Theodore S. Cochrane

Carex [unranked] Shortianae L. H. Bailey, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 22: 71. 1886

Plants cespitose, short-rhizomatous. Culms brown at base. Leaves: basal sheaths fibrous; sheath fronts membranous, sometimes slightly transversely rugose, septate-nodulose; blades with 2 lateral veins on adaxial side more prominent than midvein, M-shaped in cross section when young, widest leaves not more than 10 mm, glabrous. Inflorescences racemose, with (3–)4–6 spikes; proximal bracts leaflike, sheathless or very short-sheathing; lateral spikes pistillate or gynecandrous with few staminate flowers, pedunculate, prophyllate; terminal spike gynecandrous. Proximal pistillate scales with apex acute or mucronate. Perigynia rigidly spreading, veinless on faces but with 2 strong marginal veins, stipitate, transversely wrinkled, very broadly obovate, compressed-trigonous in cross section, base cuneate, apex rounded, abruptly beaked, glabrous; beak bent, to 0.2 mm, orifice entire or emarginate. Stigmas 3. Achenes concavely trigonous, smaller than and loosely enclosed by bodies of perigynia; style deciduous.

Species 1: e North America.

Lower Taxon

• Carex shortiana Dewey