown, apex awned or obtuse. Perigynia ascending to spreading, densely arranged, yellow-green to brown, 2.3–5 × 1.25–2.5 mm, minutely papillose; beak minute, bent. Achenes light to dark brown, 2.7–4 × 1.7–2.2(–2.5) mm.
Phenology Fruiting
spring
mar
apr
may
summer
jun
jul
aug
Altitude range
50–2400 m;
Distribution
Mexico.USA Ala.USA Ark.USA Ariz.USA Ga.USA Ill.USA Ind.USA IowaUSA Kans.USA Ky.USA Mich.USA Minn.USA Miss.USA Mo.USA Nebr.USA N.J.USA N.C.USA N.Dak.USA OhioUSA Okla.USA Pa.USA R.I.USA S.Dak.USA Tenn.USA Tex.USA Va.USA Wis.Canada Man.Canada Ont.Canada Sask.
Discussion
Separating Carex meadii and C. tetanica can be problematic, particularly in the Great Lakes region where they seem to integrade with each other. Carex meadii, the more wide-ranging taxon, can tolerate drier habitats. In addition to the characters in the key, C. meadii tends to be a coarser plant with more grayish green leaves, shorter peduncles (bearing the staminate and proximal pistillate spikes), and thicker spikes. The perigynia, including the proximal ones, are strongly aggregated and borne in more ranks within the spike. Also, the beaks of C. meadii may be more distinct and sharply curved.
Due to confusion with Carex meadii, the geographic range of C. tetanica is not fully known.

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