阿尔泰薹草 a er tai tai cao

Carex rigida Schrank subsp. altaica Gorodkov, Zhurn. Russk. Bot. Obshch. 15: 183. 1930; C. bigelowii Torrey ex Schweinitz subsp. altaica (Gorodkov) Malyschev; C. orbicularis Boott subsp. altaica (Gorodkov) T. V. Egorova.

Rhizome short, stout. Culms 15-30 cm tall, 1-1.5 mm thick, scabrous above, clothed at base with purple or black-purple sheaths disintegrating into parallel fibers. Leaves shorter than culm, blades linear, 3-4 mm wide, flat, margins scabrous, apex acuminate. Lower involucral bracts setaceous, shorter than inflorescence, sheathless, upper ones glumelike. Spikes 3 or 4, approximate; terminal spike male, clavate, 1-1.5 cm; lateral spikes female, ovate or oblong, 5-15 × 5-6 mm, densely many flowered, lowest with peduncle 2-5 mm, others subsessile. Female glumes black-purple, elliptic, 2.5-2.8 × ca. 1.1 mm, with faint midrib, apex acuminate. Utricles black-purple above, light brown below, longer than glume, elliptic to ovate, plano-convex, ca. 3 × 2.2 mm, densely minutely papillose, faintly veined, apex with short beak, orifice entire, without small teeth. Stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.

Alpine grasslands, boggy valleys; 2000-2600 m. Xinjiang [Russia (Siberia)].