C. pseudofoetida described from Altai Mts. is treated here following Kukkonen (in Rech.f.., Fl. Iran. 173: 200. 1998) and understood to contain three subspecies. Plants of Caucasus and Elburs Mts., as well as C. foetida All. var. minor Kük. & Bornm., based on Bornmüller 4801 (B! holotype) from Iran, Kerman (Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 47: 134, 1897), are considered to belong western C. pseudofoetida Kük. subsp. acrifolia (V. Krecz.) Kukkonen (cf. Dickoré in Stapfia 39: 1-x. 1 298. 1995). Subsp. pseudofoetida occurs in the mountains N of our area; however, also in Pamir and may thus be found in N Pakistan. Perennial. Rhizome horizontal, creeping. Stem trigonous and slightly scabrous above, terete and smooth below, grey-green. Leaves rigid, erect or chracteristically spreading; sheaths strongly nerved; ligule 0.2-0.4 mm; blades folded or involute, seldom flat, papillose above, grey-green, long-attenuate, apex scabrous along margins and midrib below. Inflorescence 10-17 x 10-12 mm, compact brown head. Bracts sheath-less. Female glumes with wide scarious margins, brown. Utricles 2.9-4.8 mm, stipitate, brown, glossy, beak 0.5-1.4 mm, ostiole oblique with scarious margins. Nuts 1.5-2 x 1.1-1.8 mm, with persistent c. 0.1 mm style base and 0.2 mm stipe, ovoid to obovoid, bi-convex, brown or greenish brown, glossy, finely reticulate with a papilla in each areole.

Lectotype: Kirghiziya, "Terski Alatau, Kokbulak ad fontes fl. Naryn, reg. alp.", 9.VIII.1896 V.F. Brotherus 805 (H nr. 1498186!); iso-lectotypes: [C! H! (3 sheets)].

Distribution: Caucasus, Elburs Mts., Afghanistan, W Central Asia, Pakistan and eastwards to Bhutan.

Lower Taxa

• Carex pseudofoetida subsp. afghanica Kukkonen
• Carex pseudofoetida subsp. peudofoetida