Carex lasiocarpa

Carex lasiocarpa is a broadly distributed species of wetland sedge sometimes known as woollyfruit sedge or slender sedge.[2][3] It is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range (much of North America, Europe, and Asia) with many stable populations.[1]

Carex lasiocarpa
Pistillate inflorescence
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Carex
Subgenus: Carex subg. Carex
Section: Carex sect. Paludosae
Species:
C. lasiocarpa
Binomial name
Carex lasiocarpa

Distribution and habitat

Broadly distributed across much of North America and Eurasia, Carex lasiocarpa is found in a variety of freshwater wetland habitats including bogs, fens, and shorelines. It is also founds in wet areas of mountainous regions of moderate elevation. In New York state it is considered to be an indicator species for fens.[4]

Description

Carex lasiocarpa is a perennial plant that spreads vegetatively to form dense stands. It bears erect stems which may exceed 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height with long, thin leaves. The stem has one to several compact pistillate spikes and at the tip one long staminate spike. The pistillate spike vaguely resembles a tiny purplish or brownish ear of corn, with many perigynia.

Ecology

It can form nearly monospecific stands on shorelines and lakesides. Where water conditions permit, such as in bays protected from waves, the species sometimes forms thick, floating mats. These floating mats often support a rich array of other plant life adapted to wet infertile conditions, including sphagnum moss, ericaceous shrubs, orchids, and carnivorous plants.[5] This particular species of Carex is important in producing distinctive plant communities along lakes and rivers throughout its range.

Taxonomic importance

Carion lasiocarpa is the term of a plant association of Carex lasiocarpa, designated by attaching the suffix -ion to the term´s root.[6] Likewise, Carex lasiocarpa is the indicator species of the alliance Caricetum lasiocarpae.[7]

References
  1. "Carex lasiocarpa". IUCN Red List. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. "Carex lasiocarpa". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  3. Jepson Manual Treatment - Carex lasiocarpa
  4. Godwin, K. S., Shallenberger, J., Leopold, D. J., and Bedford, B. L. (2002). Linking landscape properties to local hydrogeologic gradients and plant species occurrence in New York fens: a hydrogeologic setting (HGS) framework. Wetlands 22: 722–37.
  5. Keddy, P.A. (2010). Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. ISBN 9780521739672
  6. Josias Braun-Blanquet. Plant sociology, Chapter XV: Classification of Communities. 1st ed, 1932, page 364
  7. Caricetum lasiocarpae Koch 1926 Український геоботанічний сайт
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.