Chinese tai cao ya ke
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯), Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun), Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Spike with few to numerous spikelets; spikelet one to several unisexual-flowered and with a prophyll at base; prophyll partly connate or wholly connate into a utricle; spikelets unisexual, rarely bisexual, every spikelet with a glume at base; spike one to numerous, usually few to numerous composed spicate, racemose or paniculate inflorescence, rarely single and terminal, with cladoprophyll at base; cladoprophyll sheathing-shaped or utriculiform; spikes unisexual or bisexual, bisexual spikes androgynous or gynandrous, very rarely dioecious. Flowers unisexual, non-perianthed, stigmas 2 or 3.
?? genera and ?? species: cosmopolitan; two genera and 547 species (270 endemic) in China.
[Perhaps the green-highlighted text is unnecessary as there is only one tribe in the subfamily in China??]
Chinese tai cao zu
Spikes with few to numerous spikelets; spikelets unisexual or bisexual, composed of one to few unisexual flowers, included in base by prophyll; prophyll partly connate or wholly connate into utriform, with a glume at base; spikelet-axis present or reduced, wholly enclosed in utricle or the top extended out the utricle; spikes one to numerous, unisexual or bisexual, bisexual spike androgynous or gynoandrous, usually composed spicate, racemose or paniculate inflorescence. Nutlets trigonous, plano-convex or biconvex; style thickened or not thickened at base; stigmas 23.
?? genera and ?? species: world distribution; two genera ?? species in China.
1a. Spikelet one to several flowered, bisexual or unisexual, bisexual spikelets usually androgynous, unisexual spikelets one staminate-flowered or one pistillate-flowered, included by prophyll, prophyll distinct or partly connate at margins, rarely wholly connate into utriform .......................................... 1. Kobresia
1b. Spikelet only one flowered, unisexual, included by prophyll, prophyll wholly connate into utriform 2. Carex
[Insert 1. KOBRESIA (Zhang)]
Chinese tao chao shu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯), Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun), Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Perennial herbs, rhizome stoloniferous, culms tufted or sparse, lateral or central, erect, trigonous, aphyllous-sheathed at base. Leaves basilar or basilar and cauline, flat, rarely involute or revolute on margins, linear or lorate, rarely lanceolate, sheathed at base. Bracts leaf like, rarely scale formed or setaceous, sheathed or non-sheathed. Flowers unisexual, one staminate flower or one pistillate flowers composed a spikelet, pistillate spikelet included by prophyll, prophyll wholly connate at margins into a utricle, sometimes reduced spikelet-axis present in the utricle, scaly bractlet at base. Spikes composed of many spikelets unisexual or bisexual, bisexual spike androgynous or gynandrous, usually monoecious, rarely dioecious; peduncled or not peduncled, with or without cladoprophyll at base, sheathed-shaped or utriculiform; spike one to numerous, usually numerous spikes composed spicate, racemose or paniculate inflorescence; staminate flower with 3 stamens, rarely 2 stamens, filaments distinct; pistillate flowers with one pistil; stylis slightly slender, sometimes thickened at base, persistent or deciduous, usually non-thickened at base, stigmas 3 or 2, utricles trigonous, plano-convex or biconvex, with slightly long or short beak. Nutlets rather tightly or loosely enveloped in the utricle, trigonous or plano-convex.
About 2000 species: cosmopolitan; 502 species (245 endemic) in China.
1a. Spikes numerous, all bisexual, sessile, usually densely composed spicate inflorescence; cladrophyll not presented; stigmas usually 2, rarely 3 ......................................................... 3. C. subg. Vignea
1b. Spikelets few to numerous, rarely single and terminal, usually laxly composed racemose or paniculate inflorescence, rarely composed spicate inflorescence, unisexual or bisexual, peduncled, rarely peduncles short or subsessile; cladoprophyll presented, utriculiform or sheathing-shaped; stigmas usually 3, rarely 2.
2a. Spikes bisexual, androgynous, very rarely unisexual, usually composed complex inflorescence, cladoprophyll utriculiform at spike base, with a pistillate flowers in it .... 1. C. subg. Indocarex
2b. Spikes unisexual or unisexual and bisexual, rarely all bisexual, spike one to several bearing in bract axial, rarely composed complex inflorescence, cladoprophyll sheathing-shaped, without pistillate flower in it 2. C. subg. Carex
复序薹草亚属 fu xu tai cao ya shu
Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Panicle simple or compound; spikes numerous or fewer, usually bisexual and androgynous, rarely unisexual; cladopropphylls utriculiform with or without a developed pistillate flower.
?? species: ??distribution; 33 species in China.
1a. Each cladoprophyll with a developed female flower inside; inflorescence spicate; spikes numerous and dense arranged ..................................................................................... 1. C. sect. Japonicae
1b. Cladoprophylls without flower or some with flowers; inflorescence paniculate or racemose, if inflorescence racemose spikes fewer.
2a. Cladoprophyll of the spike below the terminal one with a developed pistillate flower inside, others without; rachilla present at the base of achene; inflorescence racemose ................. 2. C. sect. Mundae
2b. All cladoprophylls without flower; rachilla absent; inflorescence paniculate or spicate.
3a. Inflorescence spicate; spikes fewer, densely arranged forming capitate spicate inflorescence 9. C. sect. Scabrellae
3b. Inflorescence paniculate.
4a. Spikes unisexual, staminate ones at upper parts of inflorescence branches, pistillate ones at lower parts ................................................................................................ 8. C. sect. Hypolytroides
4b. Spikes bisexual, androgynous.
5a. Culm lateral; cauline leaves reduced and spathelike; bracts spathelike.
6a. Radical leaves fasciated, leaf blades elliptic to
linear-elliptic
........................................................................................... 6.
C. sect. Hemiscaposae
6b. Several radical leaves forming a high shoot, leaf
blades linear
................................................................................................ 7.
C. sect. Surculosae
5b. Culm central; cauline leaves well developed and leafy; bracts leafy.
7a. Leaf blades and bracts elliptic to linear-elliptic with prominent transverse veins; inflorescence branch with fewer spikes ....................................................................... 5. C. sect. Euprepes
7b. Leaf blades and bracts linear without transverse veins; inflorescence branch bearing numerous spikes, very rarely bearing fewer spikes.
8a. Spikes larger, cylindrical, 28 cm, with numerous
spikelets
.......................................................................................... 3.
C. sect. Polystachyae
8b. Spikes smaller, oblong,
less than 2 cm, with fewer spikelets
.................................................................................................... 4.
C. sect. Indicae
日本薹草组 ri ben tai cao zu
Plants small. Inflorescence spicate, single, with many densely arranged spike; spikes producing from utriculiform cladoprophylls; cladoprophyll with 1 developed pistillate flower inside. Bracts leafy, without sheaths.
One species: China, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam.
砂地薹草 sha di tai cao
Carex nikkoensis Franchet & Savatier; C. satsumensis var. longiculma Hayata; C. satsumensis var. nakaii Hayata.
Rhizome elongated and creeping. Culms loosely tufted, 720 Χ 0.15 cm, triangular, glabrous, striate. Leaves shorter or longer than culms, flat, 1.57 mm wide, slightly stiff, glabrous, basal leaf sheaths blackish brown, fibriform. Bracts linear, shorter than inflorescence, without sheaths. Inflorescence spicate, single, terminal, oblong-cylindrical, 38 Χ 11.7 cm; spikes numerous, dense and patent, androgynous, oblong, producing from cladoprophylls with a developed pistillate flower inside, several basal ones sometimes branched; staminate part of spikelet tiny, 23 mm, with 45 flowers; pistillate part with numerous and dense flowers; staminate glumes lanceolate, 2.53 mm, acuminate, membranous, pale yellow or pale brown; pistillate glumes ovate, 22.5 mm, acute, membranous, pale yellow or pale brown laterally, with 1 midrib, margins hyaline; utricles patent, slightly longer than glumes, oblong-lanceolate, bluntly trigonous, 2.53 mm, membranous, pale yellow-brown when mature, with 2 upheaving lateral nerves and several fine nerves abaxially, nerveless and paler adaxially, base contract abruptly into a short stipe, apex attenuate into a long beak, mouth of beak obliquely truncate. Achene oblong, bluntly trigonous, 1.5 mm, pale yellow when mature, base attenuate, apex not apiculate; base of style slightly thickened, stigmas 3.
Sandy places. Taiwan [Japan, Philippines, Vietnam].
秀丽薹草组 xiu li tai cao zu
Inflorescence racemose; spikes 38, long-peduncled, single or binate, bisexual, androgynous, terminal one usually 12-branched at base, branched spike producing from utriculiform cladoprophyll which with a pistillate flower inside, others producing from bract sheaths. Rachilla often present at achene base.
Two species: China, Sikkim; two species in China.
1a. Rhizome creeping; spikes 36, the lowest one single, the middle ones binate, upper ones binate or ternate; utricle elliptic, glabrous; leaf blade 2.53.5 mm wide; basal persistent sheaths pale brown 2. C. munda
1b. Rhizome not creeping;
spikes 56, all single; utricle obovate-lanceolate, pubescent; leaf blade 12
mm wide; basal persistent sheaths dark brown
3.
C. yulungshanensis
秀丽薹草 xiu li tai cao
Carex munda var. mundaeformis T. Koyama.
Rhizome creeping. Culms 2040 cm, less than 1 mm thick, trigonous, tenuous, soft, smooth. Leaves slightly longer than culms, flat, 2.53.5 mm wide, glabrous, basal persistent leaf sheaths pale brown. Bracts leafy, longer than spikes, with long sheaths; inflorescence racemose, spikes 47, distant, linear-cylindrical, 1.52 cm, bisexual, androgynous, the lowest one single and often producing from the base of culm, middle ones binate, upper ones binate or ternate, the terminal one with 12 branches, staminate part longer than pistillate part, branched spikes producing from cladoprophylls with a developed pistillate flower inside, the staminate parts of lateral spikes shorter than pistillate parts, lateral spikes producing from sheaths; staminate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 33.5 mm, acuminate, membranous, yellowish brown, 1-veined; pistillate glumes ovate or oblong, 2.53 mm, apices obtuse or emarginate, apiculate, yellowish brown laterally, green at middle, 3-nerved, margins hyaline; utricles upright, longer than glumes, elliptic, bluntly trigonous, 34 mm, membranous, yellowish green, with 2 lateral nerves and several fine nerves abaxially, base contracted into a short stipe, apex contracted abruptly into a short excurved beak, beak mouth truncate. Achene ovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, pale brown when mature, shortly stipulate, apex apiculate; style base slightly thickened, stigmas 3. Rachilla 0.20.3 mm, flat, if present.
Abies forests, alpine scrub and meadows; 35003900 m. SE Xizang [Sikkim].
玉龙薹草 yu long tai cao
Perennial. Rhizome densely tufted. Culms up to 50 cm, trigonous, tenuous, glabrous. Leaves shorter than culms, flat or margins involute, 12 mm wide, basal persistent leaf sheaths dark brown. Bracts leafy, shorter than inflorescence, long-sheathed; inflorescence racemose, spike 56, single, distant, linear-cylindrical, 3040 Χ 34 mm, bisexual, androgynous, the terminal one with 1(2) branches, staminate part much longer than pistillate part, branched spikes producing from cladoprophylls with a developed pistillate flower inside, the staminate parts of lateral spikes much shorter and only with few flowers, pistillate part with dense numerous flowers; peduncles of spikes tenuous, the lowest one up to 20 cm, upper ones shorter; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 44.5 mm, acuminate, membranous, purplish brown; pistillate glumes oblong, 3.54 mm, papery, apices rounded, apiculate, purplish brown laterally, green at middle, 3-nerved, scabrid on nerves, margins narrowly hyaline; utricles obovate-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 3.54 mm, papery, yellowish green, pubescent, with 2 upheaving lateral veins and no fine veins abaxially, base attenuate into a short stipe, apex contracted into a short excurved beak, beak mouth truncate. Achene obovate-oblong, 2.22.5 mm, sessile, apex not apiculate; base of style slightly thickened, stigmas 3. Rachilla ca. 0.3 mm, flat.
* Alpine meadows and screes; 39004300 m. NW Yunnan (Lijiang).
多穗薹草组 duo sui tai cao zu
Panicle compound or simple; spikes numerous, bisexual, androgynous, producing from flowerless utriculiform prophylls, cylindrical, 28 cm.
?? species: Bhutan, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Vietnam; four species in China.
1a. Utricles inflated, red to purplish red ................................................................... 4. C. baccans
1b. Utricles not inflated, pale green to brown.
2a. Utricles ovate, flatly trigonous, ca. 3 mm,
short-beaked, margins of upper part hairy; pistillate glumes hairy abaxially;
persistent sheaths pale brown
................................................................................................................... 7.
C. composita
2b. Utricles elliptic, obovate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, 3.54 mm, with beak of medium length, margins of upper part scabrid; pistillate glumes glabrous abaxially; persistent sheaths dark brown.
3a. Inflorescence branches few-spiked; spikes often single; pistillate glumes pale green, margins membranous and brown ............................................................................ 5. C. myosurus
3b. Inflorescence branches many-spiked; spikes binate; pistillate glumes brown, margins hyaline 6. C. eminens
浆果薹草 jiang guo tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms densely tufted, erect and robust, 80150 Χ 0.50.6 cm, trigonous, glabrous, leafy below middle. Leaves longer than culms, flat, 812 mm wide, glabrous abaxially, scabrid adaxially, basal persistent leaf sheaths red-brown, reticulate. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 1035 cm; inflorescence branches 38, single, oblong, 56 Χ 34 cm; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 3.54 mm, leathery, only the basal one with short sheath, others sheathless, awned; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, the basal one 1214 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, usually enclosed in sheaths; inflorescence axes bluntly triquetrous, nearly glabrous; spikes producing from utriculiform cladoprophylls, numerous, cylindrical, 36 cm, bisexual and androgynous; staminate part of spike tenuous, few-flowered, 1/2 or 1/3 length of pistillate part; pistillate part with dense and numerous flowers; staminate glumes broadly ovate, 22.5 mm, awned, membranous, chestnut; pistillate glumes broadly ovate, 22.5 mm, awned, papery, purplish brown or chestnut, with 1 green midvein, margins hyaline; utricles obovate-globose or nearly globose, inflated, 3.54.5 mm, nearly leathery, red to purplish red when mature, shining, with many vertical veins, upper margins hairy, shortly stipulate at base, shortly beaked at apex, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achene elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 mm, brown when mature, shortly stipulate at base, apex apiculate; style base not thickened, stigmas 3.
Wood margins, riversides; 2002700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [India, Malaysia, Nepal, Vietnam].
鼠尾薹草 shu wei tai cao
Carex myosurus subsp. spiculata (Boott) Kόkenthal; ??what is basionym: something spiculata Boott.
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, robust, 80120 Χ ca. 0.3 cm, trigonous, scabrid, leafy below middle. Leaves longer than culms, flat, 57 mm wide, glabrous abaxially, scabrid adaxially, basal persistent leaf sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 2030 cm, with 36 inflorescence branches; inflorescence branches racemose, single, 58 cm, 24-spiked; bractlets glumaceous; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 311 cm; axes of inflorescence branch triquetrous, scabrid; spikes single, cylindrical, 2060 Χ 3.54.5 mm, bisexual and androgynous; staminate part of spike 1/41/2 or very rarely same length as pistillate part; pistillate part with dense and numerous flowers; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 3.54 mm, membranous, pale green; pistillate glumes oblong, 2.53 mm, acuminate, shortly awned, papery, green or pale green at middle and pale brown laterally, with 1 scabrid midvein, upper part hyaline; utricles longer than glumes, obovate-lanceolate, trigonous, 44.5 mm, papery, pale green, with several fine veins, glabrous or lateral keels hairy, base attenuate, nearly sessile, shortly beaked at apex, beak 1/4 or 1/5 length of utricle, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achene closely enclosed in utricle, elliptic, trigonous, dark brown when mature, shortly stipulate, apex nearly not apiculate; style base slightly thickened, stigmas 3.
Evergreen forest undergrowth and margins; 12002000 m. SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Sikkim, Vietnam].
显异薹草 xian yi tai cao
Carex composita Boott var. eminens (Nees) Boeckeler; C. floribunda Boeckeler; C. peiana F. T. Wang & Tang.
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, tall and robust, 80120 Χ ca. 0.30.4 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 58 mm wide, glabrous abaxially, scabrid adaxially, basal persistent leaf sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 38-branched; inflorescence branches simply paniculate, single or binate, broadly ovate, 58 Χ 23 cm, many-spiked; bractlets glumaceous; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, 415 Χ 0.10.2 cm, scabrid; axes of inflorescence branches triquetrous, densely hairy on edges; spikes single or 23 clustered, cylindrical, 26 cm, bisexual and androgynous; staminate part of spike 1/2 or same length of pistillate part; pistillate part with dense and numerous flowers; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 34 mm, membranous, brown; pistillate glumes oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 2.53 mm, acute, shortly awned, papery, brown or purplish brown, with 1 scabrid or smooth midvein, margins hyaline; utricles obovate-lanceolate, bluntly trigonous, 34 mm, membranous, yellowish green with brown spots, lateral keels hairy, with few fine veins, base attenuate, apex contracted into short excurved beak, beak 1/4 length of utricle, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achene closely enclosed in utricle, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, dark brown when mature, shortly stipulate, apex nearly not apiculate; style base slightly thickened, stigmas 3.
Evergreen forest margins, grasslands, slopes, roadsides; 3002000 m. Hunan, Sichuan, Xizang [Bhutan, Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim].
复序薹草 fu xu tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, 4060 Χ 0.150.2 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, flat, 23 mm wide, glabrous abaxially, prominently scabrid adaxially, basal persistent leaf sheaths pale brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle simple, 2030 cm, with 24 inflorescence branches; inflorescence branches racemose, single, 58 cm, 38-spiked; bractlets glumaceous; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 58 cm, usually not exerted from sheaths; axes of inflorescence branches loosely hairy on edges; spikes cylindrical, 26 cm, bisexual and androgynous; staminate part of spike usually 1/2 or rarely same length of pistillate part; pistillate part with many dense flowers; staminate glumes lanceolate, 33.5 mm, membranous, brown or brown laterally and pale green at middle, apex apiculate, margins narrowly hyaline; pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 2.53 mm, acuminate, shortly awned, membranous, loosely pubescent, yellowish green at middle and reddish brown or purplish brown laterally, with 3 veins, margins narrowly hyaline; utricles obovate or ovate-globose, flatly trigonous, slightly inflated, 33.5 mm, papery, pale green, with several fine veins, upper part with brown spots and loosely pubescent, nearly sessile, shortly beaked at apex, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achene loosely enclosed in utricle, ovate to triangular-ovate, trigonous, ca, 1.5 mm, brown when mature, shortly stipulate, apex with contorted apiculus; base of style slightly thickened, stigmas 3.
Forests, grasslands; 13002500 m. Guizhou, Yunnan [Bhutan, India].
印度薹草组 in du tai cao zu
Panicle compound; spikes numerous, bisexual, androgynous, producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, oblong, less than 2 cm; utricles not inflated or slightly inflated, several-veined.
?? species: ??distribution; 12 species in China.
1a. Female glume awnless, if awned, hairy abaxially; utricle smaller, less than 3 mm, brown to reddish brown or pale brown with dense reddish brown spots and lines; style base not thickened or slightly thickened.
2a. Pistillate glume awned or apiculate, hairy abaxially; upper part of utricle hairy.
3a. Inflorescence branch ovate-triangular, single; utricle pale brown, with dense brown spots and lines, beak excurved, slightly shorter than 1/2 of utricle; style base slightly thickened .... 18. C. continua
3b. Inflorescence branch oblong-lanceolate, usually binate;
utricles reddish brown, beak excurved, as long as 1/2 of utricle; style base
not thickened
19.
C. rafflesiana
2b. Female glume awnless, glabrous abaxially; utricle glabrous.
4a. Inflorescence branches compact; pistillate glumes and utricles pale brown or pale yellowish green or pale green, sometimes with scattered brown spots and lines ..................... 17. C. subfilicinoides
4b. Inflorescence branches patent and lax; pistillate glumes and utricles brown to reddish brown or pale brown with dense reddish brown spots and lines.
5a. Utricle elliptic or narrowly elliptic, with many fine veins, beak 1/2 length of utricle; inflorescence branch triangular-ovate ......................................................................................... 15. C. filicina
5b. Utricle ovate-oblong, with several upheaving veins, beak slightly shorter than 1/2 utricle; inflorescence branch elliptic ................................................................................ 16 . C. doisutepensis
1b. Pistillate glume aristate; utricle larger, 3.510 mm, pale brown to pale green; style base usually thickened.
6a. Staminate part of spike oblong, 67 Χ 23 mm; utricle 5.510 mm, beak thin and long, nearly 2 times longer than utricle body; inflorescence branches loosely fewer-spiked; leaf blade 22.5 mm 8. C. commixta
6b. Staminate part of spike oblong-cylindrical or cylindrical, 58 Χ ca. 1 mm; utricle 3.55 mm, beak shorter than or as long as utricle body; inflorescence branches many-spiked (only C. tenuipaniculata P. C. Li with few spikes); leaf blade 512 mm.
7a. Pistillate glume with excurved or twisting awn, awn 12 times longer than glume.
8a. Inflorescence branches compact; staminate part longer than or as long as pistillate part of spike; utricle ovate or elliptic, trigonous, slightly inflated, green, pale brown when dried; pistillate glume yellowish brown, 1/21/3 length of utricle .................................................................... 9. C. indica
8b. Inflorescence branches lax and outspread; staminate
part 1/31/5 length of pistillate part of spike; utricle rhomboid-ovate,
trigonous, not inflated, pale green; pistillate glume yellowish white, 1/4
length of utricle
......................................................................................................... 10.
C. indiciformis
7b. Pistillate glume with straight awn, awn shorter than glume.
9a. Pistillate glume yellowish white, with dense brown spots and lines; axes of inflorescence branches densely hairy; mouth of utricle beak bidentate.
10a. Inflorescence branch many-spiked; peduncle and axis of inflorescence branch rigid; utricle elliptic 11. C. cruciata
10b. Inflorescence branch 38-spiked; peduncle and axis of inflorescence branch flaccid; utricle narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate .............................................................. 12. C. tenuipaniculata
9b. Pistillate glume brown or pale yellowish green; axis of inflorescence branch slightly hairy or glabrous; mouth of utricle beak obliquely truncate.
11a. Pistillate glume brown, emarginate, falling off with utricle when mature; inflorescence branch lax; utricle narrowly elliptic, ca. 5 mm; ligule of cladoprophyll 2 times longer than body 13. C. deciduisquama
11b. Pistillate glume pale yellowish green, straw yellow when dried, apex rounded or obtuse, persistent; inflorescence branch compact; utricle oblong or ovate-oblong, ca. 3.5 mm; ligule of cladoprophyll nearly as long as body .................................................................... 14. C. stramentitia
细长喙薹草 xi chang hui tai cao
Carex chuniana F. T. Wang & Tang; [C. hainanensis Merrill et al., nom. nud.]; C. humbertii F. T. Wang & Tang (1949), not Chermezon (1926); C. hypolytrifolia T. Koyama; C. spatiosa Boott.
Rhizome thick. Culms tufted, erect and robust, 30100 Χ 0.30.5 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, linear, 22.5 cm wide, glabrous or slightly scabrid, persistent sheaths brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle simple or compound, 2530 cm, 15-branched; inflorescence branches ovate-triangular, 410 Χ 26 cm, single, sometimes binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, upper part hairy, trigonous, lowest one 1020 cm, upper ones gradually shorter; inflorescence axes trigonous, hairy on edges; bractlets glumaceous, 11.5 mm, hairy abaxially, with awns 25 mm; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower, hairy abaxially; spikes numerous, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, 718 mm; staminate part of spike nearly oblong, 67 Χ 23 mm, usually longer than pistillate part, sometimes as long as pistillate part; pistillate par elliptic, many-flowered; staminate glumes narrowly lanceolate, 67 mm, shortly awned, membranous, pale yellow or pale brown, hairy abaxially; pistillate glumes lanceolate, 4.55.5 mm, acuminate or emarginate, membranous, pale yellowish white, pale greenish white or pale brown, hairy abaxially, mid-nerve extending into scabrid awn. Utricles shorter than glumes, nearly rhomboid, bluntly trigonous, 5.510 mm, pale brown or pale green, many-nerved, hairy, stipitate at base, apex elongated into beak, beak to 2/3 length of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 mm, brown when mature; base of style slightly thickened, stigma 3.
Forest margins and undergrowth; 6001300 m. Hainan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
印度薹草 in du tai cao
Rhizome thick, tufted, woody. Culms 40100 Χ 0.20.25 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 68 mm wide, scabrid, persistent sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 2030 cm, 56-branched; inflorescence branches ovate-oblong, 45 Χ 2.32.5 cm, single; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, trigonous, lowest one 78 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, hairy on edges; inflorescence axes trigonous, hairy; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 1.5 mm, emarginate, with awns 46 mm; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes numerous, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, 610 mm; staminate part of spike longer than or as long as pistillate part; pistillate part 28-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 57 mm, membranous, pale yellow at middle, pale brown laterally, with 1 mid-nerve, with awns 23 mm; pistillate glumes ovate or oblong, 22.5 mm, papery, acute or emarginate, with awns 3 mm, pale yellowish brown or yellowish white at middle, 3-nerved, pale brown laterally, margins broadly hyaline. Utricles patent, ovate or elliptic, trigonous, slightly inflated, ca. 3.5 mm, papery, pale brown, many-nerved, loosely pubescent, nearly sessile, apex elongated into beak of medium length, beak slightly shorter than utricle body, hairy laterally, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown when mature; base of style prominently thickened, stigma 3.
Slopes; 800900 m. Guangxi, Guizhou [S Asia to Australia].
印度型薹草 in du xing tai cao
Rhizome thick, woody. Culms tufted, 60100 Χ 0.20.4 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 815 mm wide, glabrous, persistent sheaths pale brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 46-branched; inflorescence branches patent, loose, triangular-ovate, 58 Χ 45 cm, single; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, trigonous, lowest one 1214 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, smooth or upper part hairy; inflorescence axes trigonous, hairy on edges; bractlets glumaceous, 1 mm, membranous, glabrous, with awns 35 mm; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes numerous, producing from cladoprophylls, loose and patent, bisexual, androgynous, terminal one 1020 mm, lateral ones 516 mm; staminate part of spike oblong, 1/3 or 1/5 length of pistillate part; pistillate part of terminal one 69-flowered, pistillate parts of lateral ones 47-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 2.53 mm, membranous, pale green, acuminate, with awns 11.5 mm; pistillate glumes ovate or oblong, 11.5 mm, membranous, pale yellowish white, apex rounded or emarginate. Utricles obliquely patent, much longer than glumes, ovate or rhomboid-ovate, trigonous, 44.2 mm, papery, pale green, many-nerved, apex attenuate into beak of medium length, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate or rhomboid-ovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened and conical, stigma 3.
* Forest undergrowth, shady slopes; 4001000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Yunnan.
十字薹草 shi zi tai cao
Carex bengalensis Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 3: 572. 1832; C. cruciata subsp. rubrobrunnea (Ohwi) T. Koyama; C. cruciata var. rubrobrunnea Ohwi; C. hakkuensis Hayata; C. valida Nees, p.p.
Rhizome thick, woody, with stolons. Culms tufted, 4090 Χ 0.30.5 cm, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 413 mm wide, scabrid abaxially, glabrous adaxially, persistent sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound; inflorescence branches ovate-triangular, 415 Χ 36 cm, usually single, rarely binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, bluntly trigonous, lowest one 1018 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, smooth; inflorescence axes trigonous, hairy; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 1.5 mm, hairy abaxially; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower, several-veined and hairy abaxially; spikes very few, producing from cladoprophylls, patent horizontally, bisexual, androgynous, 512 mm; staminate part of spike nearly as long as pistillate part; staminate glumes lanceolate, 2.5 mm, membranous, acuminate, mucronate, pale brownish white, with dense brown spots and short lines; pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2 mm, membranous, obtuse, shortly awned, 3-nerved. Utricles longer than glumes, elliptic, trigonous, inflated, 33.2 mm, pale brownish white, with brown spots and short lines, smooth or upper part loosely hairy, with several upheaving veins, nearly sessile, apex attenuate into beak of medium length, beak 1/3 length of utricle, hairy or glabrous laterally, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate-elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, dark brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
Forest margins, grasslands, roadsides; 3002500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Japan, Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim, Vietnam; Madagascar].
细序薹草 xi xu tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 3040 Χ ca. 0.2 cm, slender, trigonous, nearly glabrous. Leaves cauline, longer than culms, flat, 45 mm wide, hairy along midvein abaxially and later glabrescent, scabrid adaxially, persistent sheaths brown. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, ca. 20 cm, with 34 distant inflorescence branches; inflorescence branches oblong, 1025 Χ 46 mm, usually single, loosely 38-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, trigonous, hairy on edges, lowest one to 18 cm, upper ones gradually shorter; inflorescence axes filiform, soft and drooping, acutely trigonous, densely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, ovate, ca. 0.8 mm, membranous, apex with 3.55 mm awns; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes patent, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, 45 mm; staminate part of spike as long as pistillate part; pistillate part 25-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 2.53 mm, membranous, acuminate, shortly awned, pale brown, with dense brown spots and short lines, with 1midvein; pistillate glumes ovate, 2.53 mm, membranous, mucronate, pale brown, with dense brown spots and short lines, with 1 midvein. Utricles narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, trigonous, slightly inflated, 33.5 mm, papery, pale brown, with dense brown spots and short lines, upper part loosely hairy, with 2 to several upheaving veins, nearly sessile, apex contracted into beak of medium length, beak slightly shorter than utricle body, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achenes narrowly elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, yellowish brown when mature, shortly stipitate, apex not mucronate; base of style slightly thickened, stigma 3.
* Forest undergrowth; ca. 2100 m. C Yunnan (Kunming).
落鳞薹草 luo lin tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, up to 1 m high, ca. 3 mm thick, trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, flat, 57 mm wide, scabrid abaxially, glabrous adaxially, persistent sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, nearly as long as or slightly shorter than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, ca. 20 cm; inflorescence branches oblong, 47 Χ 2.53 cm, single; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, trigonous, nearly smooth, lowest one 1214 cm; inflorescence axes trigonous, loosely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, oblong, 2.53.5 mm, apex emarginate with ca. 2 mm awns; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes numerous, distant, slightly patent, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, cylindrical, 12 cm, terminal one to 3 cm; staminate part of spike as long as pistillate part, with over 10 flowers; pistillate with 210 slightly distant flowers; staminate glumes oblong, 3.54.5 mm, emarginate with mucrone, pale brown, with 1 midvein, not deciduous when mature; pistillate glumes oblong, 34 mm, papery, emarginate with up to 2 mm awns, pale brown, 3-veined at middle, deciduous when mature. Utricles narrowly elliptic, trigonous, slightly inflated, ca. 5 mm, papery, pale yellowish brown, many-nerved, sessile, apex attenuate into long beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes narrowly elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, brown when mature, not stipitate, apex mucronate; base of style thickened and conical, stigma 3.
* Woods; 23002500 m. NW Yunnan (Gongshan).
草黄薹草 cao huang tai cao
Rhizome long, obliquely elongate, woody. Culms tufted, 3075 cm, bluntly trigonous, smooth. Leaves basal and cauline, nearly as long as culms, flat, 12 mm wide, persistent sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 2030 cm; inflorescence branches 35, triangular-ovate, 57.5 Χ 45 cm, single; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, trigonous, scabrid on edges; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, hairy; bractlets glumaceous, with long awns; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes numerous, dense, obliquely patent, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, oblong, 1012 mm; staminate part of spike longer than pistillate part, with over 10 flowers; pistillate part with over 10 flowers; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 34 mm, papery, obtuse and mucronate, pale yellow; pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 2.53 mm, papery, obtuse or rounded with short awns, straw yellow when dried, slightly shining, 3-veined, margins hyaline. Utricles longer than glumes, oblong or ovate-oblong, trigonous, slightly inflated, ca. 3.5 mm, brownish green, many-nerved, nearly sessile, apex contracted into long beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes broadly ovate, trigonous, 2.53 mm; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
Grasslands by woods; 1001000 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].
蕨状薹草 jue zhuang tai cao
Cyperus caricinus D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal 39. 1825; Carex caricina (D. Don) N. Ghildyal & U. C. Bhattacharyya, J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 7: 602. 1986 [Why is this not the correct name? 1825 vs. 1834]; C. filicina var. meiogyna (Nees) Strachey; C. filicina var. subdensa F. T. Wang & Tang; C. filicina subsp. pseudofilicina (Hayata) T. Koyama; C. meiogyna Nees, p. p.; C. pseudofilicina Hayata.
Rhizome thick, woody. Culms densely tufted, 4090 Χ 0.20.25 cm, sharply trigonous, glabrous. Leaves longer rarely shorter than culmes, flat, 514 mm wide, scabrid abaxially or glabrous on both surfaces, persistent sheaths purplish red or purplish brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 2050 cm; inflorescence branches 48, triangular-ovate, 415 Χ 37 cm, single, rarely binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, trigonous, lowest one 1020 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, loosely hairy on edges; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, hairy; bractlets glumaceous, 23 mm, apex long-awned; cladoprophylls utriculiform, without flower; spikes numerous, oblong or oblong-cylindrical, patent or slightly patent, producing from cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, 515 mm, terminal one 820 mm; staminate part of spike shorter than pistillate part, 37-flowered; pistillate part 216-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 23 mm, acuminate, membranous, brown or reddish brown; pistillate glumes ovate or lanceolate, 1.52 mm, membranous, acuminate or acute, brown, reddish brown or pale brown with reddish brown spots and short lines, glabrous, with 1 midvein. Utricles elliptic or narrowly elliptic, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, membranous, lower part yellowish white, upper part brown or reddish brown, or wholly pale brown with reddish brown spots and short lines, glabrous, with 2 lateral veins and several fine veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into long excurved beak, beak 1/2 length of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, yellowish brown when mature; base of style not thickened, stigma 3.
Forests, grasslands; 12002800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam].
景洪薹草 jing hong tai cao
Rhizome thick, creeping. Culms up to 150 cm, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, linear, 34 mm wide, flat or fold, persistent sheaths brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, sheath to 4 cm; panicle compound, up to 60 cm; inflorescence branches 47, oblong-elliptic, single; peduncles of inflorescence branches long, smooth; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, densely hairy; spikes numerous, patent or horizontally patent, bisexual, androgynous, ovate-elliptic, 48 Χ 3.55 mm; staminate part of spike shortly linear, slightly shorter than or as long as pistillate part, fewer-flowered; pistillate part 36-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm, brownish ferruginous; pistillate glumes ovate-triangular, 1.82.3 mm, membranous, acute with excurved mucrones, brown with dark brown spots, with 1 midvein. Utricles ovate-oblong, trigonous, inflated, 2.53.5 mm, patent, membranous, with many upheaving veins, base attenuate, apex contracted abruptly into long beak, beak mouth deeply bidentate. Achenes broadly elliptic, trigonous, 1.41.5 mm, blackish brown when mature; base of style not thickened, stigma 3.
S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) [N Thailand].
近蕨薹草 jin jue tai cao
Rhizome with thick fibers. Culms tufted, 5090 Χ 0.250.3 cm, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 712 mm wide, glabrous or scabrid along veins abaxially, prominently scabrid adaxially, persistent sheaths purplish red, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence branches, long-sheathed; panicle compound, 2050 cm; inflorescence branches 49, distant, lanceolate, binate, rarely single, 3.59 Χ 1.53 cm; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 1020 cm, obtusely trigonous, upper part pubescent; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, loosely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 1 mm, loosely hairy, awned; spikes numerous, producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, bisexual, androgynous, ovate or oblong, 510 mm; staminate part of spike thinner and shorter than pistillate part, 46-flowered; pistillate part 512-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, acuminate, membranous, yellowish green, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes ovate, 1.71.8 mm, membranous, apex obtuse, pale green at middle, white or pale brown laterally, with 1 midvein, glabrous. Utricles patent, elliptic, 33.5 mm, membranous, pale brown or pale yellowish green, sometimes with brown spots and short lines, veinless abaxially, with 24 upheaving veins adaxially, glabrous or upper part scabrid, nearly sessile, apex attenuate into excurved beak of medium length, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, sessile, apex not mucronate; base of style slightly thickened, stigma 3.
* Evergreen forests, shady slopes, roadsides; 12002900 m. Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan.
连续薹草 lian xu tia cao
Carex rafflesiana Boott var. continua (C. B. Clarke) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome with thick fibers. Culms tufted, 6090 Χ ca. 0.3 cm, trigonous, glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline, longer than culms, flat, 68 mm wide, scabrid along margins and abaxially, glabrous adaxially, persistent sheaths dark brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, longer than inflorescence, long-sheathed; panicle compound, ca. 30 cm; inflorescence branches 59, ovate-triangular, single, sometimes binate, 38 Χ 1.53 cm; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, the lowest one to 14 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, trigonous, glabrous; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, densely hairy on edges; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 1.5 mm, loosely hairy abaxially, with long scabrid awns; spikes numerous, producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, patent, bisexual, androgynous, oblong-cylindrical, 410 mm; staminate part of spike shorter than pistillate part, oblong, densely 410-flowered; pistillate part 39-flowered, slightly dense; staminate glumes lanceolate, 1.72.5 mm, acuminate, mucronate, membranous, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 1 mid-nerve, upper margins hairy; pistillate glumes ovate, 1.82.5 mm, membranous, apex acute, awned or mucronate, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, glabrescent later, with 1 midvein. Utricles elliptic, trigonous, 2.73 mm, membranous, pale brownish green with brown spots and short lines, with several upheaving veins adaxially, upper part scabrid, base nearly sessile, apex attenuate into excurved long beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.7 mm, nearly sessile, apex not mucronate; base of style slightly thickened, stigma 3.
Scrub on slopes; ca. 1100 m. S Yunnan [India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].
红头薹草 hong tou tai cao
Carex bengalensis Roxburgh var. scaberrina Boeckler; C. cruciata Wahlenberg var. rafflesiana (Boott) Kern & Nooteboom; C. rafflesiana subsp. scaberrina (Boeckler) T. Koyama; C. rafflesiana var. scaberrina (Boeckler) Kόkenthal; C. scaberrina (Boeckler) C. B. Clarke.
Rhizome short, nearly woody. Culms tufted or single, 80200 Χ 0.30.5 cm, trigonous, smooth, base covered by 12 reddish brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than culms, flat, 1013 mm wide, sheaths long, reddish brown, persistent sheaths fibriform. Bracts leafy, long-sheathed, the lowest one as long as or longer than inflorescence, upper ones gradually shorter; panicle compound, ca. 20 cm; inflorescence branches 811, oblong-lanceolate, usually binate, 515 cm, slightly dense, lower part branched; spikes numerous, ovate-oblong, 36 mm, bisexual, androgynous; staminate part of spike nearly as long as pistillate part; pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 1.52 mm, apex obtuse or acute, white with reddish brown spots, scabrid, midvein extending into mucro. Utricles oblong or elliptic-oblong, trigonous, 2.73.5 mm, herbaceous, reddish brown, with several veins, upper part hairy, apex attenuate into beak, beak excurved, nearly same length of utricle body, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm; base of style not thickened, stigma 3.
Forest margins, grasslands on slopes; 500600 m. Taiwan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand;Australia].
菰叶薹草组 gu ye tai cao zu
Description??
?? species: ??distribution; one species (endemic) in China.
菰叶薹草 gu ye tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 6070 Χ ca. 0.2 cm, obtusely trigonous, lower part only bearing sheaths, from middle up bearing leaves. Leaves loosely arranged, longer than culms, leaf blades narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, 1525 Χ 22.5 cm, cuneate at base, apex acuminate, scabrid along veins, with prominent transverse veins, margins loosely hairy; sheaths 1.42 cm, glabrous, sheath mouth loosely pubescent and then glabrescent. Bracts same as leaves, much longer than inflorescence branches; panicle compound, 56 Χ 11.5 cm; inflorescence branches 1416, spicate or spikelike, 812 mm, single, producing from axil of bract; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, glabrous; axes of inflorescence branches sharply trigonous, hairy on edges; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 2 mm, awned; cladoprophylls utriculiform, ca. 1 mm, apex ligulate, ligule as long as cladoprophyll, hairy along veins; spikes bisexual, androgynous, 56 mm; staminate part of spike slightly longer than pistillate part; pistillate part fewer-flowered; pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2 mm, hairy, margins erose, midvein extending into scabrid awn. Utricles ovate-elliptic, ca. 3 mm, densely hairy, apex attenuate into beak, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achenes immature.
* ??Habitat; ??altitude. SE Yunnan (Pingbian).
花葶薹草组 hua ting tai cao zu
Description??
?? species: ??distribution; eight species in China.
1a. Inflorescence branch with 1 or 2 (3) spikes; leaf blade replicate; utricle with many upheaving veins.
2a. Inflorescence branches single, rarely binate; spike linear-cylindrical; basal leaf single 27 . C. kucyniakii
2b. Inflorescence branches binate or ternate; spike oblong;
23 basal leaves tufted
....................................................................................................... 28
. C. peliosanthifolia
1b. Inflorescence branch with 10 more or numerous spikes; leaf blade flat; utricle only with 2 lateral veins abaxially.
3a. Panicle simple, usually with only one terminal branch, rarely with 12 lateral branches; culms soft.
4a. Leaf blade linear, margins flat; staminate part of spike cylindrical, 35 Χ 1 mm; culm hairy and glabrescent later .............................................................................. 25. C. ypsilandrifolia
4b. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic, margins replicate; staminate part of spike circular or oblong, 2.54 Χ 3 mm; culm hairy .............................................................................................. 26. C. lingii
3b. Panicle compound, with several branches; culm rigid.
5a. Inflorescence branch paniculate, with 10 to 20 more spikes; staminate part of spike linear-lanceolate 21. C. scaposa
5b. Inflorescence nearly corymbose, with fewer spikes; staminate part of spike circular, oblong or oblong-cylindrical.
6a. Leaf blade linear or linear-oblanceolate; utricle ovate, beak only 1/4 length of utricle 24. C. liouana
6b. Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, rarely narrowly elliptic-linear; utricle elliptic, beak slightly shorter than 1/2 of utricle.
7a. Margins of leaf blades densely ciliate; petiole loosely or densely hairy; achene elliptic 22. C. densifimbriata
7b. Margins of leaf blades smooth; petiole glabrous; achene ovate ................ 23. C. adrienii
花葶薹草 hua ting tai cao
Carex pandanophylla E. G. Camus; C. scaposa var. marantacea Raymond.
Rhizome woody. Culms lateral, 2080 Χ 0.10.3 mm, trigonous, base with leafless pale brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, longer or shorter than culms, elliptic to elliptic-linear, 1035 Χ 25 cm, acuminate, base attenuate, glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially, sometimes with transverse veins; petiole up to 30 cm, glabrous, sometimes leaf base extending downwards forming narrow wings; cauline leaves spathelike, brown, papery, glabrous. Bracts spathelike, with blades, usually shorter than inflorescence branches; panicle compound, 3 to several-branched; inflorescence branches paniculate, triangular-ovate, 23.5 Χ 1.53 cm, single or binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches rigid, trigonous, 48 cm, densely pubescent; axes of inflorescence branches sharply trigonous, densely pubescent; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 45 mm, brownish white with deep brown spots; spikes about 1020, producing from utriculiform flowerless cladoprophylls, patent, bisexual, androgynous, oblong-cylindrical, 514 mm; staminate part of spike linear-lanceolate, usually shorter than pistillate part, fewer-flowered; pistillate part 27-flowered; staminate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 33.5 mm, membranous, pale brown; pistillate glumes ovate, 22.5 mm, membranous, acuminate, brown laterally, middle part yellowish green with brown spots and 3 veins, margins ciliate when young; utricles elliptic, trigonous, 34 mm, papery, pale yellowish green with dense brown spots, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, glabrous, nearly sessile, apex contracted gradually into beak of medium length, beak slightly shorter than half of utricle, beak mouth emarginate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, 1.52.2 mm, brown when mature; base of style not thickened, stigma 3.
Forest undergrowth, valleys, shady slopes, cliffs, watersides; 2001500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].
1a. Staminate part of spike 1013 mm, much longer than
pistillate part
................................................................................................................ 21b.
var. dolicostachya
1b. Staminate part of spike less than 7 mm, usually shorter than pistillate part.
2a. Leaves glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially; style base not thickened 21a. var. scaposa
2b. Leaves densely hairy abaxially; style base slightly thickened ........................... 21c. var. hirsuta
花葶薹草(原变种) hua ting tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Leaves glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially. Staminate part of spike less than 7 mm, usually shorter than pistillate part. Style base not thickened.
Forest undergrowth, shady slopes, cliffs, watersides; 4001500 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Vietnam].
长雄薹草 chang xiong tai cao
Staminate part of spike 1013 mm, much longer than pistillate part.
* Forest undergrowth; ca. 800 m. Guangdong, Guangxi.
糙叶花葶薹草 cao ye hua ting tai cao
Leaves densely hairy abaxially. Staminate part of spike less than 7 mm, usually shorter than pistillate part. Style base slightly thickened.
* Woods, valleys, watersides; 200700 m. Guangdong, Hunan, Sichuan.
流苏薹草 liu su tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms lateral, 3080 Χ 0.120.25 cm, trigonous, densely hairy, rarely glabrous, base with pale brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, usually shorter rarely longer than culms, elliptic to narrowly lanceolate, 2540 Χ 2.84.5 cm, glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially, acuminate, base attenuate, margins densely ciliate; petiole 220 cm, hairy; cauline leaves spathelike, lower part green, upper part pale brown, margins ciliate. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound, 2- to several-branched; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, triangular-ovate, 1.52.5 Χ 23 cm, single or binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 48 cm, densely hairy; inflorescence axes densely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, oblong, 45 mm, obtuse, membranous, densely hairy abaxially; spikes 412 patent, bisexual, androgynous, ovate to oblong, 510 mm; staminate part of spike oblong, longer than or same length as pistillate part; pistillate part 410-flowered; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 34.5 mm, acuminate; pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 2.83 mm, obtuse, papery, middle part pale green, brownish white laterally with dense brown spots and short lines; utricles slightly longer than glumes, obliquely patent, elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 mm, pale yellowish white, sometimes with dense brown spots and short lines, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into beak of medium length, beak slightly shorter than half of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
* Woods, valleys, grassy places in valleys, shady slopes; 3001400 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan.
1a. Leaves glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially ............................. 22a. var. densifimbriata
1b. Leaves densely hairy abaxially ............................................................................ 22b. var. hirsuta
流苏薹草(原变种) liu su tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Leaves glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially.
* Woods, valleys, shady slopes; 3001400 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan.
粗毛流苏薹草 cu mao liu su tai cao
Leaves densely hairy abaxially.
* Grassy places in valleys. Guizhou, Hunan.
广东薹草 guang dong tai cao
Carex scaposa C. B. Clarke var. baviensis Franchet, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris, sιr. 3, 8: 255. 1896; C. chienii F. T. Wang & Tang; C. kwangtungensis F. T. Wang & Tang.
Rhizome nearly woody. Culms tufted, lateral, 3050 Χ 0.10.2 cm, trigonous, densely hairy, base with pale brown leafless sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, shorter than culms, narrowly elliptic to elliptic-linear, 2535 Χ 23 cm, entire, acuminate, scabrid abaxially, glabrous adaxially; petiole 515 cm, glabrous; cauline leaves spathelike, lower part green, upper part pale brown, with dense brown spots and lines, margins ciliate and glabrescent later. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound, 26-branched; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, triangular-ovate, 1.52 Χ 22.5 cm, single or binate, slightly distant; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 24 cm, densely hairy; inflorescence axes densely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, 33.5 mm, densely hairy; spikes 20 or less, patent, bisexual, androgynous, oblong-cylindrical, 710 Χ 22.5 mm; staminate part of spike longer than pistillate part, oblong, with more than 10 flowers; pistillate part slightly densely 310-flowered; staminate glumes oblong, ca. 3 mm, obtuse, membranous, brown; pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 2.53 mm, obtuse, membranous, brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, 1-nerved; utricles elliptic, obliquely or horizontally patent, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, base obtuse, apex contracted into beak of medium length, beak slightly shorter than half of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
Evergreen forest undergrowth, shady places, watersides; 5001200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan [Laos, Vietnam].
刘氏薹草 liu shi tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, lateral, 3060 Χ 0.20.3 cm, trigonous, loosely pubescent when young, base with brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, longer or shorter than culms, linear or linear-oblanceolate, sometimes narrowly elliptic, 2040 Χ 1.44 cm, integrate or ciliate, acuminate, glabrous on both surfaces or scabrid abaxially; petiole 420 cm, glabrous; cauline leaves spathelike, yellowish brown with dense brown spots. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound, 35-branched; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, triangular-ovate, 23.5 Χ 23 cm, single or binate; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 46 cm, densely hairy or glabrous; axes of inflorescence trigonous; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 34 mm, pale yellow with dense brown spots, densely hairy or glabrous; spikes more than 10, bisexual, androgynous, 58 mm; staminate part of spike shorter than or same length as pistillate part, circular or oblong; pistillate part 310-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 22.5 mm, membranous, pale yellowish brown or brown; pistillate glumes ovate or lanceolate, 22.5 mm, obtuse, pale yellowish brown or brown with dark brown spots and short lines, 1-nerved; utricles ovate, rarely elliptic, trigonous, 2.53 mm, papery, pale brown with dense dark brown spots and short lines, glabrous, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into beak of medium length, beak about 1/4 length of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate, trigonous, 1.52 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
* Forests; 3001100 m. Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi.
丫蕊薹草 ya rui tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, lateral, flaccid, 1520 Χ ca. 0.1 cm, trigonous, loosely hairy and glabrescent later, base with pale brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, linear or linear-elliptic, 1525 Χ 1.53 cm, glabrous, acuminate; petiole 110 cm, base covered with brown sheaths, upper part with narrow wings formed by leaf-blade base; cauline leaves often absent, if present, spathelike, membranous, brown, glabrous or loosely pubescent. Bracts spathelike; panicle simple, triangular-ovate, 1.53 Χ 23 cm; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 13 cm, loosely pubescent; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 37 mm, membranous, pale yellow with dense brown spots and short lines; spikes 110, producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, oblong-cylindrical, 710 mm, bisexual, androgynous; staminate part of spike nearly same length as pistillate part, oblong-cylindrical; pistillate part 38-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 34 mm, acuminate, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes lanceolate, 23 mm, obtuse, membranous, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, glabrous, 1-nerved; utricles rhomboid-ovate or elliptic, trigonous, patent, 3.54 mm, membranous, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into long beak, beak slightly shorter than half of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes nearly ovate, trigonous, 1.52 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
* Woods, shady slopes; 7001700 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi.
林氏薹草 lin shi tai cao
Carex sinocrispa Raymond.
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, lateral, flaccid, 1540 Χ ca. 0.1 cm, trigonous, loosely hairy and then glabrescent, base with pale to deep brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves tufted, narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, 1230 Χ 22.5 cm, glabrous or scabrid along abaxial veins, acuminate, base attenuate, margins densely replicate; petiole 520 cm, nearly glabrous; cauline leaves spathelike, pale greenish white, sometimes with brown spots and short lines, loosely pubescent. Bracts spathelike; panicle simple, triangular-ovate, 1.53 Χ 23 cm, about 10-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence tenuous, densely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, 2.53 mm, glabrous; spikes producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, oblong, patent horizontally, 410 mm, bisexual, androgynous; staminate part of spike nearly circular to oblong; pistillate part 310-flowered, nearly as long as staminate part; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 2.22.5 mm, apex obtuse, membranous, pale brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes similar to staminate ones; utricles ovate-elliptic, trigonous, obliquely or horizontally patent, ca. 3.5 mm, membranous, brownish white with dense brown spots and short lines, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into long beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate, trigonous, 1.51.8 mm, brown when mature; base of style thickened, stigma 3.
* Woods, shady places. Fujian, Zhejiang.
棕叶薹草 zong ye tai cao
Rhizome thick, woody, with stolons. Culms loosely tufted, lateral, slender, 2235 Χ ca. 0.20.25 cm, trigonous, lower part smooth, upper part loosely pubescent, base with brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaf single, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2242 Χ 410 cm, scabrid abaxially, glabrous adaxially, 714-veined, replicate, entire, apex caudate, base attenuate; petiole 710 cm, fold, glabrous; cauline leaves spathelike, green, loosely pubescent, margins brown, membranous. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound, several-branched; inflorescence branches single or binate, racemose, often 12(3)-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, lowest one up to 8 cm, upper ones gradually shorter, scabrid; bractlets glumaceous, ovate-lanceolate, 34 mm, loosely hairy; spikes producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, linear-cylindrical, 2540 Χ 34 mm, bisexual, androgynous; staminate part of spike nearly as long as pistillate part, oblong; pistillate part loosely many-flowered; staminate glumes oblong, 4.55 mm, apex obtuse, membranous, dark brown, 3-nerved; pistillate glumes oblong, 4.55 mm, acuminate, membranous, pale brown with dark brown spots and short lines, loosely hairy abaxially, 3-nerved; utricles elliptic, trigonous, ca. 4 mm, membranous, pale brown with dark brown spots and short lines, with 2 lateral veins abaxially, nearly sessile, apex contracted into beak of medium length, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, brown when mature; base of style not thickened, stigma 3.
Wet grasslands in valleys; 12001300 m. SE Yunnan [Vietnam].
扇叶薹草 san ye tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous, woody. Culms lateral, 4040 Χ ca. 0.2 cm, trigonous, loosely pubescent, base with brown sheaths. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaf 23 tufted on rhizome node, narrowly elliptic, 2035 Χ 3.87 cm, glabrous or scabrid on abaxial veins, replicate, acuminate, base attenuate; petiole 1424 cm, fold, glabrous; cauline leaves spathelike, pale greenish white with dense brown spots and short lines, pubescent. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound, 10 more branched; inflorescence branches binate or ternate, racemose, 13-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 210 cm, densely pubescent; bractlets glumaceous, ovate-oblong, ca. 3.5 mm, densely pubescent abaxially; spikes producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, oblong, 510 mm, bisexual, androgynous; staminate part of spike slightly shorter than pistillate part, with 10 more flowers; pistillate part 410-flowered; staminate glumes ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, acuminate, membranous, pale yellow laterally with dense spots and short lines, pale green at middle, 3-nerved; pistillate glumes similar to staminate glumes, but loosely pubescent abaxially; utricles obliquely to horizontally patent, elliptic, trigonous, 33.2 mm, membranous, pale yellowish white with brown spots and short lines, with many upheaving veins, glabrous, base nearly rounded, upper part attenuate into excurved long beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, 1.92 mm, brown when mature; style excurved, base not thickened, stigma 3.
* Streamsides; ??altitude. Guangxi.
蘖枝薹草组 ni zhi tai cao zu
Culms lateral; leaves radical or cauline, several radical leaves often forming a high shoot, leaf blades linear, less than 1 cm wide, cauline leaves and bracts spathelike; inflorescence branches only with about 310 spikes.
?? species: ??distribution; three species in China.
1a. Leaves densely hairy abaxially; utricles smaller, 2.53 mm, ovate-rhomboid, upper part with brownish red papilla .................................................................................................... 29. C. kwangsiensis
1b. Leaves glabrous; utricles larger, 3.54 mm, elliptic or oblong, without papilla.
2a. Utricles loosely hairy, beak about 1/3 length of utricle, beak mouth prominently bidentate; radical leaves shorter than culms; pistillate glumes mucronate ....................................... 30. C. oligostachya
2b. Utricles glabrous, beak about 1/2 length of utricle, beak mouth not prominently bidentate; radical leaves longer than culms; pistillate glumes not mucronate ........................................... 31. C. tsiangii
广西薹草 guanxi tai cao
Rhizome woody, with stolons. Culms lateral, 3050 Χ ca. 0.15 cm, trigonous, loosely pubescent when young and glabrescent later, with brown sheaths at base. Leaves radical and cauline; radical leaves longer than culms, several ones forming a high shoot, base covered with persistent brown sheaths, linear, flat, 57 mm wide, with dense white hair abaxially; cauline leaves spathelike, brown, loosely hairy along veins. Bracts spathelike; panicle compound; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, 23 Χ 22.5 cm, single or terminal ones binate, about 310-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 510 cm, loosely pubescent; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, densely hairy; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, lowest one 510 mm, upper ones gradually shorter, terminal one awnlike, pale brown, loosely pubescent; spikes obliquely or horizontally patent, androgynous, 718 mm, staminate part cylindrical, longer than or as long as pistillate part, pistillate part 213-flowered; spike peduncles producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls, tenuous, lowest one 22.5 mm, upper ones gradually shorter, loosely pubescent; staminate glumes lanceolate, 3.54 mm, apex obtuse, membranous, brown laterally, loosely pubescent and glabrescent later, margins ciliate, pale green at middle, with 1 nerve; pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 2.22.5 mm, apex obtuse, membranous, brown laterally, pale green at middle, with 1 mid-nerve, loosely pubescent; utricles ovate-rhomboid, inflatedly trigonous, 2.53 mm, upper part with brownish red papilla, with many upheaving veins, hairy, nearly sessile, apex contracted into excurved long beak of 1/2 length of utricle, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes ovate-rhomboid, trigonous, ca. 1.8 mm, brown when mature; style base thickened, stigma 3.
* Among shrubs in shady valleys; ??altitude. Guangxi.
少穗薹草 shao sui tai cao
Carex rhizomata Steudel.
Rhizome stoloniferous, woody. Culms lateral, 2080 Χ ca. 0.10.2 cm, trigonous, glabrous, base with brown sheaths. Leaves radical and cauline; radical leaves shorter than culms, several ones forming a high shoot, leaf blades linear, flat, 25 mm wide, base covered with brown sheaths; cauline leaves spathelike, brown. Bracts spathelike, with linear blades, shorter than inflorescence branches; panicle compound with 612 distant branches; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, single or binate, 35-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, erect, slightly scabrid; inflorescence axes loosely hairy on edges; bractlets glumaceous, ca. 3 mm; spikes patent, bisexual, angogynous, 410 mm, staminate part longer than or nearly as long as pistillate part; staminate glumes lanceolate, 33.5 mm, brown, glabrous; pistillate glumes ovate to lanceolate, 23 mm, apex obtuse, mucronate, pale brown with dense purplish red spots and short lines, upper part loosely pubescent, margins hyaline; utricles patent, oblong, slightly inflated, trigonous, 2.54 mm, brownish green to purplish brown, with several upheaving veins, hairy, apex contracted into excurved beak of medium length, beak 1/3 length of utricle, beak mouth prominently bidentate. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, 22.3 mm; style base not thickened, stigma 3.
Grasslands on slopes; 9001200 m. Guangxi, Guizhou [India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam].
三念薹草 san nian tai cao
Carex surculosa Raymond.
Rhizome woody, with stolons. Culms tufted, lateral, 4060 Χ ca. 0.1 cm, trigonous, glabrous, base with brown sheaths. Leaves radical and cauline; radical leaves longer than culms, several ones forming a high shoot, leaf blades linear, flat, 57 mm wide, glabrous, margins entire or scabrid, base covered with brown sheaths; cauline leaves spathelike, brown, loosely pubescent and glabrescent later. Bracts spathelike, with linear blades, shorter than inflorescence branches; panicle compound, 610 cm, 36-branched; inflorescence branches nearly corymbose, broadly ovate, ca. 2 Χ 23 cm, single or binate, 310-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 35.5 cm, slightly scabrid; inflorescence axes sharply trigonous, densely hairy and glabrescent later; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 2.53 mm, pale brown laterally, pale green at middle, loosely pubescent; spikes obliquely or horizontally patent, bisexual, androgynous, 1015 mm, staminate part cylindrical, longer than pistillate part, pistillate part 39-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 33.5 mm, acuminate, pale green with brown spots and short lines, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 2.53 mm, acute, membranous, pale brown with brown spots and short lines, with 1 mid-nerve, loosely pubescent and glabrescent later, margins ciliate; utricles elliptic or broadly elliptic, obtusely trigonous, 3.54 mm, papery, brown, glabrous, with several fine veins, apex contracted into long beak, beak nearly as long as utricle, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achenes elliptic or broadly elliptic, trigonous, 1.52 mm; style base thickened, stigma 3.
* Among shrubs on slopes; ??altitude. Guangdong.
宝兴薹草组 Pinyin
Panicle compound; inflorescence branches corymbose; spike unisexual; staminate spikes at upper part of inflorescence branches, pistillate spikes at lower part; culms bearing leaves from base to inflorescence; leaves papillose abaxially.
?? species: ??distribution; one species in China.
宝兴薹草 Pinyin
Homolostachys sinensis Boeckler.
Rhizome stoloniferous, woody. Culms 2050 Χ 0.30.4 cm, stiff, trigonous, base with persistent brown sheaths. Leaves longer or shorter than culms, flat, 35 mm wide, pubescent and glabrescent later, papillose abaxially, scabrid adaxially, long-sheathed, sheath mouth villous. Bracts same as leaves, shorter than inflorescence, much longer than inflorescence branches; panicle compound, 1020 cm, 410-flowered; inflorescence corymbose, 23 Χ 1.52 cm, single, 512-spiked; peduncles of inflorescence branches tenuous, 68 cm, trigonous, loosely pubescent; axes of inflorescence sharply trigonous, loosely pubescent; bractlets glumaceous, lanceolate, 34 mm, brown, loosely pubescent; spikes unisexual, staminate ones at upper part, pistillate at lower part, producing from flowerless utriculiform cladoprophylls; staminate spikes oblong, 610 mm, many-flowered, sometimes with few pistillate flowers at base; pistillate spikes oblong, 710 mm, densely many-flowered, sometimes with few staminate flowers at top; staminate glumes lanceolate, 2.53.5 mm, acuminate, membranous, brown, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes lanceolate, 2.53.5 mm, acuminate, brownish white with dense brown spots, with 1 mid-nerve, margins narrowly hyaline; utricles obliquely patent, shorter than glumes, obovate, sometimes obliquely obovate, slightly inflated, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, papery, glabrous, brownish white with brown spots, 2-veined abaxially, apex contracted abruptly into short beak, beak mouth obliquely truncate. Achenes obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.2 mm, yellowish white when mature; style base thickened, stigma 3.
* Shady slopes, roadsides. Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan.
粗糙薹草组 cu cao tai cao zu
Panicle spicate; inflorescence branches 15, nearly sessile; spikes fewer, dense, androgynous, few-flowered; bracts leafy, with or without sheaths.
?? species: ??distribution; one species in China.
三头薹草 san tou tai cao
Rhizome oblique. Culms tufted, 1840 Χ ca. 0.1 cm, slender, trigonous, scabrid at upper part. Leaves longer or shorter than culms, flat, 48 mm wide, margins and veins scabrid, persistent sheaths brown, fibriform. Bracts leafy, without sheaths, lowest one longer than inflorescence, others very short, setaceous; panicle spicate, 14 branched; inflorescence branches nearly sessile, fewer-spiked, sometime with sterile spike at lower part; spikes dense, bisexual, androgynous, ovate-globose, 58 Χ 47 mm, nearly sessile; staminate part of spike not prominent, usually not exerted from pistillate part, 35-flowered; pistillate part densely fewer-flowered; staminate glumes lanceolate, 4.55 mm, acuminate, membranous, yellowish white, upper part hairy, with 1 mid-nerve; pistillate glumes lanceolate, 33.5 mm, acuminate, with short awns, yellowish white, with 1 mid-nerve and several fine veins, densely hairy; utricles slightly inflated, trigonous, 4.55 mm, membranous, yellowish white, with 2 lateral keels and several fine veins, densely hairy, nearly sessile, margins very narrowly winged, apex contracted into long beak, beak mouth minutely bidentate. Achenes ovate, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, pale yellow when mature; style base thickened and pyriform, stigma 3.
Forests; 7001100 m. S Yunnan (Xishuangbanna) [Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].
Chinese tai cao yu shu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯), Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun), Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Herb, perennial. Rhizome stoloniferous or without stolon. Flowers unisexual, androgyny; spike few to numerous, unisexual or unisexual and bisexual, rarely all spikes bisexual, bisexual spike usually androgynous (staminate-flowered at the upper part), sometimes gynandrous (pistillate-flowered at the upper part), rarely single and terminal, usually composed spicate, racemose or paniculate inflorescence; cladoprophyll sheathing-shaped, without flower in it. Utricles trigonous, plano-convex or biconvex. Nutlets trigonous, plano-convex or biconvex; style slightly slender, thickened or not thickened at base; stigmas usually 3, rarely 2.
The subgenus includes 43 sections in China.
1a. Spikes 2 to numerous, usually 1 to several spikes bearing in a bract sheath, rarely composed compound inflorescence.
2a. Utricles trigonous; stigmas 3.
3a. Utricles nearly beakless or with short beak, truncate, emarginate or very short 2-toothed at orifice.
4a. Pistillate spikes densely flowered; bracts usually without sheath or only very short-sheathed.
5a. Pistillate spikes contiguous or rather congregate, rarely the lower 12 remote, without peduncle or very short-peduncled, rarely the lowermost one rather long-peduncled.
6a. Bracts leaf like or the lower bracts leaf like, rarely setaceous; terminal spike gynandrous, rarely staminate ............................................................................... 10. C. sect. Racemosae
6b. Bracts scale-shaped or the lower bracts linear, the upper bracts scale-shaped; terminal spike staminate.
7a. Pistillate glumes brown or brownish; utricle hirtellous or papilliferous; emarginate or very short 2-toothed at orifice of beak.
8a. Utricles papilliferous; style thickened at base ............... 11. C. sect. Glaucaeformes
8b. Utricles hirtellous; style not thickened at base ...................... 12. C. sect. Acrocystis
7b. Pistillate glumes red-brown or dark-brown; utricles
glabrous, usually shiny; obliquely truncate at orifice of beak; style thickened
at base
.................................................................................. 13.
C. sect. Lamprochlaenae
5b. Pistillate spikes remote, peduncled.
9a. Staminate spikes 26 (Carex inanis Kunth only 1 staminate spike); utricles hispidulous or scabrous ...................................................................................... 14. C. sect. Trachychlaenae
9b. Staminate spike single, terminal; utricles glabrous ..................... 15. C. sect. Anomalae
4b. Pistillate spikes sparsely flowered; bracts usually sheathed.
10a. Utricles pubescent or hispidulous, rarely glabrous.
11a. Bracts with short blades; nutlets thickened at apex into the annulate shape; style thickened at base into the different shape.
12a. Nutlets with persistent and bent style-base at apex
.................................................................................... 16.
C. sect. Cryptostachyae
12b. Nutlets without the persistent style-base at apex; when nutlets with persistent style-base, the style-base straight or thickened to the cucullate shape.
13a. Nutlets with ± cylindrical style-base, concave at apex,
the persistent style-base not thickened to the cucullate shape
17.
C. sect. Lageniformes
13b. Nutlets ± thickened to the disk-shaped, not concave at
apex, the persistent style-base thickened to the cucullate shape
18.
C. sect. Mitratae
11b. Bracts spathose-shaped, without blade, rarely leaf like; nutlets not thickened at apex into the annulate shape; style slightly thickened at base, rarely thickened into a conical style-base.
14a. Bracts leaf like, rarely sheathing-shaped, without blade; spikes bisexual, androgynous; utricles subleathery or papery; style thickened at base into a conical style-base 19. C. sect. Radicales
14b. Bracts spathose-shaped, rarely sheathing-shaped; spikes unisexual, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate; utricles membranous; style thickened or not thickened at base 20. C. sect. Digitatae
10b. Utricles glabrous or scabrid.
15a. Leaf blades usually revolute at margins; bracts sheathing-shaped, without bracts blade; staminate spike few-flowered; style thickened at base into a globose style-base 21. C. sect. Albae
15b. Leaf blades flat; bracts leaf like or spathose-shaped, with short bract blades; staminate spike many-flowered; style not thickened at base.
16a. Culm central; leaf blades rather narrow, 25 mm wide spikes unisexual; pistillate glumes red-brown or brown.
17a. Bracts short-sheathed; pistillate spikes dense-flowered,
slenderly peduncled, usually pendulous; style exserted from utricle
22.
C. sect. Limosae
17b. Bracts long-sheathed; pistillate spikes sparse-flowered,
slightly thick peduncled, erect; style included in utricle (only stigmas
exserted)
23.
C. sect. Paniceae
16b. Culms lateral; leaf-blades rather broad, 630 mm wide; (very few species with 36 mm wide blades); spikes bisexual, androgynous; pistillate glumes pale-ferruginous or pale 24. C. sect. Siderostietae
3b. Utricles with a long beak or middling beak (beak rather short in C. sect. Paludosae, Fries), 2 long-or short-toothed at orifice, rarely subtruncate or very short-toothed.
18a. Leaf blades without transverse septate nodes between the longitudinal nerves.
19a. Pistillate glumes darkly purple-red or brown; utricles compressed-trigonous, rarely trigonous.
20a. Spikes numerous, bisexual, androgynous, usually several spikes bearing in a bract sheath 25. C. sect. Decorae
20b. Spikes 27, unisexual, singular in a bract sheath; terminal spikes staminate, rarely gynandrous, lateral spikes pistillate ................................................................ 26. C. sect. Frigidae
19b. Pistillate glumes pale, rarely dark-brown; utricles trigonous or inflated-trigonous (nearly plano-convex in C. sect. Secalinae O. F. Lang).
21a. Culms central; nutlets not constricted or without constrictions on angles; style not thickened at base.
22a. Terminal spike staminate, rarely androgynous or gynandrous; utricles membranous, papery rarely subleathery.
23a. Pistillate spikes usually sparsely flowered (densely flowered in C. sect. Hymenochlaenae Drejer); bracts sheathed; utricles erect or slightly oblique-patent, greenish or greenish yellow, obscurely nerved.
24a. Pistillate spikes oblong or short-cylindrical; utricle less than 3 mm ....... 27. C. sect. Chlorostachyae
24b. Pistillate spikes cylindrical, narrowly cylindrical or linear-cylindrical; utricles 47 mm, rarely 33.5 mm.
25a. Pistillate spikes cylindrical, rather densely flowered;
utricles ovate, subovate or elliptical, 2 short-toothed at orifice
28.
C. sect. Hymenochlaenae
25b. Pistillate narrowly cylindrical or linear-cylindrical,
sparsely or very laxly flowered; utricles oblong-lanceolate, lanceolate or
narrowly oblong, obliquely truncate or very shortly 2-toothed in orifice
29.
C. sect. Debiles
23b. Pistillate spikes densely many-flowered; bracts usually without sheaths or with very short sheath; utricles eventually divaricate, levelly patent or downward reflexed, rarely oblique patent, distinctly several-nerved.
26a. Pistillate glumes long-aristate, rarely mucronate (Carex ischnostachyae Steudel and Carex
subtumida (Kόkenthal) Ohwi without mucro or awn at apex of glumes);
utricles eventually levelly patent or slightly downward reflexed, rarely
slightly divaricate, brown-green or dark-brown or black-brown at maturity
................................................................................... 30
C. sect. Confertiflorae
26b. Pistillate glumes mucronate or muticous, rarely aristate; utricles eventually obliquely patent, rarely level-patent, greenish yellow or stramineous, rarely brownish yellow 31. C. sect. Molliculae
22b. Staminate spikes 13, bearing at apex of culm; utricles leathery, nearly plano-convex 32. C. sect. Secalinae
21b. Culms lateral, rarely central; nutlets usually constricted or with constriction on angles, rarely not constricted or without constriction; style thickened or inflated at base, persistent, rarely not thickened.
27a. Pistillate spikes densely many-flowered; nutlets usually constricted or with constriction on angles, rarely not constricted ...................................................... 33. C. sect. Rhomboidales
27b. Pistillate spikes sparsely several-flowered; nutlets not constricted on angles 34. C. sect. Laxiflorae
18b. Leaf blades with transverse septate nodes between the longitudinal nerves.
28a. Utricles glabrous.
29a. Pistillate glumes long-aristate; utricles eventually levelly patent or downward reflexed, obtuse-trigonous long beaked, deeply splitting into a 2 long-toothed at orifice 35. C. sect. Pseudo-cypereae
29b. Pistillate glumes muticous or mucronate, rarely aristate; utricles eventually obliquely patent, rarely levelly patent or downward reflexed, inflated-trigonous or slightly inflated-trigonous, middling-long or very short beaked.
30a. Pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate or narrow-ovate, without mucro or awn; utricles inflated-trigonous, membranous or subleathery, middling long beaked 36. C. sect. Physocarpae
30b. Pistillate glumes ovate or bread-ovate, mucronate, rarely aristate; utricles slightly inflated-trigonous, leathery or suberous, very short-beaked ................ 37. C. sect. Paludosae
28b. Utricles ± hispidulous or pubescent, rarely glabrous or ciliate on margins of beak.
31a. Pistillate glumes ovate or broad-ovate, acute at apex, mucronate; utricles obtuse-trigonous, 4 mm, rarely 5 mm, short beaked, short 2-toothed at orifice ................. 38. C. sect. Occlusae
31b. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, narrow-ovate or oblong-ovate, acuminate at apex, aristate or mucronate (Carex latisquamea, Komarov pistillate glumes broad-ovate); utricles slightly inflated-trigonous or inflated-trigonous, 510 mm, rarely 4 mm, middling-long beaked, long or middling-long 2-toothed at orifice ................................................................ 39. C. sect. Carex
2b. Utricles plano-convex or biconvex; stigmas 2.
32a. Bracts without sheaths; pistillate spike densely many-flowered.
33a. Spikes peduncled, ± pendent.
34a. Spikes 26 bearing in every bract sheath on the
inflorescence
43.
C. sect. Tuminensis
34b. Spike singular in every bract sheath on the
inflorescence
42.
C. sect. Praelongata
33b. Spikes nearly non-peduncled or only the lowermost or basilar spike rather long-peduncled.
35a. Utricles distinctly beaked, or 0.51.5 mm, 2-toothed at
orifice
41.
C. sect. Forficulae
35b. Utricles beakless or short-beaked, truncate or
emarginate at orifice
40.
C. sect. Phacocystis
32b. Bracts sheathed; pistillate spikes sparsely flowered, rarely slightly densely flowered 44. C. sect. Gracilis
1b. Spike single, terminal.
36a. Nutlets trigonous, stigmas 3.
37a. Pistillate glumes early deciduous; utricles downwards
reflexed in maturity, lateral nerves not more conspicuous than the nerves on
dorsal and ventral surfaces; regressive branch rachilla conspicuous, usually
longer than nutlet
45.
C. sect. Orthocerate
37b. Pistillate glumes and utricles deciduous at the same time or later than utricles; utricle not distinctly downwards reflexed immaturity, lateral nerves more conspicuous than the nerves on dorsal surface, without regressive branch rachilla or rarely with regressive branch rachilla, but shorter than nutlet.
38a. Spikes short-cylindrical to capitate.
39a. Nutlets with regressive branch rachilla at base ............................. 46. C. sect. Rupestres
39b. Nutlets without regressive branch rachilla at base .............................. 47. C. sect. Rarae
38b. Spikes linear or linear-cylindrical, rarely only pistillate spikes so.
40a. Utricles short-beaked (beak not over 1 mm), nerves obscure on dorsal surface 48. C. sect. Grallatoricae
40b. Utricles long-beaked (beak over 1 mm) nerves conspicuous on dorsal surface 49. C. sect. Rhizopodae
36b. Nutlets biconvex or plano-convex, stigmas 2.
41a. Spikes bisexual; androgynous; utricles not spongy at
base
50.
C. sect. Capituligerae
41b. Spikes unisexual; utricles spongy at base ............................................. 51. C. sect. Dioicae
褐穗薹草组 hei sui tai cao zu
Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun); Tetsuo Koyama
Spikes erect, rarely pendent, terminal spike gynaecandrous, rarely staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, sometimes with a few apical staminate flowers. Bracts leaflike or setaceous. Pistillate glumes dark purple-brown. Utricles membranous or leathery, elliptic, ovate or obovate, yellow-green or pale-brown, usually dark purple-brown with minutely papillose or punctate, glabrous, short beak at apex, entire, emarginate or 2-toothed at orifice. Style thickened at base; stigmas 3, rarely 2.
About 60 species; 28 species in China.
1a. Pistillate glumes 910 mm ............................................................................ 34. C. praeclara
1b. Pistillate glumes less than 8 mm.
2a. Utricles densely papillose, gray-green.
3a. Pistillate glumes acuminate or with short awn at apex,
long than the utricle
35. C. tarumensis
3b. Pistillate glumes obtuse at apex, equaling or slightly shorter than the utricles.
4a. Pistillate spikes 510 mm, sessile ......................................................... 36. C. meyeriana
4b. pistillate spikes 1025 mm, short stipitate at base .......................... 37. C. hongyuanensis
2b. Utricles smooth or minutely punctate, yellowish green, stramineous, pale-brown or dark purple-reddish.
5a. The upper 34 spikes staminate, rarely with a few
pistillate flowers at base
38.
C. polymascula
5b. Terminal spikes staminate or gynaecandrous or entirely gynaecandrous.
6a. All spikes gynaecandrous ................................................................... 39. C. aristulifera
6b. Spikes gynaecandrous or staminate at apex.
7a. Terminal spike staminate (only C. melanantha C. A. Meyer terminal spike staminate, rarely bisexual).
8a. Spikes distant, leaves soft ....................................................... 40. C. augustinowiczii
8b. Spikes approximate at apex, only the lowest spike distant, leaves slightly stiff 41. C. melanantha
7b. Terminal spike gynaecandrous.
9a. Culms 1530 cm tall, pistillate glumes with broadly white-hyaline on margins 42. C. moocroftii
9b. Culms 3055 cm tall, pistillate glumes without white-hyaline or with narrowly white-hyaline on margins, acuminate at apex ......................................................... 43. C. minxianensis
10a. Utricles scabrous above on margins .................................................. 44. C. obscura
10b. Utricles smooth scabrous on margins.
11a. Pistillate glumes with a scabrous long awn at apex ........................... 45. C. gmelinii
11b. Pistillate glumes without scabrous long awn at apex.
12a. Utricles nerved.
13a. Utricles elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate.
14a. Spikes distant, pistillate glumes pallid or light ferruginous; utricles the orifice yellow-green, 2-toothed ............................................................................ 56. C. peiltusani
14b. Spikes approximate, pistillate glumes dark purple; utricles the orifice purple-red, emarginated ........................................................................ 57. C. schneideri
13b. Utricles obovate-elliptic or obovate or oblanceolate.
15a. Utricles inflated.
16a. Utricles 22.2 mm, pistillate glumes broadly ovate, ca.
1.2 mm
58.
C. lehmanii
16b. Utricles 3 mm, pistillate glumes oblong, 22.5 mm
59.
C. montis-wutaii
15b. Utricles not inflated.
17a. Utricles oblanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate 33.5 mm, 2-toothed at orifice 60. C. serreana
17b. Utricles obovate or elliptic-obovate, 33.5(3.8) Χ 1.71.4 mm, beak very short truncate at orifice ............................................................................ 61. C. caucasica
12b. Utricles nerveless (except for two ribs on edges).
18a. Spikes contiguous forming a capitate or spicate inflorescence.
19a. Utricles membranous, vesicular, nerveless .................... 48. C. melanocephala
19b. Utricles leathery, granulose or glabrous, 35-nerved.
20a. Rhizome long; utricles ovate, glabrous, 45 mm; sandy
plants
46.
C. sabulosa
20b. Rhizome short, loosely tufted; utricles obovate, minutely granulose 2.53 mm 47. C. melananthaeformis
18b. Spikes loosely disposed in racemose inflorescence.
21a. Pistillate glumes 23 mm. pistillate spikes 415 mm.
22a. Utricles inflated, horizontal patent when mature ................ 54. C. hancokiana
22b. Utricles compressed or slightly inflated, not horizontal patent when mature.
23a. Culms 3060 cm, pistillate glumes with white-hyaline on margins 52. C. angatae
23b. Culms 1025 cm tall, pistillate glumes not white-hyaline on margins 53. C. infuscata
21b. Pistillate glumes 46 mm; pistillate spikes 25(20)35 mm; achenes ca. 2 mm.
24a. Utricles stramineous, sometimes upper yellow-brown or purple, punctuate, compressed 49. C. kansuensis
24b. Utricles dark brown to purple-brown; nutlets 1.52.5 mm.
25a. Pistillate glumes 66.5 mm; achenes ca. 2.5 .................. 50. C. bijiangensis
25b. Pistillate glumes 3.54 mm; achenes 1.51.7 mm.
26a. Utricles elliptic or ovate, shallowly 2-toothed at
orifice
55.
C. atrata
26b. Utricles narrowly oblong,
obliquely truncate at orifice
51.
C. obliquetruncata
沙生薹草 sha sheng tai cao
Rhizome creeping, thick. Culms 2030 cm tall, trigonous, slightly rigid, clothed at base with purple-brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 35 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex. Bracts sheath less, the lowest one with setaceous blade, remaining bracts glumaceous. Spikes 3 to 8, densely disposed in a head, androgynous except 1 to 2 pistillate at base, oblong, 1.32.5 cm, subsessile. Pistillate glumaceous long elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 910 Χ 3.54 mm, dark purple, broadly white-hyaline on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles shorter than the glumes, 4.5(3)5(3.3) mm, elliptic or long elliptic, compressed-trigonous, pale brown, the upper densely papillose, without conspicuous nerves, contracted at both ends, beak short, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes obovate-oblong or elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, light brown; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Sep.
Grassy slopes or sandy soil; 48005400 m. Xizang, Yunnan [from literature] [Sikkim].
长麟薹草 chang lin tai cao
Rhizome long-creeping. Culms 2060 cm tall, acutely trigonous, erect, scabrous below inflorescence, clothed at base with purple bladeless sheaths, often disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves nearly equaling the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, flat, revolute on margins. The lowest bract setaceous or leafy, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 3 to 4, approximate, terminal spike pistillate flowers in the middle, staminate flowers at apex and base; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate-oblong, 11.5 cm, subsessile. Pistillate glumes narrowly ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 1-nerved costa forming a short awn at glume apex, 44.5 mm (including awn), purple-brown, green in the middle, white-hyaline on margins. Utricles shorter than the glume, elliptic, compressed-trigonous, subleathery, 2.53.5 mm, light gray-green, densely papillose, many-nerved, contracted short-stipitate at base, abruptly narrowed above to a very short beak, 2-toothed at the orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, subobovate, trigonous, ca. 1.8 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Mar.
Meadows and wet places in forests; 14001500 m. Jilin (Chang bai shan) [Japan].
乌拉草 wu la cao
Rhizome short, densely caespitose, plants growing in clump. Culms 2050 cm tall, 11.5 mm wide, slender, obscurely trigonous, rigid, smooth, clothed at base with chestnut-brown lustrous bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than or subequaling the culm, blades setaceous, flexuous, rather stiff, folded, scabrous on margins. Bracts sheath less, the lowest one setaceous, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 2 to 3, approximate, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 1.52 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, globose or ovate, 512 Χ ca. 0.5 mm, densely flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, obtuse at apex, 2.83.5 mm, dark-purple or red-brown, with faintly 3 nerves, narrowly white-hyaline on margins. Utricles equaling or nearly longer than the glume, 2.53 mm, ovate or elliptic compressed-trigonous, bluish green to gray, finely 56-nerved, densely papillose, with short stipitate, abruptly contracted above to cylindrical, entire beak. Achenes tightly enveloped obovate-elliptic, compressed-trigonous, brown, 1.52 mm, with short stipitate, rounded at apex; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Marshes. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Sichuan [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Far East, Siberia)].
红原薹草 hong yuan tai cao
Rhizome short, woody. Culms to 50 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, scabrous above, clothed at base with dark brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 34 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins. Bracts leafy, shorter than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 4, approximate, terminal spike staminate, long-cylindrical, 2325 Χ 24 mm, with peduncle 4 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 12.5 Χ 0.50.6 cm, densely flowers, peduncle 12.7 cm at base. Pistillate glumes oblong, obtuse at apex, ca. 3.5 mm Χ 1.5 mm, dark brown, yellowish, 1-nerved, pale-yellow. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, compressed-trigonous, 4 Χ 2 mm, yellow-green, glabrous, 79-nerved, constricted at both ends, beak short, entire at orifice; stigmas 3.
* Side ditch; 3550 m. Sichuan (Hong yuan).
多雄薹草 duo xiong tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 6070 cm tall, slightly sub rigid, scabrous above, clothed at base with brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 34 mm wide, flat, slightly soft. Lower bracts nearly leafy, sheath less, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 5 to 7, contiguous, the lowest spike much spaced, cylindrical, 2.53.6 Χ 67 mm, densely flowers, upper 34 ones staminate (rarely a few pistillate flowers at base); remainder spikes pistillate, usually a few staminate flowers at apex or not, peduncles slender, with densely papillose, upper ones rather short. Pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 44.5 mm, dark purple or brown, white-hyaline on margins, the green 1-nerved costa ending in a mucro. Utricles shorter than the glume, subrounded or broadly ovate, compressed-trigonous, 2.32.5 mm, pale-brown, with purple-punctate, glabrous, nerveless, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, at orifice hyaline, emarginated. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic, abruptly contracted to a short-stipitate at base; style not thickened at base; stigmas. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
* Under Abies forests, alpine meadows in thickets; 37004200 m. W Sichuan.
具芒薹草 ju mang tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 1530 cm tall, slender, pendent apical, trigonous, clothed at base with dark brown bladeless sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 1.52 mm wide, flat, with papillose abaxially. Spikes 23, gynaecandrous, with staminate part 1/3 the length of the spike, approximate, or distant on the lowest spike, oblong, 1020 Χ ca. 5 mm, densely flowered; slender peduncled, pendent. Pistillate glumes oblong, 2.83.2 mm, dark purple, densely minutely papillose, 3-nerved green costa often forming a scabrous long awn at glume apex. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, elliptic, compressed-trigonous, 3.23.5 mm, membranous, yellow-green, densely finely granular apical, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, at orifice entire purple. Achenes loosely enveloped, obovate-oblong, trigonous, short stipitate; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Rocky places in alpine thickets grassland; 32003500 m. NW Yunnan (Gong shan xian).
短鳞薹草 duan lin tai cao
Carex eleusinoides Turczaninow var. flaccidior Fr. Schmidt; C. soyacensis Kukenthal.
Rhizome short-stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 3050 cm tall, trigonous, slender, slightly scabrous, clothed at base with purple-brown bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves slightly shorter than or equaling the culm, 23 mm wide, green, soft. The lowest bract leafy, sheathing, remainder ones setaceous. Spikes 35, sub distant, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 11.7 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, rarely few staminate flowered at base, cylindrical, 1.53.5 cm, the lowest spike with short peduncle, remainder ones nearly sessile. Pistillate glumes oblong, acuminate or obtuse at apex, 22.8 mm, dark sanguineous or purple-red, pale-green in the middle. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse trigonous, ca. 3 mm, pale gray-green or yellow-green, finely many-nerved, cuneate at base, gradually narrowed above to a beak, emarginated at orifice. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style slender, not thickened at base; stigmas 3.
Forests, river side or sandy wet places. Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning [Russia (Far East), Japan].
黑花薹草 hei hua tai cao
Rhizome creeping, thick. Culms 830 cm tall, trigonous, firm, clothed at base with brownish remnants of bladeless and blade-bearing sheaths. Leaves shorter than or subequaling the culm, blades linear, 36 mm, subleathery. The lowest bract setaceous, sheathless, upper bracts glumaceous. Spikes 36, aggregated in a capitate inflorescence, terminal spike usually staminate or gynaecandrous(rarely mixed), ovate, 12.5 cm, sessile; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate or oblong, 12 cm, sessile or the lowest one with rather short peduncle. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate, acute at apex, 45 mm, ferruginous-brown, green in the middle, narrowed white-hyaline on margins. Utricles shorter than the glume, oblong or obovate, trigonous, 33.5 mm, leathery, staminate, dark-purple on upper part, without conspicuous the nerves excepted for two costas on edges, short stipitate at base, abruptly contracted at both ends, beak short, emarginate at orifice. Achenes obovate or obovate-oblong, ca. 2 mm, pale yellow-brown; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Alpine meadows and shady slopes; 25004500 m. Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (Siberia), C Asia].
青藏薹草 qing xizang tai cao
Rhizome creeping, thick. Culms 720 cm tall, trigonous, firm, clothed at base with brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 24 mm wide, flat, leathery, scabrous on margins. Bracts setaceous, shorter than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 45, approximate, the lowest spike ± distant, densely many-flowered, terminal spike staminate, oblong or cylindrical, 11.8 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate or oblong, 0.71.8 cm, short peduncle at base, remainder sessile. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 56 mm, purple, broadly white-hyaline on margins. Utricles equaling or slightly shorter than the glume, elliptical-obovate, trigonous, leathery, yellow-green, purple above, faintly nerved, abruptly contracts above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes obovate, trigonous, 22.3 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
Alpine meadows in thickets, grasslands, lakesides and low-lying lands; 34005700 m. Qinghai, W Sichuan, Xizang [Sikkim].
岷县薹草 min xian tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 2540 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, slightly scabrous above, clothed at base with brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex. The lowest bract setaceous, auriculate subtending culm at base, sheath less, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 46, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 1.23 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or cylindrical, 12.5 cm, densely many-flowered, upper approximate, sessile, the lowest one distant, with peduncle. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, with mucro at acuminate apex, 4.55 mm, dark purple, sometimes with narrowed white-hyaline on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles shorter than the glumes, ovate, trigonous, 3.54 mm, yellow-green, gradually attenuated at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, dark purple, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes tightly enclosed, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
* Wet places along valley; 3000 m. Gansu (Minxian).
刺囊薹草 ci nang tai cao
Rhizome short, rarely oblique. Culms tufted, 1580 cm tall, acutely trigonous, smooth below, scabrous above, clothed at base with purple sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 25 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins, long-acuminate at apex. Basal 12 bracts longer than inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 36, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong, 11.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 812 mm, with short peduncles or subsessile. Pistillate glumes ovate or broadly ovate, slightly acute or obtuse, 1.82 mm, dark purple. Utricles longer than the glume, obovate-elliptic or broadly elliptic, trigonous, 22.5 mm, pale green, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, emarginate at orifice. Achenes obovate or obovate-elliptic, castaneous, 1.52 mm; style short; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Shady and wet places in alpine coniferous forests, shallow water and meadows; 27004100 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Kashmir to Sikkim].
长芒薹草 chang mang tai cao
Rhizome oblique ascending, stoloniferous. Culms densely tufted, 2060 cm tall, scabrous above, clothed at base with dark-purple bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear or broadly linear, 37 mm wide, slightly firm. Bracts leafy, nearly sheath less. Spikes 38, terminal 3 approximate, sessile, the lower ones distant, with peduncles, the lowest peduncle 23 cm, ± pendent or erect, terminal spike gynaecandrous, rarely staminate, oblong, 23 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 1.53 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate, dark purple-red or black purple, 13 nerved forming a scabrous long-awn at apex, with narrowed white-hyaline on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate or nearly obovate, trigonous, 45 mm, membranous, yellowish green, finally becoming Pale-brown, densely finely granular, 68-nerved, stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short ferruginous scarcely emarginate or entire beak. Achenes loosely enveloped, obovate, trigonous, slightly compressed; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3.
Grasslands, seashores. Jilin [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East, E Siberia); North America].
沙地薹草 sha di tai cao
Rhizome and creeping stolons. Culms 1540 cm tall, smooth, clothed at base with reddish brown bladeless and blade-bearing sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 23.5 mm wide, stiff, sub involute. Lower bracts shorter than the inflorescence. Spikes 25, terminal spike clavate, gynaecandrous, sometimes staminate, 22.5 Χ 0.81 cm remainder spikes pistillate, ovate to ovate-oblong, 1.52 Χ 0.81 cm, upper spikes approximate, lower 12 distant, peduncles 12 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate, acute, ferruginous with a pale midrib. white-hyaline margined. Utricles broader than but as long or shorter than the glume, ovate, trigonous, smooth, 45(6) mm, yellow-green, 35-nerved, broadly cuneate at base, stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a smooth, deeply 2-lobed beak. Fr. JunJul.
Sands on hillsides. Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (E Siberia); C Asia].
No specimens have been seen by the present authors.
尤尔都斯薹草 you er du si tai cao
Rhizome short, with stolons. Culms 1030 tall, erect to slightly curving, scabrous above, clothed at base with brownish red bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves subequaling or slightly shorter than the culm, blades linear, 2.53 mm wide, long-acuminate at apex. Spikes 36, disposed in a interrupted spicate inflorescence, terminal spike gynaecandrous, obovate to oblong, clavate, 12.5 Χ 0.60.8 cm; remainder spikes pistillate, ovate to oblong, 0.81.5 Χ 0.60.8 cm, the lowest peduncle ca. 0.8 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate, obtuse or acute at apex, dark ferruginous, with a light nerve and white-hyaline on margins. Utricles shorter than the glume. 2.53 mm, obovate, minutely granulose, cuneate-based, faintly 34-nerved on both faces, yellowish, ferruginous above, abruptly contracted above to a very short, smooth, emarginated beak. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Meadows, riversides, sands, swampy grasslands, lake sides; 1002100. Xinjiang [N Mongolia, Russia (W Siberia, E Siberia) C Asia].
No specimens have been seen by the present authors.
黑鳞薹草 hei lin tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 1020 cm tall, trigonous, firm, erect, scabrous above, clothed at base with pale brown bladeless sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, about half as long as the culm, 24 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex. The lowest bract setaceous, sheath less. Spikes 34, disposed in a capitate inflorescence, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong, 810 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, globose, ovate, nearly acute apex, blackish brown, 1-nerved, with narrowed white-hyaline on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, oblong-obovate or oblong-elliptic, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, ferruginous-brown, membranous, nerveless, cuneate base, gradually tapering above to a beak, 2-toothed, white-hyaline at orifice. Nutlets loosely envelope, subovate, trigonous ca. 1.5 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
Wet places; 18002400 m. Xinjiang [N Mongolia, Russia (Siberia, Far East) C Asia].
甘肃薹草 gan su tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 45100 cm tall, acutely trigonous, firm, clothed at base with purple bladeless sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades broadly linear, 57 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins. Bracts sheath less, lowest bracts short-bladed, scabrous on margins, shorter than the inflorescence, upper setaceous. Spikes 46, approximate, terminal spike gynaecandrous; lateral spikes pistillate with a few staminate flowers at base, densely many-flowered, oblong-cylindrical, 1.53.5 cm, the lowest peduncle (ca. 2 mm) slender, pendulous. Pistillate glumes elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 44.5 mm, dark purple, with narrowed white-hyaline on margins. Utricles subequaling the glumes, compressed, staminate, sometimes upper yellow-brown or purple punctate, nerveless, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong or obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
* Alpine meadows in thickets, lake sides and wet grasslands; 34004600 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, W Sichuan, NW Yunnan, E Xizang.
碧江薹草 bi jiang tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 5060 cm tall, 2.53.5 mm wide, trigonous, clothed at base with dark-purple sheaths, sometimes disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 47 mm wide, flat. The lowest 12 bracts leaflike, overtopping the inflorescence, sheath less, upper part ones setaceous, shorter than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 46, approximate, the lowest 12 distant; terminal spike gynaecandrous, cylindrical, 23 Χ 0.80.9 cm, the lowest with peduncle 812 mm, upper spikes with short peduncle or sessile. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 66.5 (awn 11.5 mm) Χ ca. 2 mm, membranous, dark brown, the 1-nerved forming a scabrous long-awn at apex. Utricles shorter than the glume, narrowly elliptic, 45 mm, nerveless, membranous, nearly leathery, yellowish green to dark purple, gradually narrowed above to a short beak, dark purple, purple-black, truncate or emarginated at orifice. Achenes enveloped, narrowly obovate, trigonous. ca. 2.5 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
* Alpine meadows; 4000 m. Yunnan (Bi jiang).
斜口薹草 xie kou tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2550 cm tall, 12.5 mm wide, trigonous, scabrous above, clothed at base with purple or dark purple bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, 23.5 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex. The lowest bract leafy, overtopping the inflorescence, sheath less; remainder setaceous. Spikes 34, contiguous or the lowest distant, terminal spike gynaecandrous, 1.52.5 Χ ca. 0.8 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, or occasionally with a few staminate flowers at base, oblong or cylindrical, 1.52.5 Χ ca. 0.8 cm, purplish brown; upper spikes nearly sessile, the lowest one with peduncle 25 mm. Pistillate glumes long lanceolate, 3.54 mm, dark purple-brown, 1-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume, narrowly oblong or long elliptic, 3.24.5 mm, dark purple-brown, membranous, without conspicuous nerves except for two costas on edges, contracted at base short stipitate, gradually narrowed above to a beak, obliquetruncata. Achenes enveloped, ovate, trigonous, rather smaller, ca. 1.5 mm, sessile, castaneous; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Sep.
* Grassy slopes; 4000 m. Yunnan (Gong Shan).
圆穗薹草 yuan sui tai cao
Rhizome short, with short-creeping. Culms 3560 cm tall, trigonous, slender, ± scabrous above, rarely smooth, clothed at base with purple bladeless sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, 23 mm wide, flat, slightly revolute, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 35, upper 3 approximate, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong, 68 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate or oblong-ovate, 45 mm, lowest spike with peduncle, upper subsessile. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate, acute at apex, ca. 2 cm, ferruginous-brown, ferruginous, with narrowed white-hyaline on margins, 3-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume, oblong-obovate or oblong-elliptic, sub inflated-trigonous, 2.23 mm, thinly membranous, yellowish green, finally becoming yellowish brown, slender nerved, stipitate base, abruptly contracted above to a slightly curving beak, emarginated, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic-obovate or elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, short beak at apex; style slightly curving, not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Wet places in forests, grasslands on forest margins; 650700 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, [N Mongolia, Russia (Far East, Siberia)].
高山薹草 gao shan tai cao
Carex gracilenta Boott ex Strachey, Cat. Pl. Kumaon 73. 1854; C. alpina Swartz var. gracilenta (Boott ex Strachey) C. B. Clarke; C. alpine Swartz subsp. infuscate Kukenthal var. gracilenta (Boott ex Strachey) Kukenthal.
Rhizome creeping. Culms 1025 cm tall, slender, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple, later becoming brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter or slightly longer than the culm, blades linear, 1.53 mm wide, flat, slightly soft, acuminate at apex. Lower 12 bracts setaceous, shorter than the inflorescence, upper ones leaflike. Spikes 35, terminal spike gynaecandrous, obovate-lanceolate, 11.5 cm; lateral spikes 812 mm, pistillate, ovate or oblong, short peduncle at base. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-oblong, with mucro at apex, 2.33 mm, purple-brown, green in the middle. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, 33.5 mm, yellowish green or pale green-brown, membranous, nerveless, short stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets loosely enveloped, obovate, trigonous, 1.52.7 mm, pale brown; style slender; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jun.
* Subalpine meadows or forest margins; 27003600 m. W and SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
点叶薹草 dian ye tai cao
Rhizome short, woody, with short-creeping. Culms tufted, 3080 cm tall, slender, trigonous, slightly scabrous, clothed at base with purple bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter or longer than the culm, blades linear, 25 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins, densely minutely papillose abaxially. Bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 35, terminal spike gynaecandrous, cylindrical, 12 cm, densely many-flowered, with slender, often pendulous peduncle; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 11.5 cm, with slender peduncles 1.53 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at apex. ca. 2 mm, purple-brown, pale green in the middle, with broad white-hyaline on margins, 3-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic or oblanceolate, inflated, horizontal patent when mature, 2.53 mm, yellowish green, with 56 finely nerved, gradually attenuated at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Forest grasslands, wet places and alpine meadows; 4002700 m. Gansu, Hebei, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Xinjiang [Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Siberia)].
黑穗薹草hei sui tai cao
Carex apodostachya Ohwi; C. atrata subsp. apodostachya (Ohwi) T. Koyama; C. atrata var. japonalpina T. Koyama; C. japonalpina (T. Koyama) T. Koyama. C. paishanensis Nakai.
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 1565 cm tall, trigonous, scabrous above, slightly inclined at apex, clothed at base with purple-red bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into slightly reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 35 mm wide. Lower 12 bracts leaflike, sheath less, upper ones setaceous or glumaceous. Spikes 35, contiguous; terminal spike gynaecandrous, obovate or oblong-oblong; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 1015 Χ 56 mm, lower 2 with long peduncles, pendulous. Pistillate glumes ovate to narrowly ovate, acute to acuminate at apex, brown, dark brown to purple-brown, the pale-brownish 1-nerved costa forming a mucro at glume apex. Utricles nearly equaling or slightly shorter or longer than the glume, elliptic or ovate, plano-convex, 33.5 mm, brownish especially on the upper part, without conspicuous nerves except for two costas on edges, minutely papillose, abruptly contracted above to a conical short beak, shallowly 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, obovate, trigonous, 1.51.7 mm; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3.
Alpine frozen soils. Jilin, Qinghai [Japan, Korea, Russia; Europe].
1a. Rhizome long, creeping .................................................................... 55d. subsp. longistolonifera
1b. Rhizome short.
2a. Utricles 44.5 mm ................................................................................. 55c. subsp. aterrima
2b. Utricles 33.8(4) mm.
3a. Pistillate glumes ovate, acute at apex. Utricles sessile, abruptly contracted above to a conical short beak ........................................................................................... 55a. subsp. atrata
3b. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, long acuminate at apex. Utricles short stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a much short beak or beakless, emarginated at orifice ........... 55b. subsp. pullata
黑穗薹草(原亚种) hei sui tai cao (yuan ya zhong)
Utricles sessile, abruptly contracted above to a conical short beak.
Alpine frozen soils, thickets. Jilin [Japan, Korea, Russia; Europe].
尖麟薹草 jian lin tai cao
Pistillate glumes lanceolate, long acuminate at apex. Utricles short stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a much short beak or beakless, emarginate at orifice.
Alpine meadows in thickets, marshes forests; 30004800 m. Shaanxi, W Sichuan, NW Yunnan, SE Xizang [Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim. Thailand].
大桥薹草 da qiao tai cao
Carex aterrima Hoppe, Denkschr. Bot. Ges. Regensb: t. 3 fig. oq. 1815.
Utricles 44.5 mm.
Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (Siberia); C Asia].
长匍匐茎薹草 chang pu fu jing tai cao
Rhizome long, creeping.
* Sichuan.
白头山薹草 bai tou shan tai cao [or 长白薹草 chang bai tai cao]
Carex hancokiana Maximowicz var. peiktusani (Komarov) Kukenthal.
Rhizome short. Culms 3060 cm tall, trigonous, clothed at base with purple sheaths, slightly disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 24.5 mm wide, flat, gray-green, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike longer than the inflorescence, sheath less. Spikes 34, terminal spikes gynaecandrous, 22.5 cm, cylindrical, with peduncle 0.71 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, 1.82.5 mm, oblong or long cylindrical, the lowest spike 23 cm, slightly pendulous. Pistillate glumes lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 34 mm, pale-ferruginous or greenish whitish, 3-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, equaling or slightly longer than the glume, 3.54 mm, elliptic, trigonous, yellowish green, 56-nerved, gradually narrowed above to a short beak, at orifice 2-toothed. Achenes obovate or obovate elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, short stipitate; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Forests, river sides; 10001700 m. Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
川滇薹草 chuan dian tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 6090 cm tall, acutely trigonous, scabrous above, clothed at base with purple-brown sheaths often disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 24 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, the lowest one longer than the inflorescence. Spikes 45, approximate, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong-cylindrical, 1.52 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong-cylindrical, 22.5 cm, with slender peduncles, the lowest one 24 mm (rarely 15 cm). Pistillate glumes lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 3.54.5 mm, dark purple, 3-nerved. Utricles shorter or longer than the glume, elliptic-lanceolate, 3.54 mm, trigonous, yellowish green, slightly inflate, nerved, gradually narrowed above to a short beak, orifice purple emarginated. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; stigmas 3. Fl and fr. JulAug.
* Thickets, grasslands and rocky slopes; 29004100 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
膨囊薹草 peng nang tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 1570 cm tall, slender, trigonous, clothed at base with purple-brown sheaths. Leaves nearly equaling the culm, blades linear 25 mm wide, flat, soft. Bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence. Spikes 35, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong, 58 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate or oblong, 59 mm; upper spikes with short peduncle or subsessile, the lowest one 14 cm. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, obtuse or subacute at apex, ca. 1.2 mm, dark purple or dark brown, 1-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume, obovate or obovate-elliptic, trigonous, 22.2 mm, inflate, yellowish green, nerved, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, the orifice emarginated or truncate. Achenes obovate, trigonous, 1.21.7 mm; style short; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
Mountain slopes, grasslands, forests and riversides; 28004100 m. Gansu, Henan, Hubei, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, W Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Japan, Korea, Nepal, Sikkim].
五台山薹草 wu tai shan tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 5588 cm tall, erect, trigonous, scabrous above, clothed at base with chestnut-colored or brown, sometimes brown-red, bladeless or short-bladed sheaths, slightly disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer or short than the culm, blades linear, 35 mm wide, plicate, slightly soft, scabrous on margins, evolutes. Lower 2 bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, remainder setaceous, sheath less. Spikes 34, approximate, terminal spike gynaecandrous, oblong-obovate, 1015 mm, the staminate part shorter than the pistillate part; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 912 Χ 46 mm, densely many-flowered, with scabrous above, slender peduncles, pendulous. Pistillate glumes oblong or ovate-oblong, acuminate at apex, 22.5 Χ ca. 0.6 mm, brown-red or brown-purple with white-hyaline on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume. obovate or elliptic, (2.5)33.3 Χ 1.51.8 mm, membranous, glabrous, densely finely granular, 37-nerved, inflated, gradually narrowed to cuneate at base, 0.30.4 mm, smooth, curved, the orifice white-hyaline, 2-toothed. Achenes loosely enveloped, obovate, trigonous, 1.51.8 Χ ca. 1 mm, brown, gradually attenuated at base, abruptly contracted to rounded or truncate at apex; style slightly long; stigmas 3.
* Shanxi (Wutai Shan).
紫喙薹草 zi hui tai cao
Carex wenchenii F. T. Wang & T. Tang.
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2560 cm tall, trigonous, slender, smooth, clothed at base with purple-brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades 23 mm wide, soft. Bracts setaceous, sheath less. Spikes 23, approximate, terminal spike gynaecandrous, ovate or oblong, 510 mm, with slender peduncle, the lowest one 512 mm. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or obtuse at apex, 22.2 mm, dark purple-red, with narrowed white-hyaline on margins, 3-nerved. Utricles longer than the glume, oblanceolate or narrowed elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 Χ ca. 1 mm, not inflate, yellowish green or pale-brown, nerved, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, the orifice dark purple, 2-toothed. Achenes oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style long, equaling at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
* Forests or wet places. Gansu, Hebei, Qinghai, Shanxi.
高加索薹草 gao jia suo tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted or sub loosely, 2570 cm tall, trigonous, scabrous above, clothed at base with dark purple, lustrous, bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves as long as or shorter than the culm, blades 48 mm wide. The lowest bracts leaflike, slightly longer than the inflorescence, remainder bracts setaceous, sheath less. Spikes 47, terminal spikes gynaecandrous, obovate, or oblong, 1525 Χ 56 mm; (spreading, sessile spikes at base) remainder spikes pistillate, ovate or oblong to clavate, 1.53 Χ 0.60.8 cm, densely many-flowered, peduncled 45 cm, the lowest 1 or 2 pendent on elongated peduncle. Pistillate glumes lanceolate to oblong-ovate, lanceolate-elliptic, acute to cuspidate at apex, 3.23.8 mm, dark purple-brown to purple-black, white-hyaline on margins, membranous, the yellowish 3-nerved costa forming a mucro at glume apex. Utricles obovate, obovate-elliptic, compressed-trigonous, 34 mm, yellowish greenish, the upper part ± stained with purple at length ferruginous-yellow, faintly 35-nerved at base or 79-nerved abaxially, abruptly contracted above to a erect short beak, subtruncate or 2-dentate-emarginate at orifice. Achenes loosely contained, obovate, trigonous, 1.92.5 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Alpine meadows and grasslands. Taiwan, Xinjiang (Sha wan, ni le ke xin yuan) [C Asia; SW Asia (Caucasus); Europe].
No specimens have been seen by the present authors.
1a. Leaves blades 45 mm wide; utricles 34 mm, faintly 35-nerved at base; achenes obovate, ca. 2.5 mm .................................................................................................................. 61a. subsp. caucasica
1b. Leaves blades 45 mm wide; utricles 33.5 mm, 59-nerved abaxially; achenes elliptic, 1.92.1 mm 61b. subsp. jisaburo-ohwiana
高加索薹草 gao jia suo tai cao
Leaves blades 58 mm wide. Utricles 3.54 mm, faintly 35-nerved at base. Nutlets obovate, ca. 2.5 mm.
Meadow in valleys. Xinjiang (Sha wan ni le ke, xin yuan) [C Asia; SW Asia (Caucasus); Europe].
扁果薹草 bian guo tai cao
Leaves blades 45 mm wide. Utricles 33.5 mm, 59-nerved abaxially. Achenes elliptic, 1.92.1 mm.
* Alpine grasslands. Taiwan.
Chinese mi zhu tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome stoloniferous. Bracts not sheathed. Spikes few, remote; staminate spike 1, terminal; pistillate spikes lateral, densely many-flowered, sessile or short-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate, purple-brown. Utricles obliquely patent, ovate or broadly ovate, inflated-trigonous, subleathery, yellow-brown, distinctly nerved, papillose, abruptly narrowed above to a very short beak, emarginate at orifice; style thickened at base, stigmas 3.
One species in China.
Chinese mi zhu tao cao
Rhizome stoloniferous, stolons slender. Culms loosely tufted, 3070 cm tall, acute-triquetrous, smooth on lower part, scabrous on angles of upper part, purple-brown and aphyllous sheathed at base, sheaths disintegrating into reticulous fibers. Leaves slightly shorter than culm, blades 23 mm wide, flat or conduplicate at lower part, slightly revolute at dry, slightly stiff, red-brown and rather long sheathed. Bracts leaf like, linear, slightly shorter than inflorescence, not sheathed. Spikes 34, rather remote, the uppermost 12 spikes staminate, narrowly oblong or lanceolate, (1)23 cm, subsessile; pistillate spikes 23, oblong or ovoid, 0.82 cm, densely many-flowered, the lowermost one very short peduncled, the upper ones sessile. Pistillate glumes ovate or oblong-ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute or acuminate at apex, sometimes mucronate, membranous, darkly red-brown on both sides, brownish on middle, 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, equaling or slightly longer than glume, elliptical or subovate, slightly inflated-trigonous, 2.53 mm subleathery, distinctly several-nerved, greenish brown, glabrous, papillose, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base, suddenly narrowed above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice, slightly purple-brown. Nutlets subloosely enveloped, broadly obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, stramineous, broadly truncate at base, mucronate, at apex; style thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Wet places on mountain slope, riversides, gully sides. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Korea, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese yu zan tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Culms usually rather short. Leaf blades narrow, the lower leaf sheaths red-brown. Bracts shorter than inflorescence, blades scaly or the lowermost one linear or setaceous. Spikes 35, rather contiguous, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate, sessile or subsessile, glumes red-brown. Utricles obliquely patent, obovate or ovate, inflated-trigonous, membranous, usually hirtellous, short-beaked, emarginate or slightly 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped, trigonous; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Five species in China.
1a. Utricles distinctly nerved.
2a. Leaf blades glabrous; pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2 mm, costa not projecting beyond the glume apex forming a mucro; utricles obovate, 2.53 mm ............................................ 63. C. globularis
2b. Leaf blades hispid; pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 4 mm, costa usually projecting beyond the glume apex forming a mucro; utricles oblong-obovate, 44.5 mm .................................... 64. C. ulobasis
1b. Utricles obscurely nerved or nerveless.
3a. The lower bract blades leaf like, sometimes rather narrow; the upper bract blades scaly; pistillate glumes not mucronate at apex.
4a. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, 2.22.5 mm; utricles obovate, 2.52.8 mm, yellowish green 65. C. chinganensis
4b. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm; utricles oblong-obovate, 33.5 mm, yellowish brown 66. C. amgunensis
3b. Bracts scaly; pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, mucronate at apex; utricles elliptical or obovate, 2.53 mm ........................................................................................................ 67. C. vanheurekii
Chinese yu zan tai cao
Rhizome obliquely ascending, stoloniferous; stolons slender, clothed with red-brown leaf sheaths. Culms loosely tufted, 2060 cm tall, slender, triquetrous, slightly scabrous on upper part, red-brown and bladeless sheathed at base; sheaths at membranous part usually disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves equaling or slightly shorter than culm, blades 12 mm wide, rather soft, revolute on margins, glabrous, scabrous on margins of upper part; sheaths rather long, hispidulous on ventral side. The lower bracts leaf like, linear, shorter than the inflorescence, nearly not sheathed, the upper bracts scaly, non-sheathed. Spikes 34, staminate spike and the uppermost pistillate spike approximate, the remainder spikes remote; terminal spike staminate, linear, 12 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes 23 pistillate, oblong, ovate or subglobose, 0.51.2 cm, few-flowered; the lowermost one very short-peduncled, the upper ones non-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2 mm, obtuse at apex, muticous, membranous, yellow-brown on middle, yellowish white on margin, 3-nerved, sometimes 2 lateral-nerves indistinct. Utricles obliquely patent, longer than glume, broadly obovate or broadly elliptical, trigonous, 2.53 mm, membranous, green-brown, many-nerved, densely hispidulous, broadly cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped, obovate or broadly obovate, trigonous, 1.82 mm, dark-brown, mucronate at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Grasslands on mountain slopes, wet places under forests, swamps. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, Russia, Europe].
Stems and leaves of this species are a good pasture for sheep, cow and horse.
Chinese juan ye tai cao
Carex montana Linnaeus var. manshureiensis Komarov.
Rhizome short, ligneous. Culms densely tufted, 1525 cm tall, slightly compressed-triquetrous, smooth on lower part, slightly scabrous on upper part, red-brown and bladeless sheathed at base, sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves equaling or shorter than culm, blade 12.5 mm wide, stiffish, flat, loosely pubescent on adaxial surface, scabrous on margins, long and red-brown sheathed, sheaths usually split at membranous side, eventually blade at base usually volute. Bracts scaly, ovate, hyaline and membranous on margins, basal part closing round stem, aristate at base. Spikes 23, rather congregate at top of culm; terminal spike staminate, lanceolate or clavate, 0.81.5 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate, 0.81.2 cm densely 10 or more flowered, sessile. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 4 mm, emarginate at apex, mucronate or short-awned, membranous, ferruginous, pale-brown 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, equaling or slightly shorter than glume, oblong-obovate, compressed trigonous, 44.5 mm, yellowish green, ferruginous on upper part and beak, distinctly many-nerved, loosely white-villous, gradually narrowed to a short stipe at base and above to a short beak, obliquely truncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets rather tightly enveloped, ovate or oblong-ovate, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, brown, short-stipitate at base; style non-thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
Under laxly forests and shrubs on sunny mountain slopes, meadows. Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol.[Korea, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese xing an tai cao
Rhizome slender, creeping or obliquely ascending, clothed with red-brown and aphyllous sheaths. Culms tufted, 2040 cm tall, slender, compressed-triquetrous, smooth on lower part, scabrous on angles of upper part, red-brown sheathed at base. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 11.5 mm wide, flat, scabrous on upper surface and margins, sheathed; sheaths usually split at one side. Lowermost bract leaf like, linear, upper bracts scaly, aristate, non-sheathed. Spikes 23, congregated at the top of culm, the lowermost one slightly remote; terminal spike staminate, clavate or linear, 0.81.2 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, globose or broadly ovate, ca. 5 mm, few-flowered, sessile. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, ca. 2.2 mm, acuminate at apex, brownish, hyaline on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, slightly longer than or equaling glume, oblong-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 2.8 mm, herbaceous, yellowish green, slightly pale-brown at base and nearly apex, densely hispidulous, non-nerved or indistinctly few-nerved at base, gradually narrowed to a cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a rather short beak, obliquely truncate or emarginate at orifice, hyaline and membranous on margins. Nutlets tightly enveloped, subelliptical or elliptical-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 2 mm, yellowish, mucronate at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Under forests on mountain slopes. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol [Russia (Far East)].
Chinese giu sui tai cao
Carex cholorleuca Meinshausen; C. amgunensis Fr. Schmidt var. chloroleuca (Meinshausen) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome slender, creeping or obliquely ascending, with slender stolons. Culms densely tufted, 1535 cm tall, slender, triquetrous, smooth, scabrous on angles of upper part, with few brown and aphyllous sheaths at base, sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than or nearly equaling the culm, blades 12 mm wide, flat, slightly soft, scabrous on upper surface and margins, slightly long sheathed, eventually split at membranous side. The lowermost bract leaf like, green, rather thin, longer than spike, the upper bracts scaly, brownish, non-sheathed. Spikes 23, rarely 4, congregated at the top of culm; terminal spike staminate, lanceolate, 510 mm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, subglobose or broadly ovoid, 56 mm, 610-flowered, sessile, Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute at apex, yellowish brown, hyaline on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, slightly longer than glume, oblong-obovate, plano-convex-trigonous, ca. 3.5 mm, herbaceous, yellow-brownish, densely hispidulous on upper part, indistinctly nerved, gradually narrowed to a cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, obliquely truncate or emarginate at orifice, hyaline and membranous on margins. Nutlets tightly enveloped, elliptical, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, stramineous, short-stipitate at base; style non-thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Shade places on mountain slopes or wet swamps; ca. 2000 m. Heilongjiang, Hebei [Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine].
Chinese lin bao tai cao
Rhizome slender, clothed with dark brown, aphyllous sheaths, stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 1030 cm tall, slender, obtuse-trigonous, scabrid on upper part, brown sheathed at base, sheaths disintegrating into fibers. Leaves slightly shorter than culm; blades 12 mm wide, flat, scabrous on upper surface and margins, sometimes slightly revolute on margins in dry, long-sheathed. Bracts scaly, rarely the lowermost one subulate, green, long-aristate. Spikes 23, congregated at the top of culm, sometimes the lowermost one slightly remote; terminal spike staminate, linear or fusiform, 0.71.5 cm, nearly non-peduncled; lateral spikes pistillate, globose or ovate, 47 mm, few-flowered, non-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, acuminate at apex, mucronate, with a pale midrib, brown on both sides, hyaline on upper margin. Utricle obliquely patent, nearly equaling glume, elliptical or obovate plano-convex-trigonous, 2.53 mm, yellowish green, slightly brown on upper part, non-nerved, laxly hispidulous, gradually narrowed to a cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, hispidulous on margins of beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, broadly obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.7 mm; style non-thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Under forests or at grassland on mountain slopes; ca. 1200 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol. [N Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese huang nang tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome creeping. Culms tufted, slightly slender, clothed with red-brown, aphyllous sheaths. Leaves usually rather narrow. Bracts scaly or the lowermost one leaf like, linear, rarely setiform, nearly non-sheathed or very short-sheathed. Spikes 25; terminal spike staminate, rare species with 2 staminate spikes, linear-lanceolate, lanceolate or clavate, lateral spikes pistillate, ovate, broadly ovate or subglobose, subdensely flowered, non-peduncled or rarely short-peduncled. Pistillate glumes red-brown or yellow-brown, broadly hyaline on margins. Utricles obliquely or eventually divaricate, obovate or elliptical-obovate, obtuse-or inflated-trigonous, glabrous, rare species hispid, shiny, short-beaked, obliquely truncate, emarginate or small 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Seven species in China.
1a. Culms 28 cm tall; utricles 23 mm.
2a. Spikes 23, pistillate spikes congregated at top of
culm; bracts scaly, aristate at apex, non-sheathed; utricles shorter than
glume, 22.2 mm
.......................................................................................................... 68.
C. pseudo-supina
2b. Spikes 34, pistillate spikes congregated at base of culm, lower than leaves; bracts setaceous, membranous short-sheaths; utricles equaling or longer than glume, 2.53 mm 69. C. tangulashanensis
1b. Culms 1035 cm tall (Carex aridula V. I. Kreczetowicz, only 520 cm tall); utricles 34 mm.
3a. Bracts scaly, the lowermost one long awned, non-sheathed; pistillate spikes 510 mm, non-peduncled.
4a. Pistillate spikes congregated at top of culm, densely few-flowered; utricles 3.54 mm, dark-brown at maturity .................................................................................................. 70. C. ivanoviae
4b. Lowermost pistillate spikes rather remote, densely few to more than ten-flowered; utricles yellow or yellowish green at maturity.
5a. Utricles elliptical or obovate, inflated-trigonous, 34
mm, yellow
.......................................................................................................... 71.
C. korshinskyi
5b. Utricles globose-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm,
yellowish green
................................................................................................................. 72.
C. aridula
3b. The lowermost bract leaf like, the upper bracts scaly or setiform, short-sheathed; pistillate spikes (0.5)0.81.5 cm, short-peduncled or the lowermost pistillate spike rather long-sheathed.
6a. Spikes 35, the lowermost spike slightly remote, the upper spikes congregated at top of culm, terminal spikes 12 staminate; pistillate spikes 24, 11.5 cm, densely few to more than ten-flowered, short-peduncled; utricled smooth, glabrous ................................................... 73. C. turkestanica
6b. Spikes 23, congregated at
top of culm, terminal spike staminate; pistillate spikes 12, (5)812 mm,
rather loosely few-flowered, the lowermost spike long-peduncled, the remainder
short-peduncled; utricles hispid
74.
C. asperifructus
Chinese gao shan tai cao
Rhizome with slender stolons, clothed with brown and without bracteole leaf sheaths. Culms tufted, 58 cm tall, triquetrous, smooth on lower part and scabrous on angles of top, clothed with few yellow-brown or red-brown, aphyllous sheaths at base, sheaths partly slit into fibers. Leaves slightly longer than or shorter than culm, blades 0.51 mm wide, rather thin, flat or slightly revolute on margins, sheathed; sheaths membranous at one side, usually slit. Bracts scaly, lanceolate, awned at apex, yellowish brown, not sheathed. Spikes 23, congregate at top of culm; terminal spike staminate, lanceolate, 78 mm, sessile; lateral spikes pistillate, broadly ovate or nearly globose, 56 mm, densely several-flowered, sessile. Pistillate glumes elliptical or elliptical-ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute or obtuse at apex, darkly red-brown, hyaline and membranous on upper margins, 1-costate. Utricles suberect or slightly obliquely patent, shorter than glume, broadly obovate or obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 22.2 mm, leathery, greenish yellow, sometimes slightly brown, shiny, glabrous, non-nerved, gradually narrowed to a cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, truncate at orifice, membranous on margin. Nutlets tightly enveloped, broadly obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, dark-brown; style thickened at base, persistent, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
* Mountain slopes; 3700 m. Sichuan (Haizishan).
Chinese tang gu la tai cao
Rhizome slender. Culms loosely tufted, 24 cm tall, compressed-triquetrous, smooth, few dark-brown and aphyllous sheathed at base. Leaves slightly shorter than culm, blades flat, 23 mm wide, stiffish, scabrid on nerves and upper margins. Bracts setaceous or mucroform, membranous sheathed, usually clothed by leaf sheath. Spikes 34, terminal spike staminate, lanceolate or lance-ovate, 612 mm, densely ten to more flowered; lateral spikes pistillate, congregate at base of culm, hidden in leaf tuft, ovate or ovoid, 47 mm, densely 510-flowered, with short peduncle. Pistillate glumes ovate, 2.53 mm, acute at apex, mucronate, membranous, yellow-brown on both sides, hyaline and membranous on margins; yellow-green on middle, 1-costate. Utricles slightly obliquely patent, equaling or slightly longer than glume, elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, 2.53 mm thin-leathery, yellow-brown, abruptly narrowed to a broadly cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice, hyaline and membranous or margins. Nutlets elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, yellowish; style slightly thick and short, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
* Wet places; 40004750 m. Qinghai (Yushu), Xizang.
Chinese wu sui bing tao cao
Rhizome rather long, creeping or obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, 1015 cm tall, nearly half-terete, smooth, several brown and old leaves and sheaths usually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than culm, not up to 1 mm wide, usually involute into needle, smooth brown and membranous sheathed. Bracts scale-form, lanceolate, long-aristate at apex, longer than or slightly shorter than spike, non-sheathed. Spikes 24, congregate at the top of culm; terminal spike staminate, narrowly lanceolate, 815 mm, sessile; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate, 58(10) mm, densely several-flowered, subsessile. Pistillate glumes ovate, 3.54 mm, acute at apex, mucronate, membranous, dark-brown, hyaline on upper margin, yellowish 1-nerved. Utricles suberect or slightly obliquely patent, shorter than or equaling glume, ovate, obtuse-trigonous, 3.54 mm, thin-leathery, dark-brown, shiny, indistinctly nerved, cuneate at base, short-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, very short 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets subelliptical, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brownish yellow, mucronate at apex, sessile at base; style short, slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
* Grasslands on mountain slope, riversides or lakesides; 40005300 m. Qinghai, Xizang.
Chinese huang nan tai cao
Carex supina Wahlenberg var. korshinskyi (Komarov) Kόkenthal; C. supina Wahlenberg var. costata Meinshausen.
Rhizome slender, creeping or obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, 1535 cm tall, slender, compressed-triquetrous, smooth on lower part and scabrid on upper part, with few yellowish brown or red-brown aphyllous sheaths and rudimentary sheaths at base, rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter or longer than or equaling culm, blades 12 mm wide, slightly stiff, scabrous on upper surface and margins, sheathed. Bracts scale form, the lowermost bract sometimes long-awned at apex. Spikes 23(4), the uppermost pistillate spike and staminate spike approximate, the lowermost pistillate spike rather remote; terminal spike staminate, clavate or lanceolate, 12.5 cm, non-peduncled; lateral spikes pistillate, ovate or subglobose, 510 mm, densely several to 10-flowered, non-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute at apex, brown, white and hyaline on margins, midribed. Utricles obliquely patent, latterly slightly divergent, elliptical or obovate, swollen-trigonous, 34 mm, leathery, yellow, shiny, smooth, obscurely nerved, obtuse at base, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, obliquely truncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, elliptical, trigonous, 22.5 mm, gray-brown, mucronate at apex; style base slightly thickened, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
Grasslands, mountain slopes or sand dunes; 7001300 m. Gansu, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Xinjiang [Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese gan sheng tai cao
Rhizome long-stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 520 cm tall, slender, compressed-triquetrous, smooth on lower part and scabrous on angles of upper part, few red-brown and aphyllous sheathed and rudimentary sheathed at base, rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter or slightly longer than culm, blades 11.5 mm wide, scabrous on upper surface and margins, sometimes slightly involute on margins. Bracts scaly, the lowermost bract long-awned at apex, enclosed culm at base. Spikes 23, the uppermost pistillate spike and staminate spike approximate, the lowermost pistillate spike rather remote; terminal spike staminate, elevate, 11.5 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, globose or oblong, 58 mm; densely several to 10-flowered, non-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate or broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute at apex, membranous, red-brown, white and hyaline on margins, with 1-midrib. Utricles first obliquely patent, latterly nearly level-divaricate, globose-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm, yellowish green, slightly brownish at maturity, smooth, shiny, nerveless, broadly cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice, white and membranous on margin. Nutlets obovate or broadly obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, dark-brown, cuneate at base, mucronate at apex; style thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunSep.
* Alpine meadow, mountain slopes or ditch sides; 20003900 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.
Chinese xin jiang tai cao
Carex obesa Meinshausen var. aspera Bφeckeler; C. nitida Host. var. aspera (Bφeckeler) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome long, creeping or obliquely ascending. Culms tufted, 1030 cm tall, triquetrous, smooth, clothed with few red-brown and aphyllous sheaths and rudimentary sheaths at base, rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into reticulation or fibers. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 13 mm wide, stiffish, flat or revolute on margins, scabrous on upper surfaces and margins, rather short-sheathed. The lowest bract leaf like, short-sheathed, the upper bracts scaly, long-awned at apex. Spikes 35, the upper spikes congregated at top of culm, the lowest spike rather remote; terminal spikes 12 staminate, lanceolate or lanceolate-clavate, 12.5 cm; subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or ovate, 11.5 cm, densely several to 12-flowered, short-peduncled. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate, ca. 4 mm, acuminate at apex, membranous, red-brown, yellowish and hyaline on margin, 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, latterly nearly level-divaricate, almost equaling glume, subelliptical or elliptical-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 3.84 mm, leathery, first yellow-green, dark-brown in maturity, yellow at base, smooth, indistinctly nerved, broad-cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a middling-long beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets elliptical or subobovate, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, gray; style thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl and fr. JulSep.
Mountain slopes, valleys or forests; 10002600 m. Gansu, Xinjiang [Russia (W Siberia, M[text missing; see page 51]), Afghanistan].
Chinese cu cao nang tai cao
Rhizome rather long, obliquely ascending, slender stoloniferous. Culms loosely tufted, 1020 cm tall, slender, acute-triquetrous, smooth, red-brown and aphyllous sheathed at base, rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than or nearly equaling culm, blades 12 mm wide, flat, scabrous on upper surface and margins; sheaths yellowish, distinctly many-nerved, nerves sometimes pallid or reddish. Bracts short-sheathed, the lowest bract leaf like, the upper bracts setiform. Spikes 23, rather approximate, congregated at top of culm; terminal spike staminate, clavate-linear or oblong, 0.81.2 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, 12, ovate or subelliptical, 512 mm, laxly several-flowered, the lowest spike with slender peduncle, the upper spike with very short peduncle or subsessile. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, acute at apex, membranous, yellowish brown or brown, with broadly midrib. Utricles obliquely patent, equaling or slightly longer than glume, obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 33.5 mm, leathery, stramineous in upper part and brownish on basal surface, distinctly 2 lateral-nerved on dorsum, hispidulous, rather dense on upper part, cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, truncate and membranous at orifice. Nutlets elliptical or obovate-elliptical, trigonous, 2.52.8 mm, yellow, mucronate at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunSep.
* Under forests on mountain slopes; 21003700 m. Shanxi, Qinghai.
Chinese cao guo tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome sometimes stoloniferous. Bracts leaf like or the lowest bract leaf like and the upper bracts setiform. Spikes unisexual and bisexual, the upper spikes rather congregated, non-peduncled, the lowest spike rather remote, ± peduncled, the staminate spikes usually 26, the pistillate spikes 27, densely many-flowered, sometimes staminate-flowered at upper part. Pistillate glumes mucronate or aristate at apex. Utricles membranous, white-hispidulous, with short beak, emarginate at orifice; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Three species in China.
1a. Rhizome short and thick; staminate spike 1, terminal; lateral spike pistillate or sometimes with few staminate flowers at top; utricles broadly obovate or obovate, 22.5 mm, with short 2-teeth at beak orifice 75. C. inanis
1b. Rhizome with slender stolons; staminate spike 26, inserted at top, the remainder spikes bisexual and unisexual, androgynous and staminate or androgynous and pistillate; utricles 2.53 mm, truncate and slightly emarginate at apex.
2a. Spikes androgynous and staminate, slightly laxly many-flowered; staminate spikes 24, inserted at top; the remainder spikes androgynous (pistillate in variety); pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, mucronate at apex; utricles obovate, laxly hispidulous;. nutlets obovate, ca. 1 mm ........................ 76. C. setigera
2b. Spikes androgynous and
pistillate, rather densely many-flowered; staminate spikes 23, sometimes with
few pistillate flowers at base; the remainder spikes pistillate, rarely
androgynous; pistillate glumes lanceolate, 68 mm, aristate at apex, aristae
24 mm; utricles elliptical or broadly elliptical, densely white hispidulous;
nutlets rounded-ovate or rounded, ca. 2 mm
.......................................................................................................... 77.
C. lancisquamata
Chinese mao nan tai cao
Rhizome short and thick, ligneous. Culms densely tufted, 1050 cm tall, slender, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, clothed with few red-brown and aphyllous sheaths, rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into reticulation or fibers. Leaves shorter or slightly longer than culm, blades 12 mm wide, scabrous and revolute on margins, sheathed. Bracts leaf like, slender, longer than inflorescence, the lower bracts short-sheathed, the upper bracts very short-sheathed or almost non-sheathed. Spikes 47, the lowest spike inserted near base of culm or rather remote, the remainder spikes congregated at the top of culm; terminal spike staminate, narrowly cylindrical or narrowly lanceolate, 1.54 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes pistillate, sometimes few staminate-flowered at apex or branching bearing secondary spikes at base, pistillate spikes oblong or oblong-cylindrical, 0.82.5 cm, densely many-flowered, the lower spikes short-peduncled, the upper spikes subsessile. Pistillate glumes oblong or subovate, 23 mm, acuminate at apex, membranous, yellowish brown, costate. Utricles obliquely patent, shorter than glume, broad-ovate or ovate, trigonous, 22.5 long, membranous, stramineous, sometimes brownish at base, densely white hispidulous, indistinctly nerved, abruptly contracted below to a very short-stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, obovate, broadly obovate or subelliptical, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, brown, short-stipitate at base, with torsional mucro at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
Dense forests, riversides or mountain slopes, 23003500 m. Yunnan, Xizang. [India, Nepal, Sikkim].
Chinese chang jing tai cao
Rhizome with slender, ligneous stolons. Culms hardly tufted, 835 cm tall, slender, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, red-brown and aphyllous sheathed at base, the rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into reticulation or fibers. Leaves longer or shorter than culm, blades 13 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins, sheathed. Bracts leaf like, linear, the lower bracts longer than inflorescence, sheathed, the uppermost bract shorter than inflorescence, non-sheathed. Spikes 36, congregated at the top of culm, approximate; staminate spikes 14, inserted at top of culm, cylindrical or oblong-lanceolate, 525 mm, nearly non-peduncled; the remainder spikes bisexual or pistillate, oblong-cylindrical, narrowly oblong or oblong, 0.83 cm, slightly laxly many-flowered, the lower spikes peduncled, the upper spikes sessile or subsessile. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, acuminate at apex, membranous, purple-brown, costate, costa yellowish. Utricles obliquely patent, shorter than glume, obovate, trigonous, 2.53 mm, membranous, yellowish green, purple-brown-flecked, laxly hispidulous, indistinctly nerved, gradually attenuated below to a short stripe, attenuated above to a short beak, obliquely truncate and emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped, obovate, trigonous, ca. 1 mm, dark-brown, very short stipitate at base, mucronate at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Wet places at riverside, forests on mountain slopes, grassland; 27004100 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal].
1a. Culms 2535 cm tall; leaves longer or slightly shorter than culm; staminate spikes 24, congregated at top of culm, cylindrical, 0.52.5 cm, the remainder spikes bisexual, androgynous, oblong-cylindrical or narrowly oblong, 23 cm; utricles 2.53 mm ..................................................... 76a. var. setigera
1b. Culms 815 cm tall; leaves shorter than culm; staminate spike 1, terminal, oblong-lanceolate, 68 mm, the remainder spikes pistillate, oblong, 810 mm; utricles ca. 2 mm .... 76b. var. schlagintweitiana
Chinese chang jing tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Culms 2535 cm tall. Leaves longer or slightly shorter than culm; staminate spikes 24, congregated at top of culm, cylindrical, 0.52.5 cm; the remainder spikes bisexual, androgynous, oblong-cylindrical or narrowly oblong, 23 cm. Utricles 2.53 mm.
Wet places at riversides, forests on mountain slopes, grasslands; 27004100 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal].
Chinese chang jing tai cao (bian zhong)
Carex schlagintweitiana Bφeckeler, Cyper. Nov. 1: 48. 1888; C. tsangensis Franchet.
Culms 815 cm tall; leaves shorter than culm; staminate spike 1, terminal, oblong-lanceolate, 68 mm, the remainder spikes pistillate, oblong, 810 mm; utricles ca. 2 mm.
Forests on mountain slopes or wet places at grasslands, 23003000 m. Xizang, Yunnan [W Himalayas, India].
Chinese pi zhen lin tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous, stolons slightly thick and long, clothed with purple-brown sheath. Culms tufted, 4045 cm tall, rather slender, obtuse-trigonous, scabrid on angles, few purple-brown and aphyllous sheathed at base, the rudimentary sheaths usually disintegrating into reticulation or fibers. Leaves slightly shorter or slightly longer than culm, blades 24 mm wide, canaliculate on midrib of upper surface, revolute on margins, scabrous on upper surface and margins, rather long-sheathed, sheaths 56 cm and purple-brown at lower part of culm. Bracts leaf like, the lower bracts 12 longer than inflorescence, short-sheathed, the upper bracts linear, shorter than inflorescence, non-sheathed. Spikes 67, rather congregated at top of culm, sometimes the lowest one rather remote, the uppermost spikes 23 staminate, sometimes few pistillate-flowered at base, lanceolate or cylindrical, 1.53 cm, subsessile; the remainder spikes pistillate or androgynous, cylindrical, 45 cm, densely many-flowered, the lower spikes with slender peduncles, the upper ones with short peduncles. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, 68 mm, acuminate at apex, long-aristate, aristate 24 mm, membranous, purple-brown or yellow-brown on both sides, 1-costate. Utricles obliquely patent, shorter than glume, elliptical or broadly elliptical, obtusely trigonous or plano-convex, ca. 3 mm, herbaceous, olivaceous and slightly red-brown at base and beak, densely white hispidulous, indistinctly nerved, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base, abruptly narrowed above to middling long beak, subtruncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, rounded-ovate or subrounded, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown; style deflexed at base, not thickened, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
* Riversides; ca. 2600 m. Yunnan (Dali).
Chinese yi nan tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome sometimes stoloniferous. Bracts leaf like or the lowest one leaf like, short-sheathed, the upper ones setaceous, non-sheathed. Spikes usually unisexual, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate, rarely bisexual, androgynous, pistillate spikes rather remote, densely many-flowered, peduncled. Pistillate glumes usually mucronate at apex, rarely without mucro. Utricles membranous, glabrous, some species with purple-red papillae glandular puncta or puncta, short beaked, orifice subtruncate or emarginate; style not thickened at base, stigma 3.
Three species in China.
1a. Utricles without purple-red papillae or glandular
puncta, but with purple puncta
78.
C. jaluensis
1b. Utricles with purple-red papillae or glandular puncta.
2a. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate or ovate, 3-nerved; utricles broadly obovate or broadly elliptical, ca. 2.5 mm, purple-red papillose; nutlets broadly obovate or broadly elliptical, yellowish brown short-stipitate at base .......................................................................................................... 79. C. maculata
2b. Pistillate glumes narrowly oblong, 1-costate, utricles obovate, ca. 2 mm; nutlets obovate yellowish white, sessile .............................................................................................. 80. C. angustiutricula
Chinese ya lu tai cao
Carex dineuros C. B. Clarke.
Rhizome short, ligneous, rather stout stoloniferous. Culms densely tufted, 3085 cm tall, rather stout, obtuse-trigonous, scabrid on upper angles, yellowish brown and aphyllous or brachyphyllous sheathed at base. Leaves slightly shorter than culm, blades 36 mm wide, plane, sometimes slightly revolute on margins, slightly stiff, with distinct 2 lateral nerves, scabrous on lateral nerves and margins, the long sheaths of lower leaves up to 10 cm. Bracts of lower part leaf like, longer than inflorescence, short-sheathed, the upper bracts 23 setaceous, shorter than inflorescence, usually non-sheathed. Spikes 57, the lower 12 slightly remote, the upper ones rather approximate; terminal spike staminate, rarely 2 staminate spikes, accidentally few pistillate flowered at apex, oblong-cylindrical or cylindrical, 1.55 cm, subsessile; the remainder spike pistillate, narrowly cylindrical, 1.56 cm, densely many-flowered; the lower spikes rather slender peduncled and slightly pendent, the upper spikes short-peduncled or subsessile. Pistillate glumes ovate or narrowly ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, subacute and mucronate at apex, yellowish brown on both sides, 3-nerved, green between nerves. utricles obliquely patent, nearly equaling glume, elliptical or obovate-oblong, indistinctly trigonous ca. 2.5 mm, greenish or yellowish green, membranous, obscurely nerved, glabrous, purple-punctate, cuneate at base, short-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, subtruncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped, obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, mucronate at top; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
Riversides in valley, wet places at ditch side or under forests, 4001450 m. Hebei, Jilin, Liaoning [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese ban dian guo tai cao
Rhizome slender, ligneous. Culms tufted, 3055 cm tall, slightly thin, triquetrous, smooth, clothed with few yellowish brown and aphyllous sheathed at base. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 36 mm wide, plane, smooth, sheathed. Bracts leaf like longer than inflorescences, sheathed, sheath rather long in lowermost part and short in upper part. Spikes 34, the lowermost spike remote, the remainders congregated at top of culm; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, (1.5)26 cm, nearly non-peduncled, lateral spikes pistillate, oblong-cylindrical to cylindrical, (1)24 cm, densely many-flowered, the lower spikes rather long-peduncled, the upper spikes short-peduncled. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate or ovate, ca. 2 mm, acute or obtuse at apex, sometimes mucronate, membranous, yellowish brown, ferruginous short-striate, green 3-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, longer than glume, broadly obovate or nearly broad-elliptical, trigonous, 2.22.5 mm, membranous, yellow-brown, latterly dark-purple, 35-nerved, densely purple papillate, gradually attenuate and cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a very short beak, orifice subtruncate or emarginate. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, broadly obovate or broadly elliptical, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, yellowish brown, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base, with inflected mucro at apex, style not thickened at base, stigma 3.
Wet places of ditch side in valley, under forests, grasslands at the foot of mountain, 4701250 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka].
Chinese xiz guo nang tai cao
Rhizome short, ligneous, without stolon. Culm tufted, 3035 cm, rather thin, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, brown and aphyllous sheathed at base. Leaves shorter or slightly longer than culm, blades 36 mm wide, flat, scabrous on apex margin and nerves, slightly long-sheathed. Bracts leaf like, longer than inflorescence rather short-sheathed. Spikes 34, the lowermost one remote, the remainder approximate at top of culm; terminal spike staminate, narrowly cylindrical, 2.55 cm, subsessile; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, narrowly cylindrical, 1.53.5 cm, densely many-flowered, the lowermost spike slightly long-peduncled, the upper spikes short-peduncled or subsessile. Pistillate glumes narrowly oblong, ca. 1.8 mm, obtuse at apex, muticous, membranous, yellowish, red-brown short-striate, green 1-costate. Utricles, obliquely patent, latterly nearly level patent, slightly longer than glume, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, membranous, yellowish brown, densely purple-red glandular punctate, distinctly 5-nerved, cuneate or broadly cuneate at base, short-stipitate, attenuate above to a short beak, subtruncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricles obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.2 mm, yellowish white, with inflected mucro at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Wet places on mountain slopes; ca. 1600 m. Sichuan (E-mei shan, Mabian xian).
隐穗薹草组 yin sui tai cao zu
Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome elongated. Flowering culms usually solitary, rarely 2, arising from the axils of the leaves, scapelike. Bracts bristlelike, sheathed. Spikes nearly all androgynous (at least terminal one androgynous). Utricle oblong-rhombic to obovate-fusiform, with concave-convex surface. Achene trigonously rhombic, the angles constricted at the middle, with the faces excavated at both upper and lower part; style base persistent, bent.
One species: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia.
隐穗薹草 yin sui tai cao
Rhizome long, woody, covered with dark brown fibrous remnants of basal sheaths. Flowering culms arising from the axils of leaves, 1230 cm tall, compressed trigonous, scapelike, flaccid. Leaves longer than the culm, blades 615 mm wide, flat, smooth, scabrid along margins, leathery. Bracts bristlelike, sheathed, sheath 515 mm. Spikes 610, nearly all androgynous (at least terminal one androgynous), oblong or cylindrical, 825 mm, loosely flowered; staminate part short, 35 mm; peduncle 725 mm, slender. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, ca. 2.2 mm, pale-brown to yellow-green, the costa green, acute or mucronate at apex. Utricles distinctly longer than the glume, oblong-rhombic to obovate-fusiform, obscurely trigonous, 45 mm, membranous, yellow-green, densely puberulous above, ciliate along margins, many-nerved, cuneate at base, with stipe ca. 1 mm, attenuate above to a short beak, minutely 2-toothed at orifice. Achene trigonously rhombic, 2.53 mm, with the faces excavated both at upper and lower part, the angles constricted at middle; style-base persistent, bent; stigmas 3. Fl. winter, fr. next spring.
Wet places in dense forests; 1001200 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan [Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam; Australia].
匏囊薹草组 pao nang tai cai zu
Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Carex subsect. Lageniformes Ohwi, Mem. Coll. Sci. Kyoto Imp. Univ., ser. B, 11: 340. 1936.
Rhizome short or oblique. Flowering culm central or arising from basal leaf-axils, slender or soft, scapelike. Leaves longer than the culm. Bracts short, bladed or leafy, sheathed. Spikes 36 or more, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate or obovate. Utricles fusiform or rhombic-fusiform. Achene rhombic or fusiform, with cylindrical neck at apex, truncate or shallow concave at apex of neck, with the faces excavated both at upper and lower part; style-base slightly thickened, persistent.
?? species: ??distribution; six species in China.
1a. Utricles 46 mm. Achene with a distinct neck 0.51.5 mm
at apex
82.
C. truncatigluma
1b. Utricles 24(4.2) mm. Achene with a short neck 0.10.3 mm.
2a. Inflorescence usually short, shorter than the leaf.
3a. Utricle 3.54 mm .................................................................................. 86. C. breviscapa
3b. Utricle 23 mm ................................................................................... 87. C. tenuispicula
2b. Inflorescence usually long, surpassing or nearly equaling leaves.
4a. Achene not contracted at middle of angle. Pistillate glumes obtuse at apex.
5a. Staminate spike linear, ca. 1 mm thick ......................................................... 83. C. ligata
5b. Staminate spike linear-cylindrical, ca. 3 mm thick .................................. 84. C. taihuensis
4b. Achene contracted at middle of angle. Pistillate glumes mucronate or with an awn nearly as long as glume ...................................................................................................... 85. C. ascocetra
截鳞薹草 jie lin tai cao
Rhizome obliquely ascending, covered with dark brown fibrous remains of old leaf-sheath. Flowering culms arising from the axils of leaves, 1030 cm tall, trigonous, slender, slightly scabrid. Leaves longer than the culm, blade 210 mm wide, flat, scabrid on both surfaces, herbaceous. Bracts short-bladed, sheathed, sheath 69 mm. Spikes 46, the terminal one staminate, narrowly cylindrical, 11.5 cm, ca. 1 mm thick, sessile or with peduncle 0.52 cm; the lateral ones pistillate, cylindrical, 2050 Χ 2.53 mm, loosely flowered; the uppermost pistillate spike surpassing the staminate spike, with peduncle enclosed in the bract sheath; the lower pistillate spikes spaced, with exerted peduncles, the lowest peduncle 24(6) cm. Pistillate glumes broadly obovate, the apex truncate to round, emarginated, or mucronate, dark yellow, broadly hyaline on margins, the costa green. Utricles longer than the glume, fusiform, obscurely trigonous, 46 mm, brown-green, membranous, minutely pubescent, many-nerved, cuneate at base, stipitate, attenuate above to a beak, minutely 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, fusiform, trigonous, 2.53.5 mm, pale-brown, with a distinct, stout, cylindrical neck, neck 0.51.5 mm, truncate or shallowly concave at apex, with the faces excavated both at upper and lower part; stipitate at base, stipe 0.50.7 mm; style base slightly thickened, persistent; stigmas 3. Flfr. MarMay.
Forest undergrowth, grasslands on mountain slopes, streamsides; 5001200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam].
1a. Leaf blade 68 mm wide .................................................................... 82a. subsp. truncatigluma
1b. Leaf blade 23 mm wide .............................................................. 82b. subsp. rhynchachaenium
截鳞薹草(原亚种) jie lin tai cai (yuan ya zhong)
Carex gracilispica Hayata.
Leaf blade broader, 68 mm wide.
Forest undergrowth, grasslands on mountain slopes, streamsides; 5001200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Malaysia, Vietnam].
喙果薹草 hui guo tai cai
Carex rhynchachaenium C. B. Clarke ex Merrill, Bull. Bur. Gov. Labor. Manila 35: 5. 1905.
Leaf blade narrower, 23 mm wide.
Taiwan [Philippines, Vietnam].
香港薹草 xiang gang tai cao
Carex ligata var. nexa (Boott) Kόkenthal; C. hongkongensis Franchet; C. nexa Boott.
Rhizome short. Flowering culms arising from the axils of leaves, 2550 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth, basal sheaths split into dark brown fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blade 46 mm wide, flat, scabrid dorsally and along margins, grayish green, stiff. Bracts short-bladed; sheath purple, 12 cm. Spikes 34, spaced, terminal spike staminate, linear, 35 cm, ca. 1 mm thick, with peduncle 3.55.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 1020 Χ 34 mm, rather dense or nearly 2-rank-flowered, with slender peduncle 1.53.5 cm. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, obscure-rounded at apex, ca. 2.7 mm, yellowish green, hyaline on margins; the costa 13-nerved, green, mid-nerve distinct. Utricles longer than the glume, rhombic-fusiform, trigonous, 44.2 mm, membranous, minutely pubescent above, many-nerved, shortly stipitate at base, gradually attenuate above to a beak 1 mm, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, fusiform, trigonous, ca. 2.7 mm; with a white, shortly cylindrical neck, neck 0.20.3 mm, shallowly concave at top; with the faces excavated both at upper and lower part, shortly stipitate at base, stipe ca. o.3 mm; style base thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. FebMar.
* Shady places in forests; ??altitude. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hong Kong.
太湖薹草 tai hu tai cao
Rhizome short. Culm 4065 cm tall, slender, trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths scalelike, brown-purple, slightly shining, slightly split into fibers. Bracts bristlelike, sheathed, lower sheaths longer, upper sheaths shorter. Spikes 34, spaced; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 34.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, yellowish brown, peduncle; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 23 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, loosely flowered, peduncles not exerted. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate, slightly acute at apex, ca. 2.5 mm, pale-yellow to yellowish brown, mid-nerve excurrent in a mucro. Utricles longer than the glumes, narrowly fusiform, ca. 4 mm, membranous, pale-green, sparsely puberulous, many-nerved, attenuate below to a stipe, contracted above into a short or middling beak, beak slightly recurved, slightly emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, oblong-obovate, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, shortly stipitate at base, contracted into a short neck at apex; style-base slightly thickened; stigma 3.
* Waysides on mountain slopes; ??altitude. Anhui.
宜昌薹草 yi chang tai cao
Carex davidii Franchet var. ascotreta (C. B. Clarke) Kόkenthal; C. formosensis H. Lιveillι & Vaniot; C. ichangensis C. B. Clarke; C. ligata Boott subsp. formosensis (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) T. Koyama; C. ligata var. formosensis (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome stout, covered with fibrous, brown remnants of old scales. Culms 1060 cm tall, obscurely trigonous, smooth, basal leaf-sheaths dark brown, split into fibers. Leaves shorter or longer than the culm, blades 24 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Bract leafy, blade shorter than the inflorescence, sheathed, sheath 518 mm. Spikes 46; peduncles erect, nearly enclosed in the bract sheaths; terminal spike staminate, linear, 14 Χ 0.2 cm, with peduncle 214 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong to cylindrical, 1240 Χ 24 mm, upper ones contiguous, the lowermost spaced. Pistillate glumes elliptic, emarginated or acute at apex, 2.53 mm (excluding awn), pale-yellow-green; the costa 3-nerved, green, excurrent in a scabrid awn 24 mm. Utricles slightly longer or nearly equaling the glumes, fusiform, 3.54 mm, membranous, green, many-nerved, puberulous, attenuate below to a short stipe 0.50.6 mm, attenuate above to a beak; beak slightly recurved, obliquely truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, fusiform, ca. 2.5 mm, yellow-brown, with angles contracted at the middle and faces excavated both at upper and lower part, with shortly cylindrical neck at apex; neck shallowly concave at top, pale-yellow, 0.40.5 mm; stipitate at base, stipe ca. 1 mm; style-base slightly thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
Forests on low hills, wet places, waysides; 1001100 m. Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan [Japan, Korea].
短葶薹草 duan ting tai cao
Carex obtuso-bracteata Hayata; C. lutchuensis Ohwi; C. laxisquamata Tang & F. T. Wang.
Rhizome short. Culms 1020 cm, trigonous. Basal sheaths dark brown, split into fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades 57 mm wide, flat, smooth, leathery. Bracts leafy, much longer than the inflorescence, sheathed. Inflorescence 35-noded; spikes many, 35 at each node; terminal spike staminate, linear, 1745 Χ 11.5 mm, thick, shortly pedunculate; lateral spikes pistillate or mostly with staminate part at apex, narrowly cylindrical, 34.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, slightly loosely flowered, sessile or shortly peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 2.53 mm, rounded at apex, ciliate. Utricles longer than the glumes, rhombic-fusiform, trigonous, 3.54 mm, membranous, green, many-nerved, glabrous or puberulous above, cuneate at base, stipitate, gradually attenuate above to a conical beak; beak ca. 1 mm, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, rhombic, trigonous, 2.53 mm, with distinctly short neck ca. 0.3 mm, shallowly concave at top, with faces excavated both at upper and lower part, cuneate at short-stipitate base, brown to dark brown, neck and angles yellowish white; style-base slightly thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. winter, fr. next spring.
Forest undergrowth; 4001000 m. Fujian, Hainan, Taiwan [Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand; Australia].
细穗薹草 xi sui tai cao
Rhizome short. Flowering culms arising from the axils of leaves. Basal sheaths dark brown, split into fibers. Leaf-blades 1240 Χ 0.20.3 cm, flat, scabrid along margins, acuminate at apex. Basal bract leafy, longer than the inflorescence, uppermost bract scalelike. Spikes 56, terminal spike staminate, linear, 34 cm, ca. 0.5 mm thick, with peduncle 34(17) mm; lateral spikes pistillate, 45, narrowly cylindrical, 1040 Χ 1.52 mm, slightly loosely flowered, with slender peduncle 410 cm. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, rounded at apex, 1.21.5 mm, ciliate, membranous, pale-brown, hyaline on margins, 13-nerved, costa green. Utricles longer than the glume, rhombic-fusiform, trigonous, 23 mm, ca. 1 mm wide, membranous, pale-brown, many-nerved, puberulous, gradually attenuate above to a beak, emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, rhombic or fusiform, trigonous, 1.52 mm, with faces excavated both at upper and lower part, brown, with shortly cylindrical neck at apex, truncate at top; the neck 0.10.2 mm, pale-yellow; shortly stipitate; style-base not thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. winter.
* Shady places in mixed valley forests; ca. 400 m. Fujian, Guangdong.
灰帽薹草组 hui mao tai cao zu
Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Spikes usually unisexual; terminal spike staminate; lateral spikes often pistillate, rarely androgynous, pistillate spike long cylindrical, cylindrical to linear. Utricles herbaceous, glabrous or puberulous, shortly beaked or nearly beakless, truncate or 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, trigonous, sometimes with contracted angles and excavated faces, often discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3.
?? species: ??distribution; 22 species in China.
1a. Achene contracted on angles or excavated at faces.
2a. Achene contracted on angles.
3a. Achene excavated at faces .......................................................................... 95. C. chungii
3b. Achene not excavated at faces.
4a. Utricle 22.5 mm, nearly beakless ...................................................... 88. C. foraminata
4b. Utricle ca. 3.5 mm, with short beak ca. 1 mm ................................. 89. C. tungfangensis
2b. Achene not contracted on angles.
5a. Utricle distinctly convex adaxially, beak recurved, achene only slightly excavated at lower part of face 90. C. foraminatiformis
5b. Utricle indistinctly convex adaxially, beak erect, achene excavated both at upper and lower part of faces.
6a. Utricles ovate-fusiform, 2.54 mm ................................................ 92. C. dolichostachya
6b. Utricles elliptic-rhombic to rhombic-oblong, 2.53 mm.
7a. Pistillate spike linear-cylindrical, 22.5 mm thick,
loosely flowered
93.
C. rugota
7b. Pistillate spike cylindrical or oblong-cylindrical, 34 mm thick, densely flowered 91. C. sociata
1b. Achene neither contracted on angles nor excavated at faces.
8a. Staminate spike cylindrical-linear, rarely oblong-linear (C. mitrata var. aristata); staminate glumes obtuse-rounded to truncate at apex.
9a. Filaments of stamen flat and connate, at anthesis only the top exerted from the glume 96. C. rtistachya
9b. Filaments of stamen slender and free, at anthesis long exerted from the glume 97. C. mitrata
8b. Staminate spike nearly spherical, ovate, oblong to cylindrical; staminate glumes obtuse to acute or ± mucronate.
10a. Spikes 2, lateral spike androgynous, nearly sessile, oblong-ovate or nearly spherical, 58 mm thick 98. C. shanghangensis
10b. Spikes more than 2, if 2, lateral spike pistillate, less than 5 mm thick.
11a. Bract sheath much short, the lowermost one up to 58 mm.
12a. Staminate spike very shortly peduncled, close to the
next pistillate spike; the costa of pistillate glume usually green, excurrent
in a short awn
99.
C. breviculmis
12b. Staminate spike rather long-peduncled, usually surpassing the next pistillate spike; pistillate glumes usually tinged with pale-brown, acute or obtuse at apex, costa not excurrent in a short awn; if pistillate glume with a short awn, then staminate spike peduncled and surpassing the next pistillate spike.
13a. Utricle rhombic-elliptic to broadly ovate or obovate.
14a. Utricle puberulous, stipe short, not distinct ................................... 100. C. hypochloa
14b. Utricle sparsely puberulous, stipe, short distinct ..................... 103. C. subebracteata
13b. Utricle ovate-elliptic or ovate-oblong
15a. Mid-nerve of pistillate glume excurrent in a mucro;
utricle 33.5 mm
............................................................................................... 109.
C. kiangsuensis
15b. Mid-nerve of pistillate glume not excurrent in a mucro; utricle 2.53 mm 108. C. nervata
11b. Bract-sheath longer, the lowermost one usually longer than 10 mm
16a. Pistillate spike ovate, ovate-oblong to cylindrical, 45 mm thick, with denser utricles
17a. Utricle nearly beakless, orifice entire ................................................... 101. C. davidii
17b. Utricle shortly beaked, orifice minutely or acutely 2-toothed
18a. Pistillate glume pale, the costa green; utricle sparsely
puberulous
............................................................................................... 102.
C. breviaristata
18b. Pistillate glume pale, the costa green; utricle sparsely
puberulous
................................................................................................... 104.
C. qiyunensis
16b. Pistillate spike linear to linear-cylindrical, rarely oblong-ovate, 23 mm thick, with rather lax utricles
19a. Leaf-blade hairlike, up to 2 mm wide ......................................... 105. C. capilliformis
19b. Leaf-blade 24 mm wide.
20a. Beak of utricle ± recurved, orifice toothless ....................... 106. C. polyschoenoides
20b. Beak erect, orifice 2-toothed ....................................................... 107. C. pisiformis
穿孔薹草 chuan kong tai cao
Rhizome stout, covered with fibrous remains of old scales. Culms 4070 cm tall, rather stout, trigonous, smooth, surrounded at base by dark brown bladeless sheaths, sheath usually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer than or equaling the culm, blades 47 mm wide, flat, leathery, smooth, scabrid along margins. Lower bracts shortly leaflike, upper bracts bristlelike, shorter than the subtending spike, sheath 25 cm. Spikes 46, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 5080 Χ 35 mm thick, with peduncle 46 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, spaced, cylindrical, 5080 Χ 35 mm, densely flowered, ± nodding at apex, the peduncle 24 cm, slightly exserted but the upper ones enclosed in the bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, acute at apex, 33.5 mm, pale-brown on both upper sides, the costa pale-green, with a distinct mid-nerve. Utricles shorter than the glume, obovate, 22.5 mm (including stipe), prominently many-nerved, puberulous, stipitate at base, much shortly beaked, the beak slightly recurved, emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, shortly oblong, 1.52 mm, straw-yellow, with angles contracted at the middle, with short and bent stipe at base, suddenly contracted to a shortly cylindrical beak at apex; style base slightly thickened, most part not persistent; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Forest margins on mountain slopes, shady places near rocks in valleys, ditch margins; 300800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
东方薹草 dong fang tai cao
Rhizome rather short. Culms up to 80 cm tall, compressed trigonous, slender, straight. Basal sheath bladeless, brown shining. Leaves longer than the culm, blades 67 mm wide, with distinct mid-nerve and transverse nervelets, scabrid along margins. Bract sheathed, lower bracts 23, leaflike, upper bracts 12, bristlelike. Spikes 45, terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 410 Χ 0.4 cm, shortly peduncled; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 33.5 cm, ca. 4 mm thick; peduncles 1.55 cm, mostly enclosed in bract sheaths. Pistillate glumes oblong, acute at apex, ca. 3 mm, membranous, pale-yellow, with distinct costa excurrent in a mucro. Utricles ovate or ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm, herbaceous, greenish yellow, with a few slender nerves, minutely hirsute or nearly glabrous, attenuate at base, gradually attenuate above to a short beak ca. 1 mm, obliquely truncate and minutely 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic-ovate, obtusely trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown-yellow, with angles contracted at the middle and faces excavated both at upper and lower part, suddenly narrowed to a short stipe at base, suddenly contracted to a annulated disc at apex; style base thickened; stigmas 3.
* Mountain slopes; 9001400 m. Hainan.
拟穿孔薹草 ni chuan kong tai cao
Rhizome stout, clothed with fibrous remains of old scales. Flowering culms both central and arising from the axils of the leaves, 3040 cm tall, compressed, smooth, surrounded at base by pale brown bladeless sheaths or their fibrous remains. Leaves shorter or longer than the culm, blades 612 mm wide, soft, flat, smooth, scabrid along margins. Bracts shorter than the spike, sheathed, sheaths 13.5 mm, lower bracts shortly leaflike, upper bracts bristlelike. Spikes 45, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 3060 Χ 1.52 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, remotely spaced, cylindrical, 23.5 cm, ca. 4 mm thick, densely flowered; peduncles 14.5 cm, lower ones slightly exerted, upper ones enclosed in the bract sheaths. Pistillate glumes oblong, 22.5 mm, mucronate at apex, membranous laterally, the costa with 3 distinct nerves and pale-yellow-green. Utricles nearly equaling the glume, ovate, ca. 2.5 mm, with many prominent nerves, sparsely puberulous, nearly stipeless at base, shortly beaked at apex; beak ca. 0.5 mm, recurved, emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, 1.52 mm, brown at maturity, with faces slightly excavated at lower part, nearly stipeless, suddenly contracted to a very short beak at apex; style-base thickened, miter-shaped, persistent; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MarApr.
* Grassy places in forests, ditch margins; 600800 m. Guizhou, Sichuan.
伴生薹草 ban sheng tai cao
Carex atronucula Hayata; C. daibuensis Hayata; C. ligata Boott var. strictior (Kόkenthal) Kόkenthal; C. nexa Boott var. strictior Kόkenthal; C. transalpina Hayata; C. uraiensis Hayata.
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2050 cm tall, slender, smooth. Basal sheaths bladeless, dark-brown, disintegrated into fibers. Leaf-blades 36 mm wide, flat, rather stiff to herbaceous, with rather short sheaths. Lower bracts 24 leaflike, nearly equaling the inflorescence, the lowest one with rather long sheath. Spike 48, spaced or upper 23 contiguous; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 1.53 cm, green; lateral spikes pistillate, rarely androgynous or very rarely with a few staminate flowers at base, single or binate at each node, cylindrical or oblong-cylindrical, 1540 Χ 34 mm, densely flowered, green; peduncles slightly exerted to enclosed in bract sheaths. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 3 mm (including awn), membranous, the green costa with 13 nerves excurrent in a short awn 0.71 mm. Utricles elliptic-fusiform, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, many-nerved, puberulous, suddenly contracted both ends, shortly beaked at apex, shallowly 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ca. 1.5 mm, trigonous, suddenly contracted both ends, discoid-annulate at apex; style-base thickened; stigmas 3.
Forest undergrowth, grasslands; ??altitude. Taiwan [Japan].
No specimens have been seen by the author. The above description is largely taken from Fl. Taiwan (1987).
长穗薹草 chang sui tai cao
Rhizome stout, covered with fibrous remains of scales. Culms several to a clump, 3060 cm tall, slender, smooth. Basal sheaths bladeless, purple-brown to dark-brown, usually split into fibers; leaves shorter or longer than the culm, blades 310 mm wide, flat, leathery, stiff, scabrous along margins and on abaxial mid-nerve. Bracts sheathed, sheath 13.5 cm, lower bracts leaflike, upper bracts bristlelike, shorter than to nearly equaling the subtending spike. Spikes 45, terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 3550 Χ 1.52 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical to cylindrical, 2040 Χ 1.53 mm, loosely flowered; peduncles slender, erect, 1.57 cm. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, rounded at apex, 2.53.5 mm, membranous, the 13-nerved green costa excurrent in a mucro. Utricle longer than the glume, ovate-fusiform, 2.54 mm, prominently many-nerved, puberulous or more densely pubescent, attenuate to a short stipe at base, attenuate above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, 22.5 mm, discoid-annulate at apex; style base thickened, persistent; stigmas 3.
Forest undergrowth, ditch margins on mountain slopes; 8001600 m. Anhui, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Philippines].
1a. Utricle 3.54 mm, puberulous; leaf blade 510 mm wide ................... 92a. subsp. dolichostachya
1b. Utricle 2.53.5 mm, more densely
pubescent; leaf blade 35 mm wide
............................................................................................................ 92a.
subsp. trichosperma
长穗薹草(原亚种) chang sui tai cao (yuan ya zhong)
Carex matsudae (Hayata) Hayata ex Makino & Nemoto; C. qimenensis S. W. Su & S. M. Xu; C. rankanensis Hayata; Diplocarex matsudae Hayata.
Leaf blade 510 mm wide; utricle 3.54 mm, puberulous.
Forest undergrowth, ditch margins on mountain slopes; 8001600 m. Anhui, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Philippines].
阿里山宿柱薹 a li shan su zhu tai
Carex trichosperma Ohwi, Mem. Coll. Sci. Imp. Kyoto Univ., ser. B, 6: 241. 1931.
Leaf blade relatively narrower, 35 mm wide; utricle 2.53.5 mm, more densely pubescent.
* Forest undergrowth; ??altitude. Taiwan.
No specimens have been seen by the author. The above description is largely taken from Fl. Taiwan (1978).
横纹薹草 heng wen tai cao
Rhizome short, with creeping stolons. Culms arising from the axils of the leaves, 2050 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with fibrous remains of old basal leaf-sheaths. Leaves nearly equaling or slightly shorter than the culm. Blades 24(5) mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins, glabrous. Bracts with blades, longer than the subtending spike, sheathed, sheath 0.52.5 cm. Spikes 45, upper ones contiguous, lower ones spaced; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 1020 Χ 1.52 mm, sessile or shortly peduncled, surpassing the next pistillate spikelet; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 1528 Χ 22.5 mm, densely flowered, with peduncle enclosed in bract sheath or shortly exerted. Pistillate glumes oblong, cuneate at apex, mucronate, 2.53 mm, yellow-white, the green costa 1-nerved. Utricle longer than the glume, rhombic-oblong, obtusely trigonous, ca. 3 mm, thin membranous, pale-green, glabrous, many-nerved, gradually attenuate above to a conical beak; beak 0.5 mm, minutely 2-toothed at apex. Achene tightly enveloped, oblong, ca. 2 mm, shortly stipitate at base, with faces excavated both at upper and lower part, on angles not contracted, discoid-annulate at apex; style base slightly thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May.
Forest margins on mountain slopes, waysides; ??altitude. Anhui, Fujian [Japan].
三阳薹草 san yang tai cao
Carex sachaliensis F. Schmidt var. duvaliana (Franchet & Savatier) T. Koyama; C. tenuissima Boott var. duvaliana (Franchet & Savatier) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome short, with creeping stolons. Culms tufted. 2035 mm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, puberulous. Leaves slightly shorter than the culm, blades 1.53 mm wide, flat, pale-green, puberulous; basal sheaths pale-yellow to pale-brown, densely puberulous. Lower bracts with blades, longer than the subtending spike, long-sheathed, sheath 14.5 mm, upper bracts bristlelike, shortly sheathed, puberulous. Spike 35, spaced, sometimes upper ones slightly contiguous; terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 1522 Χ 23 mm, with peduncle 1.52 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 1020 Χ 23 mm, loosely flowered, with peduncle enclosed in the bract sheath or shortly exerted. Pistillate glumes obovate, ca. 3 mm, yellowish white; the green costa 13 nerved, mid-nerve rather prominent and excurrent in a short awn. Utricles longer than the glumes, ovate-fusiform, trigonous, 3.54 mm, membranous, pale green, many-nerved, sparsely puberulous, attenuate below to a stipe 0.51 mm, contracted above to a middling beak ca. 1 mm, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, 1.52 mm, shortly stipitate at base, the stipe slightly bent, discoid-annulate at apex; style short, conically thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May.
Forest margins, waysides on mountain slopes; 6001700 m. Anhui [Japan].
仲氏薹草 zhong shi tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2550 cm tall, slender, trigonous, slightly scabrid. Basal sheaths bladeless or with short blades, usually split into fibers; leaves longer or shorter than the culm, blades 1.52(3) mm wide, flat. Basal bract leafy, rarely shortly leaflike, longer than the subtending spike, sheathed, sheath 12.2(3) cm. Spikes (3)45, terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 1560 Χ 23 mm, with exerted peduncle 0.85 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 13.5 cm, ca. 23 mm thick, rather densely or loosely flowered, lower ones peduncled, upper ones nearly sessile. Pistillate glumes obovate or oblong, 22.5 mm (excluding awn), pale; the green costa 3 nerved, excurrent in an awn ca. 12.5 mm. Utricles longer than the glumes, rhombic-elliptic, 33.5 mm, membranous, green, many-nerved, sparsely puberulous, irregularly excavated, attenuate at base, shortly stipitate, contracted above to a short conical beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, with angles contracted at middle, with faces excavated both at upper and lower part, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; style short, conically thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Forest undergrowth on mountain slopes, bogs, waysides. Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.
1a. Staminate spike 1.52.5 cm, with peduncle 0.81.2 cm; pistillate spike 1020 Χ 23 mm, rather densely flowered ....................................................................................................... 95a. var. chingii
1b. Staminate spike 56 cm, with peduncle 3.55 cm; pistillate spike (15)3035 Χ ca. 2 mm, rather loosely flowered ........................................................................................................ 95b. var. rigida
仲氏薹草(原变种) zhong shi tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex anhuiensis S. W. Su & S. M. Xu; C. truncatirostris S. W. Su & S. M. Xu; C. truncatirostris f. erostris S. W. Su & S. M. Xu; C. xuanchengensis S. W. Su & S. M. Xu.
Staminate spike 1.52.5 cm, with peduncle 0.81.2 cm; pistillate spike 1020 Χ 23 mm, rather densely flowered.
* Forest undergrowth on mountain slopes, waysides. Anhui, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.
坚硬薹草 jian ying tai cao
Staminate spike 56 cm, with peduncle 3.55 cm; pistillate spike more slender, (15)3035 Χ ca. 2 mm, loosely flowered.
* Bogs; ??altitude. Fujian, Hunan.
三穗薹草 san sui tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2045 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth. Basal sheath dark brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter or nearly equaling the culm, blades 24(5) mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Bracts leaflike, longer than the subtending spikes, sheathed, sheath 612 mm. Spikes 46, upper ones contiguous and fastigiate, sometimes the lowest one distant; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 1040 Χ 11.5 mm, nearly sessile, staminate glumes free or connate from base to above the middle; filament of stamen threadlike or flat, free or connate; lateral spikes cylindrical, 1030(35) Χ 23 mm, densely flowered; upper peduncles short and enclosed in bract sheath, the lowest one exerted. 2.53.5(5.5) cm, erect, slender. Pistillate glumes elliptic or oblong, ca. 2 mm, obtuse, truncate or acute at apex, mucronate, the costa green, pale yellow on both sides. Utricles longer than the glume, erect, ovate-fusiform, trigonous, 33.2 mm, membranous, green, many-nerved, puberulous, attenuate and stipitate at base, attenuate above to a beak, minutely 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, 22.5 mm, pale-brown, discoid-annulate at apex; style base conically thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MarMay.
Forest undergrowth, wet places in forests and at field margins, grasslands and waysides on mountain slopes; 3001100 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
1a. Staminate glumes free; filament of stamen threadlike, free ................................ 96a. var. tristachya
1b. Staminate glumes connate from base to above the middle; filament of stamen flat and connate 96b. var. pocilliformis
三穗薹草(原变种) san sui tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Staminate glumes free; filaments of stamens threadlike and free.
Wet places in forests, waysides on mountain slopes. Anhui, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
合鳞薹草 he lin tai cao
Carex pocilliformis Boott, Illstr. Carex 4: 175. 1867; C. tristachya Thunberg subsp. pocilliformis (Boott) T. Koyama.
Staminate glumes connate from base to above the middle; filaments of stamens flat and connate.
Forest undergrowth, grasslands on mountain slopes, wet places at field margins; 3001100 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
灰帽薹草 hui mao tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 1030 cm tall. Slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths brown. Leaves longer than the culm, blades 1.52(3) mm wide, flat, scabrid. Basal bract bristlelike, shorter than the inflorescence, shortly sheathed, sheath 34 mm. Spikes 34, upper ones contiguous, the lowest one slightly spaced; terminal spike staminate, sessile or shortly peduncled; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 515 Χ 23 mm, slightly dense-flowered, upper ones nearly sessile, the lowest one with peduncle enclosed in bract sheath or shortly exerted. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, acute at apex, ca. 2 mm, pale-brown, the green costa 1-nerved. Utricles longer than or nearly equaling the glume, ovate-fusiform, obtusely trigonous, 22.5 mm, membranous, pale-yellow-green, many-nerved, sparsely puberulous or nearly glabrous, attenuate and shortly stipitate at base, contracted above to a conical beak, truncate or emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, 1.52 mm, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; style-base conically thickened; stigmas 3.
Undergrowth of bamboo forests, grasslands on mountain slopes, sandy slopes; ca. 1600 m. Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
1a. Staminate spike 11.7 cm, linear; pistillate glume usually mucronate .................... 97a. var. mitrata
1b. Staminate spike shorter, oblong-linear; pistillate glume shortly awned .................. 97b. var. aristata
灰帽薹草(原变种) hui mao tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Staminate spike 11.7 cm, ca. 1 mm thick, linear; pistillate glume usually mucronate at apex. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
Undergrowth of bamboo forests, sandy slopes; Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
具芒灰帽薹草 ju mang hui mao tai mao
Carex mitrata subsp. aristata (Ohwi) T. Koyama.
Staminate spike shorter, oblong-linear, pistillate glumes ending in a short awn. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
Grasslands on mountain slopes; ca. 1600 m. Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan].
上杭薹草 shang hang tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 1540 cm tall, slender, trigonous. Basal sheath dark brown, split into fibers; leaves longer than the culm, blades 12 mm wide, scabrid along margins, revolute, acuminate at apex, leathery. Bract bristlelike, longer than the inflorescence, 2.53 cm, shortly sheathed 1.5 mm. Spike 2, terminal spike staminate, ovate-clavate, 710 mm, pale-yellow, with peduncle 512 mm; lateral spike androgynous, oblong-ovate or nearly spherical, 712 Χ 58 mm, densely flowered, nearly sessile. Pistillate glumes oblong, obtusely at apex, ca. 2 Χ 1 mm, pale yellow, mid-nerve distinct. Utricle longer than the glume, ovate-lanceolate, 3.53.8 mm, membranous, straw-yellow, many-nerved, densely puberulous, attenuate at base, attenuate above to a beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene loosely enveloped, oblong, trigonous, chestnut-colored, discoid-annulate at apex; style base thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Aug.
* Forest undergrowth; ca. 600 m. Fujian.
青绿薹草 qing lu tai cao
Rhizome short or elongate and stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 840 cm tall, trigonous, scabrid above. Basal sheaths pale-brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter than the culm, blades 23(5) mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins, stiff. Lowest bract leafy, longer than the inflorescence, shortly sheathed, sheath 1.52 mm, the remainder bristlelike, nearly sheathless. Spikes 25, upper ones contiguous, lower ones spaced; terminal spike staminate, oblong, 1015 Χ 23 mm, nearly sessile, close to the next pistillate spike; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or oblong-ovate, nearly cylindrical, 615(20) Χ 34 mm, densely flowered, sessile or the lowest one with peduncle 23 mm. Pistillate glumes oblong, obovate-oblong, truncate or rounded at apex, 22.5(excluding awn) Χ 1.22 mm, membranous, pale, the green costa 3-nerved, excurrent in an awn 23.5 mm. Utricles nearly equaling the glume, obovate, obtusely trigonous, membranous, pale-green, many-nerved, densely puberulous above, attenuate and shortly stipitate at base, suddenly contracted to a conical beak at apex, emarginated at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, 1.8 mm, chestnut-colored, discoid-annulate at apex; style-base conically thickened; stigmas 3.
Grasslands on mountain slopes, waysides, ditch margins in valleys; 4002300 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, [India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Russia (Far East)].
1a. Utricle 3.54.5 mm ....................................................................................... 99c. var. cupulifera
1b. Utricle 22.5 mm.
2a. Rhizome short; culm slender .................................................................. 99a. var. breviculmis
2b. Rhizome stoloniferous; culm much stouter .................................................. 99b. var. fibrillosa
青绿薹草(原变种) qing lu tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex breviculmis f. filiculmis (Franchet & Savatier) Kόkenthal; C. breviculmis f. longearistata Kόkenthal; C. breviculmis subsp. royleana (Nees) Kόkenthal; C. filiculmis Franchet & Savatier; C. leucochlora Bunge; C. leucochlora var. filiculmis (Franchet & Savatier) Kitagawa; C. leucochlora f. longiaristata (Kόkenthal) Kitagawa; C. leucochlroa var. longiaristata (Kόkenthal) Kitagawa; C. leucochlora var. petrogena Kitagawa; C. morrisonicola Hayata; C. royleana Nees.
Rhizome short, culm slender. Utricle 22.5 Χ 1.22 mm, many-nerved. Fl. and fr. MarJun.
Grasslands on mountain slopes, waysides, ditch margins in valleys; 4002300 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, [India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Russia (Far East)].
纤维青菅 xian wei qing jian
Carex fibrillosa Franchet & Savatier, Enum. Pl. Jap. 2: 137. 1877; C. breviculmis f. fibrillosa (Franchet & Savatier) Kόkenthal; C. breviculmis subsp. fibrillosa (Franchet & Savatier) T. Koyama; C. leucochlora f. fibrillosa (Franchet & Savatier) K. T. Fu; C. pallens Z. P. Wang.
Plants stouter, stoloniferous. Utricles with more prominent nerves.
Sandy places along waysides; ??altitude. Anhui, Gansu, Shaanxi, Taiwan [Japan, Korea].
直蕊薹草 zhi rui tai cao
Carex orthostemon Hayata var. cupulifera Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, 30: 390. 1911; C. orthostemon Hayata. [If C. orthostemon is indeed a synonym, Hayata created an autonym in 1911, var. orthostemon, which has priority over var. cupulifera, so the correct name under C. breviculmis would be a new combination: C. breviculmis var. orthostemon (Hayata) ___.]
Utricle longer, 3.54.5 mm.
* ??Habitat; ??altitude. Taiwan.
绿囊薹草 lό nang tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2045 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous. Basal sheaths dark brown, split into fibers; leaves longer than the culm, blades 12.5 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Lowest bract leafy, longer than the subtending spike, shortly sheathed, sheath 11.5 mm. Spikes 23, terminal spike staminate, clavate, 815 Χ 34 mm, with peduncle 59 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, spherical to ovate or oblong, 47 Χ 34 mm, densely flowered, with short peduncle 24 mm. Pistillate glume broadly elliptic or obovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 Χ 1.2 mm, membranous, pale-brown; the green costa 1-nerved, excurrent in a scabrid mucro. Utricle longer than the glume, rhombic-elliptic or broadly ovate, obtusely trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, pale-yellowish green, puberulous, faintly nerved adaxially, distinctly nerved abaxially, suddenly contracted at base to a very short stipe and at apex to a conical beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, pale-brown, discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Pinus forest undergrowth, meadows on mountain slopes; 400500 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
无喙囊薹草 wu hui nang tai cao
Carex kengiana Z. P. Wang.
Rhizome obliquely ascending. Culms tufted, 2065 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous. Basal sheaths dark brown, split into fibers; leaves longer than the culm, blades 25 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Bracts shortly leafy, shorter than the subtending spike, long-sheathed, lowest sheath 1.53 mm. Spikes 35, spaced, terminal spike staminate, clavate-cylindrical, 1240 Χ 35 mm, with peduncle 2.55.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 1240 Χ 36 mm, densely flowered; peduncle erect, lowest one exerted, upper ones enclosed in bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, 2.53 mm, truncate or emarginated at apex, pale-yellowish white; the green costa 3-nerved, excurrent in a scabrid awn 2.53 mm. Utricles obovate-elliptic or elliptic, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, membranous, green, many-nerved, puberulous, suddenly contracted at base to a very short stipe 0.5 mm, suddenly contracted above and nearly beakless, truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, with faces excavated at lower part, suddenly contracted at apex to an annulus; style base slightly thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprJun.
* Forest margins, grasslands on mountain slopes; 4001200 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang.
短芒薹草 duan mang tai cao
Rhizome obliquely ascending. Culms tufted, 1535 cm tall, slender, compressed trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths dark brown, split into fibers; leaves longer or shorter than the culm, blades 35 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Bracts shortly leafy, shorter than inflorescence, long-sheathed, sheath 1.22 mm. Spikes 34, spaced, terminal spike staminate, clavate-cylindrical, 1530 Χ 23 mm, with peduncle (0.5)1.55 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 1730 Χ 34 mm, densely flowered; peduncle enclosed in bract sheath but lowest one exerted. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 mm (excluding awn), obtuse or rounded at apex, pale; the green costa 3-nerved, excurrent in a scabrid awn 1.52 mm. Utricles longer than or equaling the glume, sometimes slightly recurved, elliptic or obovate, ca. 3 mm, membranous, pale-green, many-nerved, sparsely puberulous, attenuate at base to a short stipe, attenuate above to a short beak; beak conical, recurved, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, obovate, trigonous, ca. 1.8 mm, pale-brown, shortly stipitate at base, contracted above to a short neck, discoid-annulate at apex of neck; style-base conically thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprJul.
* Wet and shady places in forests, grasslands on mountain slopes; 4001800 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hunan, Shaanxi, Zhejiang.
小苞叶薹草 xiao bao ye tai cao
Carex pisiformis Boott var. subebracteata Kόkenthal in Engler, Pflanzenr. 38(IV. 20): 477. 1909.
Rhizome with slender stolons. Culms tufted, 1530 cm tall, slender, compressed trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths pale-brown or brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter than the culm, blades 1.52.5 mm wide, flat, scabrid adaxially and along margins. Bracts bristlelike, shorter than the subtending spike, sheathed, sheaths 57 mm. Spikes 23, spaced; terminal spike staminate, sometimes close to the next pistillate spike, narrowly cylindrical or clavate, 1218 Χ 23 mm, with peduncle 0.42.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical or oblong, 612 Χ 3 mm, rather densely flowered; with peduncle enclosed in bract sheath or slightly exerted. Pistillate glumes obovate or ovate, acute at apex, rusty-colored, white-membranous on margins; the green costa with distinct mid-nerve excurrent in a scabrid mucro. Utricles longer or nearly equaling the glume, obovate or broadly obovate, obtusely trigonous, 22.7 mm, pale-green, faintly few-nerved, sparsely puberulous, attenuate at base to a short stipe, suddenly contracted above to a conical beak, the beak slightly recurved, emarginated abaxially and truncate adaxially at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, broadly obovate, obtusely trigonous, 1.21.5 mm, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
Wet places in forests; ??altitude. Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
齐云薹草 qi yun tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 3040 cm tall, slender, trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths pale-yellow to pale-brown, slightly split into fibers; leaves slightly longer than the culm, blades 23 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins, stiff. Bracts shortly leafy or bristlelike, long-sheathed, sheaths 1.22.2 cm. Spikes 23, spaced; terminal spike staminate, narrowly cylindrical, 2265 Χ 23 mm, with peduncle 27.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 1330 Χ 46 mm, rather densely flowered, with a few staminate flowers at apex, with peduncle enclosed in bract sheath or slightly exerted. Pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm (excluding awn), acuminate at apex, pale or straw-colored and pale brown on upper margins; the costa 1-nerved, excurrent in a scabrid awn. Utricles shorter than the glume, ovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, membranous, pale-brown, distinctly many-nerved, glabrous, attenuate at base to a short stipe, attenuate above to a beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, with faces slightly excavated at lower part, shortly stipitate at base, distinctly discoid-annulate at apex; style-base conically thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Apr.
* Waysides on mountain slopes; ??altitude. Anhui.
丝叶薹草 si ye tai cao
Carex capilliformis var. major Kόkenthal; C. pisformis Boott var. major (Kόkenthal) T. Koyama.
Rhizome slender. Culms tufted, (6) 1050 cm tall, hairlike, trigonous, soft, smooth or slightly scabrid. Basal sheaths purple-brown, split into reticulate fibers; leaves longer or shorter than the culm, blades hairlike, 0.53 mm wide, involute at margins, scabrid. Bracts nearly spathelike, shorter than the subtending spike, sheathed. Spikes 23, spaced; terminal spike staminate, linear, ca. 10 Χ 1 mm, pale-brown, with peduncle 2.83.3 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, narrowly cylindrical, 714 Χ 2 mm, with a few rather loose flowers; with hairlike peduncle 1.52.5 cm. Pistillate glumes oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse or truncate at apex, ca. 3 mm (including mucro), yellow-brown; the costa scabrid, excurrent in a mucro. Utricles equaling the glume, elliptic or oblanceolate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, ca. 3 mm, dark-green, densely and shortly hirsute, indistinctly nerved, shortly stipitate at base, suddenly contracted above to a beak, truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, obovate-oblong, obtusely trigonous, ca. 2 mm, gray-black at maturity, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; style base thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
* Forest undergrowth on mountain slopes; 20003600 m. Shaanxi, Sichuan.
类白穗薹草 lei bai sui tai cao
Rhizome rather long. Culms tufted, 2035 cm tall, slender, soft, compressed trigonous, smooth. Basal sheaths chestnut-brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter than the culm, blades 23 mm wide, flat, slightly scabrid, scabrid along margins. Bracts bristlelike, shorter than the subtending spike, sheathed, sheath 12.2 cm. Spikes 35, spaced; terminal spike staminate, narrowly cylindrical, 2540 Χ 23 mm, with peduncle 2.54 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, linear, 1327 Χ 1.52 mm, loosely flowered, peduncles enclosed in bract sheath. Pistillate glumes ovate, truncate or acute at apex, 22.5 mm (excluding mucro), pale yellow-brown, distinct mid-nerve excurrent in a mucro. Utricles slightly longer than or equaling the glume, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, pale-green, many-nerved, shortly hirsute, attenuate at base, attenuate above to a slightly recurved beak, truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, obovate-elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, pale-brown, stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Streamsides in valleys, rock crevices, waysides; 9001900 m. Anhui, Shaanxi.
豌豆形薹草 wan dou xing tai cao
Carex albomas C. B. Clarke; C. alterniflora Franchet; C. bauhwaensis Z. P. Wang; C. conicoides Honda; C. duvaliana Franchet & Savatier var. alterniflora (Franchet) Kόkenthal; C. fernaldiana H. Lιveillι & Vaniot; C. pisiformis var. alterniflora (Franchet) T. Koyama; C. pisiformis var. fernaldiana (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) T. Koyama; C. pisiformis var. koreana (Nakai) T. Koyama; C. pisiformis f. polyschoena (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) Kόkenthal; C. pisiformis var. sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Kόkenthal ex Matsumura; C. polyschoena H. Lιveillι & Vaniot; C. sachalinensis F. Schmidt; C. sachaliensis subsp. alterniflora (Franchet) T. Koyama; C. sachaliensis var. alterniflora (Franchet) Ohwi; C. sachaliensis var. conicoides (Honda) Ohwi; C. sachaliensis subsp. fernaldiana (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) T. Koyama; C. sachaliensis var. fernaldiana (H. Lιveillι & Vaniot) T. Koyama; C. umbrosa Host var. koreana Nakai.
Rhizome short or stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 1550 cm tall, slender, compressed trigonous, smooth or slightly scabrid. Basal sheaths pale yellow-brown to rusty-brown; leaves shorter or longer than the culm, blades 23(4) mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins. Bracts sheathed, sheath 518 mm, lower ones leafy, upper ones bristlelike, shorter than or equaling the inflorescence. Spikes 24, spaced; terminal spike staminate, narrowly cylindrical, 1520 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, sometimes with staminate flowers at apex, oblong-cylindrical or narrowly cylindrical, 1030 Χ 23 mm, loosely flowered, peduncles enclosed in bract sheath or slightly exerted. Pistillate glumes obovate, truncate at apex, pale or pale-brown, the green costa 13-nerved, excurrent in a mucro. Utricles longer than or nearly equaling the glume, ovate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, ca. 3 mm, pale yellow-green, slightly many-nerved, densely puberulous, attenuate to a short stipe at base, attenuate above to a conical beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, gray-black at maturity, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJun.
Forest undergrowth on mountain slopes, waysides; 4001400 m. Anhui, Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong [Japan].
截嘴薹草案 jie zui tai cao
Carex caryophyllea Latourrette subsp. nervata (Franchet & Savatier) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome slender, creeping. Culms 1027 cm tall, slender, compressed trigonous, smooth or slightly scabrid. Basal sheaths brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter than the culm, blades 1.52.5 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins, soft. Bracts bristlelike, the lowest equaling or longer than the subtending spike, sheathed, sheath 48 mm. Spikes 24, upper ones sub contiguous; terminal spike staminate, narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, (5)818 Χ 1.52 mm, with peduncle 815 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or short cylindrical, 815 Χ 23 mm, slightly loosely flowered, with peduncles 620 mm. Pistillate glumes obovate to ovate, acute or obtuse at apex, ca. 2.5 mm, pale-rusty, white-membranous on margins, the green costa 13-nerved. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, ovate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, 2.53 mm, pale yellow-green, distinctly and slenderly many-nerved, sparsely puberulous at upper part, narrowly cuneate at base, attenuate above to a conical beak, emarginate abaxially and truncate adaxially at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 1.8 mm, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Broad-leaved forest and thicket undergrowth, grasslands on mountain slopes; ??altitude. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
江苏薹草 jiang su tai cao
Carex conica Boott var. densa Kόkenthal.
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2045 cm tall, slender, compressed trigonous, smooth, slightly scabrid above. Basal sheaths bladeless, dark brown, split into fibers; leaves shorter than the culm, blades 23 mm wide, flat, scabrid along margins, somewhat stiff. Bracts bristlelike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathed, sheath (3)58 mm. Spikes 34, spaced; terminal spike staminate, oblong-elliptic or clavate, 1225 Χ 35 mm, with peduncle 12 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or narrowly cylindrical, 815 Χ 23 mm, sub densely flowered, with peduncles enclosed in bract sheath. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate or obovate, emarginated or subacute at apex, 2.53 Χ 1.8 mm, pale-brown, dilutely colored on margins, the costa with distinct mid-nerve excurrent in a mucro at apex. Utricles slightly shorter than the glume, ovate-oblong, trigonous, 33.5 mm, pale-green, glabrous, slenderly many-nerved, attenuate to a short stipe at base, attenuate above to a conical beak, truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, oblong-ovate, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, shortly stipitate at base, discoid-annulate at apex; style base thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Forests margins on mountain slopes, waysides; ??altitude. Anhui, Jiangsu.
Chinese gen sui tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Carex subsect. Radicales Kόkenthal in Engler, Pflanzenr. 38(IV. 20): 480. 1909.
Spikes androgynous, one to several, usually remote, the lowest spike bearing from the middling part or the base of culm, rarely contiguous. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence, long-sheathed. Utricles papery or nearly leathery, many-nerved, pubescent, hispidulous or glabrous, usually ciliate on margins, abruptly contracted above to a short beak; style usually thickened at base, rarely not thickened; stigmas 3.
Thirteen species in China.
1a. Culms 3055 cm tall, 45 mm thick; leaf blades 820 mm wide; spikes 26, cylindrical, 46 cm, 35 mm thick; peduncles short, enclosed in bract sheath; utricles glabrous; style non-thickened at base 110. C. courtallensis
1b. Culms not exceeding 30 cm tall and 2 mm thick; leaf blades 25 mm wide or filiform; spikes 15, ovate to cylindrical, 340 mm, 26 mm thick; peduncles slender, exserted from bract sheath; utricles pubescent, hispidulous or glabrous; style thickened at base.
2a. Culms short, shorter than leaves; bract leaf setaceous or scale-formed; utricles 22.5 mm, style densely brown granular-punctata.
3a. Culms obtusely trigonous, filiform, not exceeding 0.5 mm thick; bract leaf setaceous; spikes ovate or ovate-oblong, 35 mm; style flat ...................................................................... 111. C. tsoi
3b. Culms flat, ca. 1 mm thick; bract leaf scale-formed; spikes cylindrical, 510 mm; style cylindric 112. C. planiscapa
2b. Culms long, longer than or equaling to leaves; bract leaf like; utricles 3.56.5 mm; style smooth or haired, sometimes style and nutlets granular-punctata.
4a. Leaves herbaceous, soft; culms thin.
5a. Spikes 46, the lowermost one remote, the remainder approximate, peduncles rather short, enclosed in the bract sheath, except the lowermost one ........................... 113. C. cylindroistachya
5b. Spikes 13, remote, bearing at the middle part or the base of culm, except the terminal spike, long-peduncled and exserted, staminate flower part usually shorter than or nearly equaling to the pistillate flower part.
6a. Culms and leaves villous; culms, pistillate glumes and utricles granular-punctata on surface, style thickened, globose ................................................................. 114. C. chlorocephalula
6b. Culms and leaves glabrous; culms, pistillate glumes and utricles not granular-punctata on surface, style thickened at base.
7a. Spikes ovate, the lower pistillate glumes with a rather long or short awn at apex.
8a. Utricles hispidulous; style pubescent; spikes 56 mm ....................... 115. C. chuiana
8b. Utricles glabrous; style smooth; spikes 820 mm ............................ 116. C. delavayi
7b. Spikes oblong to cylindrical; pistillate glumes without a awn at apex.
9a. Leaves flat, blades 210 mm wide; utricles oblong or obovate; nutlet and style smooth.
10a. Utricles oblong, 45 mm, green, 2 lateral-nerved and few thin-nerved, pubescent, eventually glabrescent; style slightly thickened at base; leaf blades 410 mm wide 117. C. speciosa
10b. Utricles obovate, ca. 4 mm, yellowish brown, 2 lateral-nerved and few thick-nerved, glabrous; style thickened at base, coniform; leaf blades 24 wide .. 118. C. funhuangshanica
9b. Leaves linear, blades 11.5 mm wide; utricles obovate-oblong, 44.2 mm; nutlets and styles granular-punctata on surface ............................................................ 119. C. tsaiana
4b. Leaves nearly leathery, stiff; culms robust stiff.
11a. Spikes cylindrical, 2.54.5 cm, 56 mm thick; utricles not surpassing 5 mm.
12a. Leaf blades flat, 34 mm wide; utricles ovate; nutlet
smooth
120.
C. caudispicata
12b. Leaf blades linear, ca. 1 mm wide; utricles elliptic or oblong; nutlet granular-punctate on surface 121. C. anningensis
11b. Spikes ovate, 2.53 cm, 810
mm thick; utricles 66.5 mm
........................................................................................................ 122.
C. pterocaulos
Chinese yin sui bing tai cao
Rhizome elongated. Culms loosely tufted, 3555 cm tall, 1.52 mm thick, triquetrous, stiff, smooth. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades flat, 12 cm wide, smooth, soft, with few dark-brown persistent leaf sheaths. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence, flat, 812 mm wide, long-sheathed. Spikes 26, androgynous, remote, the lowest one bearing at the middle part or base of culm, cylindrical, 46 cm, 45 mm thick, densely many-flowered, staminate flowers part slightly shorter than the pistillate flowers part, slightly thin. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-oblong, 3.54 mm, rounded or obtuse at apex, green, papery, 1-costate and few thin-nerved, ciliate on the margins of upper part. Utricles elliptic, slightly inflated-trigonous, 4.85 mm, green, papery, many-nerved glabrous, narrowly winged on margins, ciliate, with a attenuate, spongiform base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlet obovate-oblong, trigonous, 2.53 mm, short-stipitate, rounded and beakless at apex, brown at maturity; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under evergreen broad-leaved forest; 13002800 m. Yunnan. [Vietnam, Laos, India, Sikkim, Nepal].
Chinese xian jing tai cao
Rhizome long, ligneous. Culms densely tufted, usually 12 bearing in a leaf axil, 315 cm tall, nearly filiform, rather soft, compressed-triquetrous, smooth. Leaves one time as long as culm or more long, flat, 15.5 mm wide, soft, glabrous, with dark-brown, persistent leaf sheaths. Bracts sheathing-shaped, bracteole leaf setiform. Spikes 15, remote, androgynous, ovate or ovate-oblong, 25 mm, 3.5 mm thick, staminate flowers part shorter or nearly equaling pistillate flowers part, the former slightly thin, both densely many-flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate rounded or obtuse at apex, 1.21.5 mm, papery, white or pale-green, 1-costated and few lateral-nerved, narrowly membranous on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate-elliptical, compressed-trigonous, 22.5 mm, pale-green, papery, loosely pubescent and ciliate, distinctly 2 lateral-nerved and few thin-nerved, cuneate at base, nearly non-stipitate, attenuate above to a indistinctly short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets ovate-oblong, trigonous, sides slightly concave, 11.5 mm, dark-brown at maturity, cuneate at base, nearly nonstipitate, with a slightly recurved beak; style rather inflated, slightly compressed, densely brown granular-punctate, stigmas 3.
On wet rocks under forests or wet grasslands at riversides; 500730 m. Hainan [Dingan].
Chinese bian jing tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 12 bearing in a leaf axil, 818 tall, ca. 1 mm thick, compressed, soft and smooth. Leaves two times as long as the culm or more long, flat, 3.57 mm wide, soft, glabrous, scabrous on margins, with brown, persistent sheaths. Bracts sheathing-shaped, bracteole leaf scaly. Spikes usually 12, remote, androgynous cylindrical, 510 mm, 23 mm thick, staminate flowers part two times as long as pistillate flowers part or more long, rarely both part equal long, the former densely many-flowered, the latter few-flowered; lateral spike usually bearing from the upper part of culm, peduncle short and compressed. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate or oblong, 1.52 mm, obtuse at apex, papery, yellowish, narrowly membranous on margins, green 1-costated and few thin-nerved. Utricles ovate-elliptical, compressed-trigonous, 23 mm, pale-green, papery, loosely pubescent on upper part, last glabrescent, ciliate, 2 lateral-nerved and few thin-nerved, nearly rounded at base, attenuate above to a indistinctly beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets elliptical, trigonous, three sides slightly concave, ca. 2 mm, dark-brown at maturity, cuneate at base, nearly non-stipitate, attenuate at upper part, with a secund and short beak at apex; style cylindrical, slightly thickened at base, brown granular-punctata, stigmas 3.
* On rock mountain slopes under forests or grasslands at riversides; 16002800 m. Hainan (Wu zhi shan).
Chinese zhu sui tai cao
Rhizome long, ligneous, creeping or obliquely ascending. Culms loosely tufted, 1220 cam tall, 1.52 mm thick, stiff, triquetrous, scabrous on angles, dark-brown, persistent sheathed at base. Leaves longer than the culm, flat, blades 23 mm wide, stiff, slightly scabrous. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence, ca. 2 mm wide, long sheathed. Spikes 45, androgynous, cylindrical, 23 cm, ca. 2.5 mm thick, the lowermost one remote and with a erect and long peduncle; the remainders approximate, with very short peduncle and usually enclosed; staminate flowers part longer than pistillate flowers part, the former densely many-flowered, the latter densely few-flowered. Pistillate glumes oblong, 44.5 mm, acute at apex, papery, green on middle, 3-nerved, pale-green on both sides, several thin-nerved, white and membranous on margins. Utricles longer than glume, obovate-oblong or oblong, trigonous, 4.55 mm, greenish, papery, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, densely pubescent, contracted at based to a ± long stipe, spongioplasm very narrowly winged on margins, ciliate, contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets obovate or obovate-oblong, trigonous, 23 mm, abruptly contracted at base to a short stipe, short-beaked or nearly non-beaked at apex; style with a thickened and conical base, stigmas 3.
* Under pine forests on high mountains or wet grassland; 19003400 m. W and SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
Chinese
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 630 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, triquetrous, densely hispidulous and granular-punctata, brown and persistent sheathed at base. Leaves equaling to the culm, flat, blades 1.53 mm wide, soft, densely hispidulous on both surfaces, slightly revolute on margins. Bracts leaf like, shorter than the inflorescence, densely hispidulous, sheathed. Spikes 23, androgynous, oblong, 11.5 cm, 33.5 mm thick, terminal 2 usually bearing in a bract sheath, lateral 1 bearing at base of culm, with a filiform and long peduncle, staminate flowers part shorter than or equaling to pistillate flowers part, both slightly densely few-flowered, sometimes the lateral one only 23 staminate-flowered. Pistillate glumes oblong, 3.43.6 mm, attenuate and mucronate at apex, green on middle, yellowish green on both sides, 3-nerved, with white and membranous margins, granular-punctata. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 4 mm, thickly papery, greenish, 2 lateral-nerved and several thinly nerved, granular-punctata and densely hispidulous, ciliate on margins, attenuate at base to a stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlet obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown at maturity, attenuate at base, nearly non-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short beak; style short, ovoid at base, stigmas 3.
* Under pine forests or in shrubs on dry mountain slopes; 22002850 m. W and NW Yunnan (Dali Cangshan).
Chinese gui ling tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 1020 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slender, triquetrous, scabrous on angles, brown, persistent sheathed at base. Bracts leaf like, linear, blades ca. 1 mm wide, longer than the subtending spike, sheathed. Spike single, rarely 2, androgynous, terminal spike ovoid, 58 mm, 46 mm wide, sometimes a lateral spike bearing at base of culm, usually long peduncled, staminate flowers part shorter than pistillate flowers part, densely few-flowered, pistillate flowers part 34-flowered. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, 1.83 mm, acute and long awned at apex, membranous, greenish, several-nerved. Utricle obliquely patent, longer than the glume, obovate-elliptical, slightly inflated-trigonous, ca. 5 mm, green, densely hispidulous, distinctly 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2 short-toothed at orifice. Nutlet ovate, trigonous, 2.22.8 mm, yellowish green at maturity, contracted at base to a slightly long stipe, not mucronate at apex; style with a thickened, conical base, loosely pubescent, stigmas 3. Reduced rhachilla sometimes present and setaceous.
* In thicket or meadows on high mountain, under pine forests or evergreen broad-leaves forests. Sichuan (Yanbian xian), NW Yunnan.
Chinese nian jia tai cao
Rhizome ligneous, long and obliquely ascendant. Culms loosely tufted, 1030 cm tall, acute-triquetrous, slightly stiff, densely papillose, scabrous on angles, dark brown and persistent sheathed at base. Leaves longer than the culm, flat blades 35 mm wide, scabrous on upper surface. Bracts leaf like, linear, shorter than the inflorescence, short sheathed. Spike single, terminal or 23, lateral spikes bearing at middle or lower of culm; peduncle filiform, rather long; terminal spike broad-ovate or ovate-globate, 820 mm, 610 mm thick, lateral spikes rather small, staminate flowers part oblong-cylindrical, densely several-to many-flowered, pistillate flowers part rather short, loosely 310-flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate or broadly ovate, slightly recurved and long awned at apex, ca. 4 mm, papery, green on middle, 3-nerved, stramineous on both sides, few thin-nerved, white and membranous on margins. Utricles patent, slightly longer than the glume, elliptical, ca. 5 mm, brownish green, nearly leathery, glabrous, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, winged and ciliate on margins, attenuate base spongioplasm, nearly not stipitate, contracted above to a short beak, slightly patent 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlet broad-ovate, trigonous, slightly concave on three sides, ca. 3.5 mm, yellowish brown at maturity, short stipitate or nearly not stipitate, beakless at apex; style-base slightly thickened, conical, stigmas 3.
* In meadow thicket on high mountains, under mixed forests, grasslands on gully sides; 18003700 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan (Eryuan Nianjiasi).
Chinese cui li tai cao
Carex speciosa Kunth var. angustifolia Boott; C. speciosa Kunth var. minor Bφckeler; C. longispica Bφckeler; C. speciosa Kunth var. abscondita Kόkenthal.
Rhizome long, ligneous. Culms densely tufted, 1530 cm tall, ca. 11.5 mm thick, slender, compressed-triquetrous, soft, slightly scabrous. Leaves longer than the culm, flat, blades 410 mm wide, soft, smooth, sheaths dark-brown, persistent. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence blades 2.55 mm wide, long sheathed. Spike single, terminal, or 23, lateral spikes bearing at the middle or base of culm, androgynous, cylindrical, 14 cm, 35 mm thick, long-peduncled at the middle and rather short-peduncled at the base, staminate flowers part usually shorter than pistillate flowers part, rather thin, densely few to many-flowered; pistillate flowers part densely many-flowered. Pistillate glumes broad-ovate to oblong, 34 mm, acute or acuminate at apex, papery, greenish, distinctly 13-nerved on middle, several thin-nerved on both sides, with membranous margins. utricles longer than the glume, oblong, trigonous, 45 mm, green, papery, 2 lateral-nerved and few thin-nerved, loosely pubescent on upper part, latter glabrescent, narrowly winged or not winged on margins, loosely ciliate, contracted to a short stipe at base, attenuate above to a short beak, small 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets oblong, 2.53 mm, contracted to a short stipe at base, beakless at apex; style slightly thickened or not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under Quercus, coniferous, and evergreen broad-leaved forests, thickets or grasslands on riversides; 10003400 m. SW Sichuan, NW and SW Yunnan [India, Indonesia, Sikkim, Nepal, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam].
Chinese feng huang shan tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 2326 cm tall, 0.5 mm thick, triquetrous, smooth. Leaves longer than the culm, flat, blades 24 mm wide, stiff, scabrous on margins, sheaths brown, persistent. Bracts leaf like, more longer than the inflorescence, long-sheathed. Spikes 2, androgynous, oblong, 11.4 cm, 34 mm thick, staminate flowers part as long as 1/4 length of pistillate flowers part, densely few-flowered, pistillate flowers part densely 10 to more flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate or broadly ovate, 2.53 mm, acute at apex, nearly leathery, green 1-costated and few thin-nerved, yellowish on both sides, white and membranous on margins. Utricles ovate or obovate, trigonous, 44.5 mm, yellowish brown, nearly leathery, glabrous, a lateral-nerved and several swelling nerved, rather narrowly winged on margins, ciliate, cuneate at base, nearly non-stipitate, contracted above to a short beak, 2-lobed at orifice. Nutlet ovate or obovate, trigonous, 33.5 mm, yellow, brownish at maturity, contracted at base to a short stipe, beakless at apex; style thickened, conical at base, stigmas 3.
* Under loose forests on mountain slopes; 200 m. Guangxi (Gechang. Genghuangshan).
Chinese xi tao tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 1316 cm tall, less than 1 mm thick, filiform, triquetrous. Leaves shorter than or equaling to the culm, revolute on margins, linear, blades 11.5 mm wide, soft; sheaths dark-brown, persistent. Bracts leak like, shorter than the inflorescence, long-sheathed. Spike single, terminal, androgynous, cylindrical, 11.5 cm, 23 mm thick, staminate flowers part slightly shorter than pistillate flowers part, the former few-flowered, the latter loosely 812-flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-oblong, 2.83.2 mm, acute at apex, nearly leathery, green 1-costate, pale-green on both sides, brownish and narrowly membranous on margins. Utricle longer than the glume, obovate-oblong, 44.2 mm, greenish, nearly leathery, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, winged at lower part, ciliate on both margins, stipitate at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, a short-toothed at orifice. Nutlet obovate-oblong, trigonous, 2.32.5 mm, brown at maturity, granular-punctata, contracted to a short stipe at base, beakless at apex, style-base thickened, conical, stigmas 3.
* At forests edges, in rock slit under sparse forests; 11001600 m. Yunnan (Bingbian).
Chinese wei sui tao cao
Rhizome elongating. Culms loosely tufted, 1030 cm tall, 11.5 mm thick, triquetrous, stiff, smooth. Leaves longer than or slightly shorter than the culm, blades 45 mm wide, flat, stiff, scabrous on both surfaces, dark-brown and persistent sheathed. Bracts linear, nearly equaling to the inflorescence, sheathed, spikes 12(3), androgynous, oblong, 23 cm, ca. 5 mm thick, staminate flowers part slightly shorter than or equaling to pistillate flowers part, both part densely many-flowered, lateral spike bearing at the middle of culm and erect long-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate to broad-ovate, 44.5 mm, acute at apex, nearly leathery, green at middle, 1-nerved, pale-green on both sides, white and narrowly membranous on margins. Utricles ovate, compressed-trigonous, 55.5 mm, green, nearly leathery, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, loosely pubescent, then glabrescent, cuneate at base, nearly non-stipitate, contracted above to a short beak, 2 short-toothed at orifice. Nutlet obovate, compressed-trigonous, 33.5 mm, dark-brown at maturity, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base, beakless at apex; style-base thickened, trigonous-conical, loosely pubescent, stigmas 3.
* Dry grasslands on mountain slopes, under pine forests, in rock slit on duct side or on rock under mixed forests; 12002800 m. Yunnan (Yan shan).
Chinese an ning tai cao
Rhizome rather long. Culms loosely tufted, 2530 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm thick, slender, triquetrous, smooth. Leaves slightly longer than culm, revolute on margins, linear, blades ca. 1 mm wide, stiff, scabrous on upper surface; sheaths dark-brown and persistent. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence, sheathed. Spikes 23, androgynous, the lowermost one bearing below the middle of culm, linear long-peduncled, the remainder remote, rather short-peduncled spikes cylindrical, 2.54 cm, 45 mm thick, staminate flowers part equaling to 1/2 length of pistillate flowers part, both part densely many-flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate or elliptical-lanceolate, 33.5 mm, acuminate at apex, nearly leathery, green on middle, 1-nerved, pale-greenish on both sides, narrowly white and membranous on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptical or oblong, slightly inflated-trigonous, 3.84.2 mm, nearly leathery, greenish, loosely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, narrowly winged on margins, ciliate, attenuate at base to a short stipe, spongioplasm, contracted above to a short beak, 2 short-toothed at orifice. Nutlet ovate or elliptical, trigonous, 2.83 mm, dark-brown at maturity, granular-punctata, style-base thickened, conical, loosely pubescent, stigmas 3.
* C Yunnan (Anning).
Chinese chi jing tai cao
Rhizome slightly short. Culms tufted, 4045 cm tall, 1.21.5 mm thick, stiff, triquetrous, scabrous on the upper part of angles. Leaves longer than the culm, flat, blades 1011 mm wide, stiff, slightly scabrous on nerves of lower surface and margins, glabrous, few sheaths brownish, persistent at base. Bracts leaf like, longer than the inflorescence, short sheathed. Spikes single, terminal, sometimes bearing lateral spikes 12 on the middle or lower part of culm, remote, not too developmental; terminal spike ovate, 2.53 cm, 810 mm thick, staminate flowers part slightly shorter than or equaling to pistillate flowers part, oblong, densely many-flowered; pistillate flowers part densely many-flowered. Pistillate glumes ovate or broad-ovate, 4.55.5 mm, acute or acuminate at apex, membranous, green on middle, 3-nerved, pale-greenish and several thin-nerved on both sides. Utricles longer than the glume, obovate-oblong, trigonous, 66.5 mm, crass-papery, greenish, several-nerved, pubescent on nerves, densely hispidulous on margins, attenuate to a short stipe at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2 short-toothed at orifice. Nutlet obovate-elliptic, trigonous, 44.5 mm, brown at maturity, abruptly contracted at base to a short stipe, beakless at apex; style-base thickened, conical, stigmas 3.
Under forests in ravines; 1200 m. SE Yunnan (Yan shan) [Burma].
Chinese zhi zhuang tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Spikes 26, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate. Bracts spathaceus, long-sheathed, bracteole leaf indistinct, setaceous or with branchy-blade. Pistillate glumes brownish or dark purple-brown, rarely greenish or yellow-green. Utricles obovate to obovate-oblong, densely pubescent, rarely glabrous, with a short beak or beakless. Stigmas 3.
Twenty-seven species and six varieties in China.
1a. Culms 26 cm tall, concealing in the lower part of leaves; leaves pubescent.
2a. Leaves thinnest, hair-shaped; rhizome slender, creeping or obliquely ascending; culms loosely tufted; pistillate spike loosely 13-flowered; pistillate glumes lanceolate, ferruginous or pale-ferruginous 123. C. callitrichos
2b. Leaves flat, 11.5 mm wide; rhizome short; culms densely tufted; pistillate spike loosely 25(7)-flowered; pistillate glumes brown or purple-brown.
3a. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 4 mm, acute at apex; utricles obovate-oblong, 33.2 mm, leaves not revolute at apex; culms slender, stiff ........................................................................ 124. C. humilis
3b. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 3 mm, rounded at apex, short-awned, scabrous on awn; utricles narrowly elliptic, ca. 3 mm; leaves revolute at apex; culms slender, soft .......... 125. C. pseudohumilis
1b. Culms 1040 cm tall, rarely up to 60 cm tall, exerted; leaves glabrous.
4a. Culms lateral; pistillate spike 210 or more flowered.
5a. Staminate spike lower than the adjacent pistillate spike, pistillate spike 24-flowered, rachis tortuous; leaf blades 24 mm wide, sheaths purple-red persistent ....................... 126. C. quadriflora
5b. Staminate spike taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, pistillate spike 410 or more flowered, rachis strict.
6a. Pistillate spike 46-flowered; pistillate glumes purplish brown; utricles with middling long and conical beak at apex; leaf blades 67 mm wide; sheaths dark-brown and persistent 127. C. lancifolia
6b. Pistillate spike 10 or more flowered; pistillate glumes brown; utricles with short beak at apex; leaf blades 24 mm wide; sheaths purple-red or dark red and persistent 128. C. erythrobasis
4b. Culms centrical; pistillate spike 10 or more to many-flowered, rarely 24-flowered.
7a. Pistillate glumes yellowish or greenish.
8a. Pistillate glumes yellowish; nutlets long-beaked at apex and exserted from the orifice; staminate spike taller than or equaling to the adjacent pistillate spike; leaf blades 0.51.5 mm wide soft 129. C. yuexiensis
8b. Pistillate glumes greenish; nutlet short-beaked at apex, not exerted from the orifice; staminate spike distinctly taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; leaf blades 24 mm wide, stiff.
9a. Pistillate spikes long-peduncle and exerted from bract sheath; utricles nearly equaling to the glume, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved; leaves shorter than culm; persistent sheaths dark-brown 130. C. tapintzensis
9b. Pistillate spikes short-peduncle, not or slightly
exserted from bract sheath; utricles shorter than the glume, 2 lateral-nerved,
not thin-nerved; leaves nearly equaling to the culm, persistent sheath yellow-brown
or brown
131.
C. qingyangensis
7b. Pistillate glumes brownish, brown, purple-brown or brown.
10a. Rhizome long and creeping; culms loosely tufted.
11a. utricles broadly obovate, swelling many-nerved, near non-stipitate at base; spikes approximate, pistillate spikes long, densely flowered or loosely few-flowered at lower part; pistillate glumes brown; leaf blades linear, not up to 0.5 mm wide ....................................... 132. C. pachyneura
11b. Utricles obovate-oblong, 2 lateral-nerved and not
thin-nerved, short-stipitate at base; spikes remote; pistillate spikes linear,
loosely flowered; pistillate glumes purple-brown; leaf blades flat, 12 mm wide
133.
C. capilliculmis
10b. Rhizome short, obliquely ascending; culms densely tufted.
12a. Leaves stiff; staminate spike 48 cm.
13a. Pistillate spikes linear-cylindrical, 24 cm, 34 cm thick, peduncle slender, long exserted from the bract sheaths; staminate glumes oblong, 68 mm, rounded, acute or truncate at apex; pistillate glumes oblong, 33.5 mm.
14a. Staminate spike 45 cm; staminate glumes 67 mm, rounded or acute at apex; pistillate glumes brownish.
14b. Staminate spike 58 cm; staminate glumes 88.5 mm, truncate at apex; pistillate glumes green on middle, brown or brown-red on both sides, rounded at apex .. 13b. C. macrosandra
15a. Leaves slightly shorter than the culm, abaxial surface pale-cinereous, densely papillose; pistillate glumes rounded at apex; culms 60100 cm tall ........................ 134. C. sichouensis
15b. Leaves longer than the culm, slightly glumes green on middle, brown or brown-red on both sides, rounded at apex ......................................................... 136. C. macrosandra
13b. Pistillate spikes cylindrical, 3.55 cm, 57 mm thick, peduncle slightly stiff, usually not exserted from bract sheath; staminate glumes narrowly lanceolate, 810 mm, acuminate at apex; pistillate glumes narrowly oblong, 44.5 mm ......................................... 137. C. shuchengensis
12b. Leaves soft; staminate spike not exceeding 3 cm.
16a. Pistillate spike long-stipitate, peduncle filiform, pendulous, long exserted from the bract sheath; the lowermost one far from the upper spike or nearly basal.
17a. Pistillate glumes only 2 mm, brownish; utricles narrowly elliptical, 22.5 mm; staminate spike sometimes 13 pistillate-flowered at base; pistillate spike sometimes few staminate-flowered at apex or 13-branched at base; persistent leaf sheaths brownish 138. C. shaanxiensis
17b. Pistillate glumes longer than 3 mm length, brown, purple-brown or dark purple-brown, rarely brownish; utricles oblong, obovate-oblong, 35 mm; staminate spike not pistillate-flowered, pistillate spike not staminate-flowered; persistent leaf sheaths dark brown.
18a. Pistillate glumes ca. 3 mm, without white and membranous margins; utricles 33.2 mm 139. C. laeta
18b. Pistillate glumes 35 mm, with broadly white and membranous margins; utricles 35 mm.
19a. Utricles ca. 3 mm, nearly beakless at apex; style thickened, ovoid, all exserted from the utricle; pistillate glumes purple-brown, ca. 3 mm .............................. 140. C. globistylosa
19b. Utricles longer than 4 mm length, short-beaked at apex; style not thickened or only slightly thickened at base, not exserted from utricle, pistillate glumes 3.85 mm.
20a. Utricles hispidulous on 2 lateral-nerves and upper
margins; pistillate spike densely flowered and loosely flowered at lower part;
pistillate glumes dark purple-brown, truncate or emarginate at apex
141.
C. huolushanensis
20b. Utricles densely pubescent; pistillate spike densely flowered; pistillate glumes rounded at apex.
21a. Pistillate glumes dark brown, scabrous on dorsum; leaves very shorter than the culm; bract blades setaceous ................................................................ 142. C. chiwuana
21b. Pistillate glumes brownish or dark purple-brown, smooth on dorsum; leaves shorter than or nearly equaling to the culm; bract blades [text missing; see page 109].
22a. Pistillate glumes brownish, scabrous short-awned at apex; utricles 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved ....................................................... 143. C. cardiolepsis
22b. Pistillate glumes dark purple-brown, mucronate at apex; utricles only 2 lateral-nerved 144. C. obovatosquamata
16b. Pistillate spikes with rather short peduncle, usually not exerted or slightly exerted from the bract sheath, the lowermost one slightly remote, but not basal.
23a. Pistillate spikes densely many-flowered; utricles obovate, obovate-oblong, 2 lateral-nerved, with or without thin-nerved, short beaked at apex; rhizome short.
24a. Leaves involute on margins, linear, shorter than the culm; spikes approximate except the lowermost one remote .................................................................... 145. C. crebra
24b. Leaves flat, longer than or equaling to the culm; spike remote.
25a. Bract blades short leave like, bract sheaths green,
narrowly membranous and white at sheath orifice; spike densely many-flowered;
rachis strict; leaves shorter than or equaling to the culm
.............................................................................................. 14b.
C. pediformis
25b. The lower 12 bract blades setaceous, the remainders mucro-shaped, green on dorsum and other part brown, membranous and white at sheath orifice and margins; spike loosely or slightly densely 510 or more flowered; rachis tortuous; leaves longer than the culm after blossom 147. C. lanceolata
23b. Pistillate spike 24-flowered; utricles broadly ovoid, obovate-elliptical, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, abruptly contracted above to a short or middling beak; leaves linear, shorter than the [??culms; text missing; see page 111].
26a. Rhizome elongate and creeping; spikes usually 2,
staminate spike 1.21.3 cm, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; utricles
broadly ovoid, ca. 3.5 mm, abruptly contracted above to a middling beak
148.
C. scolopendriformis
26b. Rhizome short; spikes
usually 34, staminate spike 0.5 cm, lower than the adjacent pistillate spike;
utricles obovate-elliptical or elliptical, 56 mm, abruptly contracted above to
a short beak
149.
C. infossa
Chinese yang xu cao
Carex humilis Leyss. var. callitrichos (V. I. Kreczetowicz) Ohwi; C. humilis Less. forma callitrichos (V. I. Kreczetowicz) T. Koyama.
Rhizome elongate, creeping or obliquely ascending. Culms loosely tufted, 26 cm tall, hair-shaped, obtuse-trigonous, smooth; sheaths red-brown, persistent at base. Leaves 56 times as long as length of culm, blades 0.20.8(1) mm wide, hair-shaped, soft, glabrous, rarely loosely pubescent. Bracts spathose-shaped, 710 mm, smooth, acute at apex, membranous on margins of sheath orifice, without distinctly bract blade. Spikes 24, remote, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 58 mm, 11.5 mm thick, few-flowered; lateral spikes 13, pistillate, linear, 57 mm, loosely 13-flowered; peduncle short, usually not exserted from bract sheath; rachis tortuous. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, 34 mm, acuminate or acute and mucronate at apex, green on middle, 1-nerved, ferruginous or pale-ferruginous on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins. Utricles shorter than glume, obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 2.53 mm, greenish, pubescent, distinctly 2-lateral-nerved and obscurely several thin-nerved, abruptly contracted to a bent and short stipe at base, rounded and very short-beaked at apex, emarginate or truncate at orifice, usually brownish. Nutlets oblong-obovate, trigonous, ca. 2.32.5 mm, brown at maturity, contracted at base to a short stipe, rounded and short-beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under pine forest; 8001000 m. Heilongjiang [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
The stem and leaf may be used for making paper and rope, etc.
1a. Staminate spike few-flowered; staminate glumes acute at apex; pistillate spike 13-flowered 123a. var. callitrichos
1b. Staminate spike 34-flowered; staminate glumes acuminate at apex; pistillate spike 12-flowered 123b. var. nana
Chinese yang xu cao (yuan bian zhong)
Staminate spike few-flowered; staminate glumes acute at apex, pistillate spike 13-flowered.
Under pine forests; 8001000 m. Heilongjiang [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese ai cong tai cao
Carex lanceolata Boott var. nana Lιveillι & Vaniot; C. nanella Ohwi.
Staminate spike 34-flowered; staminate glumes acuminate at apex; pistillate spike 12-flowered.
On rocky mountain slopes, mountain slopes, mixed forests or pine forests; 501000 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Hebei [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese di ai tai cao
Carex callitrichios V. I. Kreczetowicz var. austrochinganica Y. L. Chang & Y. L. Yang.
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 25 cm tall, nearly cylindrical, smooth, brown and persistent sheathed at base. Leaves 35 times as long as length of culm, flat, blades 11.5 mm wide, soft, loosely pubescent. Bracts spathose-shaped, reddish brown, broadly white and membranous margins at sheath orifice, bract blades setaceous. Spikes 23, remote; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 11.4 cm, ca. 2 mm thick, many-flowered; lateral spikes 12 pistillate, ovate or oblong, 57 mm, loosely 24-flowered; peduncles short, enclosed in sheath or the lowermost one slightly exserted; rachis tortuous. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 4 mm, acute of apex, green on middle, 1-nerved, red-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins, glume-based enclosed the rachis. Utricles slightly shorter than the glume, obovate-oblong, trigonous, 33.2 mm, membranous, greenish, loosely ferruginous-punctate, densely pubescent, 2-lateral-nerved without [text unreadable; see page 116], abruptly contracted at base to a short stipe, nearly rounded and short-beaked at apex; beak purple-red, truncate at orifice. Nutlets elliptical or obovate-oblong, trigonous, 2.53 mm, attenuate to a short stipe at base, a bent and short-beaked at apex, dark brown at maturity; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under Xylosma or pine forests, sunny places on mountain slopes; 1001000 m. Anhui, Liaoning [Georgia, Japan, Russia, European countries].
This species is usually used as the food of the domestic animal and cultivated at grassland.
1a. Leaves soft, 11.5 mm wide; spikes 2 or 3, pistillate spikes 24-flowered ........ 124a. var. humilis
1b. Leaves slightly stiff, ca. 2 mm wide; spikes 4 or 5, pistillate spikes 47-flowered 124b. var. scirrobasis
Chinese di ai tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Leaves soft, 11.5 mm wide. Spikes 2 or 3; pistillate spikes 24-flowered.
Under Xylosma or pine forests, sunny places on mountain slopes; 1001000 m Anhui, Liaoning [Georgia, Japan, Russia, European countries].
Chinese chu tian tai cao
Carex scirrobasis Kitagawa, Rep. Inst. Sci. Res. Manchoukuo 2: 285. 1938.
Leaves slightly stiff, ca. 2 mm wide. Spikes 4 or 5; pistillate spikes 47-flowered.
* On mountain near sea sides, under pine forests on mountain slopes; 1501000 m. Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi.
Chinese Pinyin
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 35 cm tall, slender, hairy-shaped, triquetrous, smooth, brown and persistent sheathed at base. Leaves longer than or equaling to the culm, flat, blades 1.22 mm wide, slightly stiff, glabrous, scabrous on upper surface and margins, triquetrous and revolute at apex. Bracts spathose-shaped, brown, bract blades awn-shaped and slightly scabrous. Spikes 23, basal one radicicolous, the remainder approximate; terminal spike staminate, obovate-oblong, 77.5 mm, 35-flowered; lateral spike 12, pistillate, oblong, 78 mm, ca. 3 mm thick, loosely 46-flowered; peduncles slender, hairy-shaped, basal one 2.52.7 cm, the upper rather short, ca. 10 mm, enclosed in bract sheath; rachis tortuous. Pistillate glumes oblong nearly rounded and scabrous short-awned at apex, papery green on middle, 1-nerved, brown on both sides, white and membranous on margins Utricles narrowly elliptical, trigonous ca. 3 mm, yellowish brown, densely pubescent, 2 lateral [text unreadable; see page 119] distinctly thin-nerved, attenuate to a stipe base, attenuate above to a short beak, a short-toothed at orifice. Nutlets narrowly elliptical, trigonous, 2.22.5 mm, yellowish brown at maturity, short-stipitate at base, beakless at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Grassland in valley; 3000 m. Yunnan (Lijiang)
Chinese si hua tai cao
Carex digitata Linnaeus subsp. quadriflora Kόkenthal, Engler, Pflanzenr. 38(IV. 20): 497. 1909; C. digitata Linnaeus var. pallida Meinshausen, K. F.
Rhizome short, obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, lateral 1530 cm tall, not exceeding 1 mm thick, triquetrous, scabrous at upper part, purple-red sheathed at base. Leaves shorter than culm, nearly equaling to culm after fruitage, blades 24 mm wide, soft, flat, smooth, purple-red and persistent sheathed. Bracts spathose-shaped, red-brown, truncate at apex, membranous on margins, with awn-shaped bract blade. Spikes 23, remote; terminal spike staminate, lower than the adjacent pistillate spike, linear, 4.510 mm, 12 mm thick; lateral spikes 12 pistillate, linear, 11.5 cm, 22.5 mm thick, loosely 24(6)-flowered; peduncles 13 cm, filiform, soft; rachis tortuous. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, ca. 3 mm, rounded and mucronate at apex, green on middle, 1-nerved, ferruginous on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins. Utricles longer than glumes, obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 45 mm, yellowish green, loosely pubescent plano-convex, 2 lateral-nerved, without distinctly thin-nerved, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base, rounded and short-beaked at apex, beak ferruginous, truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate, trigonous, 3.54 mm, pale-ferruginous at maturity, contracted to a short stipe at base, abruptly contracted to a short beak at apex; style short, not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under Xylosma or pine forests; 8001400 m. Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese pi zhen tai cao
Carex glandulifolia Kόkenthal.
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, lateral, 1015 cm tall, slender, soft, slightly compressed, smooth, clothed with purple-red long-sheaths and short blades at lower part. Leaves longer than or equaling to the culm, flat, blades 67 mm wide, smooth, some sheaths bladeless, persistent sheaths dark-brown, usually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts sheathing-shaped, without distinctly bract blade, only the lowermost one with awn-shaped bract blade. Spike 45, remote, basal one radicicolous; terminal spike staminate, usually not taller or slightly taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, linear, 1 cm, 1.52 mm thick, lateral spikes 34, pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 11.5 cm, loosely 46-flowered; peduncles erect, usually exserted from bract sheath; rachis strict. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, ca. 3.5 mm, emarginate and mucronate at apex, membranous, green on middle, 1-nerved, purplish brown on both sides, without white and membranous margins. Utricles longer than glume; oblong, trigonous, ca. 5 mm, membranous, green, pubescent, 2 distinctly lateral-nerved, non thin-nerved, attenuate to a long stipe at base, contracted above to a middling-long and conical beak, 2-lobed at orifice. Nutlets oblong, trigonous ca. 3 mm, brown at maturity, constructed to a long stipe at base, attenuate above, beakless; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Under loosely forests on mountain slopes; 15002650 m. Shaanxi (Qinling), W Hubei.
Chinese hong qiao tai cao
Carex pedunculata Muchlenb ex Willd. var. erythrobasis (Lιveillι & Vaniot) T. Koyama; C. hallaisanensis Lιveillι & Vaniot.
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, lateral, 1225 cm tall, slender, compressed-triquetrous, slightly scabrous, with purple-red or dark purple and aphyllous leaf-sheaths at base. Bracts spathose-shaped; bract sheaths green and slightly purple-red or dark purple, the lower bracts with short bracts blade, the upper bract blades setaceous. Spikes 34, the lowermost one remote, bearing from base of culm, the remainder approximate; terminal spike staminate, usually taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, cylindrical, 710 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 23 mm, loosely 10 or more flowered; peduncles slightly stiff, the lowermost one rather long, the others short, slightly exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glume oblong, 2.53 mm, rounded or truncate at apex, 0.81 mm awned, green on middle, 3-nerved, pale-brown on both sides, membranous. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, elliptical, trigonous, ca. 4 mm, papery, yellowish, loosely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved, attenuate at base to a long stipe, contracted above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets elliptical, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, yellowish, stipitate at base, contracted to a short beak at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under broad-leaved forests and Pinus koraiensis forests; 200800 m. Jilin (Chang bai shan) [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese yue xi tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 2035 cm tall, triquetrous, slightly scabrous. Leaves nearly equaling to the culm, linear, blades 0.61.5 mm wide, soft, smooth, yellow-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, yellowish on dorsal side, white and hyaline on ventral side, with setaceous bract blade. Spikes 34, the lowermost one remote, the other approximate; terminal spike staminate, oblong, ca. 1 cm, not exceeding or slightly exceeding the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, the uppermost one approximated to staminate spike, oblong, 11.5 cm, 3.54 mm thick, loosely several-flowered; peduncles slightly scabrous, only the lowermost one exserted from the sheath, the others enclosed in sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 5 mm, rounded and mucronate at apex, green on middle, 1-nerved, yellowish brown on both sides, white membranous on margins. Utricles shorter than glume, obovate-oblong, ca. 3.2 mm, yellowish green, papery, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, attenuate to a short stipitate base, contracted above to a short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 mm, attenuate at base, nearly non-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a long beak and exerted from utricle; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Mountain slopes, roadsides. Anhui (Yuexi, Taihu).
Chinese da ping zi tai cao
Carex lamprosandra Franchet; C. tapintzensis Franchet var. lamprosandra (Franchet) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome long, ligneous, obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, 1570 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slender and stiff, trigonous, scabrous on angles. Leaves shorter than culm, flat, blades 24 mm wide, stiff, slightly scabrous, dark-brown sheathed at base, sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheath green, white and membranous at sheath orifice, the lowermost bract blade leaf like, rather long, but shorter than inflorescence, the other setaceous. Spikes 35; terminal spike staminate, usually taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, cylindrical, 23 cm, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 24, pistillate, the uppermost one approximate to the staminate spike, the remainders remote, cylindrical, 24 cm, rather densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 24, pistillate, the uppermost one approximate to the staminate spike, the remainders remote, cylindrical, 24 cm, rather densely many-flowered, sometimes few staminate flowered at apex; peduncles slender, slightly stiff, longer-exserted from bract sheath, the upper ones gradually shortened. Pistillate glumes oblong or obovate-oblong, 44.5 mm, acuminate, acute, nearly rounded or truncate at apex, scabrous short-awned, papery, dark-green on middle, 3-nerved, scabrous on costa, greenish or yellowish green on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins. Utricles nearly equaling to glume, oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 44.5 mm, papery, greenish, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, attenuate to a long stipe at base, abruptly contracted above to a recurvate and short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, trigonous, 2.53 mm, brown at maturity, attenuate to a short stipe at base, with recurvate and short beak at apex; style short, thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Under Pinus forests or Picea forests, subalpine thickets; 24003800 m. W and SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan (Binchuan Xian, Dapingzi), E Xizang.
Chinese qing yang tai cao
Rhizome ligneous, obliquely ascending. Culms 2540 cm tall, obtuse-trigonous, smooth. Leaves equaling to culm, flat, blades 34 mm wide, stiff, scabrous on margins, yellow-brown or purple-brown and persistent sheathed at base, sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, green on dorsal side, yellow-brown on ventral side, white and membranous on margins, with setaceous bract blade; spikes 45, remote; terminal spike staminate, long-peduncled, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, cylindrical, 45 cm, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 34, pistillate, cylindrical, 23 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowered peduncles not or slightly exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 2.22.5 mm, acuminate at apex, papery, greenish, white and membranous on margins, 13-nerved. Utricles slightly shorter than the glume, elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, 22.5 mm, straminous, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved, without thin-nerved, contracted to a short stipe at base, abruptly contracted above to a recurvate and short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets elliptical, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, non-stipitate at base, recurvate short-beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Forest edges on mountain slopes. Anhui (Qingyang, Jiuhuashan).
Chinese le mai tai cao
Rhizome slender, creeping. Culms loosely tufted, 1025 cm tall, not up to 1 mm thick. Leaves shorter than culm, elongate after bloom, involute on margins, filiform, blades 0.30.5 mm wide, slightly stiff, brown and persistent sheathed at base, sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, green, the lowermost one bract blade short leaf like, the upper ones setaceous. Spikes 23; terminal spike staminate taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, clavate or cylindric 918 mm, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 12, pistillate, the lowermost one remote, sometimes bearing at base of culm, the upper one approximated to staminate spike, oblong, 715 mm, densely several-flowered, sometimes loosely few-flowered at the lower part; peduncles slender, exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes ovate, 2.53.5 mm, acute at apex, mucronate, membranous, green on middle, 3-nerved, brown on both sides, narrowly white and membranous on upper margin. Utricles slightly longer than glume, obovate, inflated-trigonous, 2.52.8 mm, papery, brown, smooth on lower part, loosely pubescent on near apex, several convex-nerved, broadly truncate at base, non-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2 short-toothed at orifice. Nutlets obovate, trigonous, 1.72.2 mm, yellow at maturity, subsessile at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* On mountain slope of grassland regions; ca. 1500 m. Jilin, Nei Mongol.
Chinese si gan tai cao
Carex filamentosa K. T. Fu, Fl. Tsinling. 1(1): 445. 1976, not Petrie (1916).
Rhizome long and thick, obliquely ascending. Culms laxly tufted, 1520 cm tall, slender, filiform, obtuse-trigonous scabrous on angles. Leaves shorter than culm, elongated after bloom, flat, blades 12.5 mm wide, soft, sheaths dark-brown, persistent. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths long, with short bract blade. Spikes 23, the lowermost one remote or nearly bearing at the base of culm, the remainders approximate; terminal spike staminate, linear, 710 mm, 1.52 mm thick, few-flowered; lateral spikes 12 pistillate, oblong or narrowly oblong, 710 mm, 23 mm thick, laxly few-flowered; peduncles slender, filiform, long-exserted from bract sheath, rachis straight or tortuous. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 33.8 mm, acute and mucronate at apex, papery, green on middle, 1-nerved, scabrous on nerve, purple-brown on both sides white and membranous on margins. utricles slightly longer than glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 3.54 mm, papery, greenish pale, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved, non thin-nerved, contracted to a incurved and long stipe, abruptly contracted above to a indistinctly recurved and short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, brown at maturity, attenuate at base, stipitate, rounded at apex, recurved and short beaked; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Under Picea and Abies forests, in thickets, alpine meadows; 27004000 m. Shaanxi (Taibaishan), S Gansu, E Qinghai, W and SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
Chinese xi chou tai cao
Rhizome ligneous, obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, 40100 cm tall, 1.52 mm thick, triquetrous. Leaves slightly shorter than culm, flat, 45 mm wide, stiff, scabrous on upper part and margins, abaxial surface cinereous, densely papilliferous. Bracts spathose-shaped, green or brown, bract blades setaceous. Spikes 45, rather remote; terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 45 cm, ca. 3 mm thick; peduncle ca. 4 cm, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical 22.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncles slender, longer-exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 3 mm, rounded at apex, mucronate, membranous, brown-punctate or the upper part, yellow-green on the outer part, 1-nerved. Utricles oblong, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm, several-nerved, papery, densely hispidulous, attenuate at base to a short stipe, contracted above to a recurved and short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, short-stipitate at base, rounded at apex; style inflated at base, recurved, stigmas 3.
* Rocky slit on mountain slopes, under forests; 7001700 m. Yunnan (Xichou xian).
Chinese mei xian tai cao
Rhizome ligneous, creeping. Culms erect, stiff, 3050 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, smooth, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Leaves longer than culm, flat, blades 34 mm wide, rigidulous, involute on margins. Bracts spathose-shaped, green at lower part and nearly pale at upper part, brownish on margins, with short bract blade. Spikes 35, remote; terminal spike staminate, clavate-cylindrical, 56.5 cm; lateral spikes 24, pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 34 cm, ca. 4 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncles slender, basal one 78 cm, upwards gradually shorter, rather long-exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 33.5 mm, acuminate and mucronate at apex, membranous, brownish on both sides, white-hyaline on margins, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricles slightly shorter than glume, obovate-oblong, 2.53 mm, membranous, brownish, laxly pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, attenuate at base, nearly non-stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets elliptical, trigonous, 1.51.8 mm, brownish at maturity, nearly non-stipe at base, short-beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Stream sides in valley; 10001400 m. Shaanxi (Mei xia).
Chinese dai xiong tai cao
Carex lanceolata Boott var. macrosandra Franchet, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Paris 3, 9: 1690. 1897; C. pediformis C. A. Mey. var. macrosandra (Franchet) C. B. Clarke.
Rhizome ligneous. Culms densely tufted, 3080 cm tall, triquetrous, 11.5 mm thick. Leaves slightly shorter than or equaling to culm, flat, blades 35 mm wide, rigid, stiff, scabridulous on both surfaces, slightly revolute on margins, attenuate to a stipe at base; stipes stiff, rigid, glabrous; sheaths brown, persistent, eventually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, brown-red, obliquely truncate at orifice of bract sheath, without bract leaf. Spikes 47, rather remote; terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 48 cm, 34 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncle 45 cm, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 2.53.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncles slender, rather longer exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, 3.53.8 mm, rounded at apex, mucronate, brown or brown-red on both sides, hispidulous on upper part, broadly white-hyaline and membranous on margins, green on middle, 1-veined, scabrous on nerve. Utricles obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 2.53.1 mm, crassi-papery, green, without distinctly lateral-nerved, several thin-nerved, densely hispidulous, attenuate to a curved stipe, contracted above to a curved and short beak, truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong or obovate, trigonous, 1.82 mm, brown at maturity; style thickened at base, erect or bent, stigmas 3.
* Sunny mountain slopes; 7001000 m. Hubei (Yi chang), Sichuan.
Chinese shu cheng tai cao
Rhizome ligneous, obliquely ascending. Culms 3045 cm tall, 22.5 mm thick, obtuse-trigonous, smooth. Leaves longer than culm, flat, blades 610 mm wide, stiff, rigid, scabrous on margins; basal sheaths dark-brown, persistent, usually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, red-brown, white and membranous on margins, acute at apex, without distinct bract leaf. Spike 56, remote; terminal spike staminate, clavate, 78 cm, 57 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncle rather long, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spikes 45 pistillate, cylindrical, 3.55 cm, ca. 5 mm thick, densely many-flowered, laxly several-flowered at base; peduncles usually not exserted or slightly exserted from the bract sheath at the lower part. Pistillate glumes narrowly oblong, 44.5 mm, acute at apex, papery, red-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricles shorter than glume, elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm, yellowish green, laxly pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, attenuate to a short stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, gradually narrowed at base, short-stipitate, rounded and tortuously beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Shade places at forest margin on mountain slopes. Anhui (Shucheng).
Chinese shan xi tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 3035 cm tall, rather slender, ca. 1.5 mm thick, soft, smooth. Leaves shorter than culm, flat, blades 12 mm wide, soft, brownish and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, greenish sheathed, with bract leaf at apex. Spikes 34, the lowermost one remote or nearly basilar, the remainder approximate; terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 1.41.6 cm, ca. 2 mm thick, densely many-flowered, sometimes 13 pistillate-flowered at base; lateral spikes pistillate, linear-cylindrical, 1.73 cm, ca. 2 mm thick, sometimes 13 branched at base, branches bearing in utriculiform, flowered prophyll, sometimes rarely staminate-flowered at apex; peduncles filiform, very long exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 2 mm, truncate or emarginate at apex, mucronate, papery, brownish on both sides, narrowly white and membranous on margins, green on middle 3-nerved. Utricles equaling to or slightly longer than glume, narrowly elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, 22.5 mm, papery, greenish, densely pubescent, a lateral-nerved, without thin-nerved, gradually narrowed to a short stipe at base, attenuate above to a short beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets narrowly elliptical, 1.82 mm, trigonous, brown at maturity; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Grassland on mountain slopes, wet places in valley; 28003200 m. Shaanxi (Taibaishan), S Gansu.
Chinese ming liang tai cao
Carex pisanensis T. Koyama.
Rhizome obliquely ascending, ligneous, several-branched. Culms densely tufted, 1030 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slender, obtuse-trigonous, smooth. Leaves shorter than culm, flat, blades 11.5 mm wide, soft, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base, basal sheaths eventually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths long, green, white and membranous on margins, the lowermost one with short bract leaf, the upper ones setaceous. Spikes 34, terminal spike staminate, oblong, 810 mm, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, densely few-flowered; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, the lowermost one sometimes basilar, the uppermost one near the staminate spike, the remainder remote, cylindrical, 12.5 cm, ca. 3 mm, densely many-flowered. Pistillate glumes oblong, 33.5 mm, obtuse and mucronate at apex, papery brown or puple-brown, 1-nerved green. Utricles equaling to glume, obovate, trigonous, 33.2 mm, yellow-brown or greenish, 2 lateral-nerved, without distinctly thin-nerved densely pubescent, contracted to a short stipe at base, abruptly contracted to a short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate, trigonous, ca. 2.2 mm, brown at maturity, nearly sessile at base, short beaked at apex; style not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Meadow thicket on high mountain, forest margins or grassland at riversides; 20004300 m. W, SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan, E Xizang [Sikkim, Nepal].
Chinese qiu zhu tai cao
Rhizome stout, ligneous. Culms densely tufted, 4060 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slender, obtuse-trigonous. Leaves shorter than culm, flat or plicate, blades 12 mm wide, adaxial surface scabrous, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, green, with linear bracteal leaf at apex. Spikes 3, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 23 cm, densely many-flowered; peduncles; slender, soft, 66.5 cm; lateral spikes 2, pistillate, remote, the lower one nearly basilar, cylindrical, 1.83 cm, ca. 2 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncles slender, filiform, soft, the lower one up to 20 cm, the upper one ca. 10 cm. Pistillate glumes oblong, ca. 3 mm, truncate or emarginate at apex, mucronate, purple-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricles equaling to glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm, papery, greenish, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, densely hispidulous, ciliate on margins, gradually narrowed to a short stipe at base, rounded at apex, indistinctively beaded, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brownish at maturity, short-stipitate at base, nearly beakless at apex; style short, thickened into ovoid-shape, exerted from the orifice of utricle, stigmas 3.
* On rocky mountain slopes; 43004400 m. SW Sichuan (Xiangcheng xian).
Chinese huo lu shan tai cao
Rhizome stout, stoloniferous. Culms densely tufted, 1540 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm thick, slender, obtuse-trigonous. Leaves shorter than culm, flat, blades 13 mm wide, soft, scabrous on margins, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths brownish, with linear bract leaft at apex. Spikes 34, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 22.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncle slender, 3.54 cm, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, remote, cylindrical, 14 cm, 23 mm thick, many-flowered, laxly several-flowered at the lower part, densely many-flowered at upper part; peduncles slender, soft, rather long-exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, 45 mm, truncate or emarginate at apex, mucronate, papery, darkly purple-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins, scabrous on dorsum, green on middle, 3-nerve.d Utricles shorter than glume, oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 4 mm, greenish, 2 lateral-nerved and without thin-nerved, hispidulous on nerve and margins, smooth at other part, gradually narrowed to a stipe, contracted above to a short beak, emargine at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, trigonous, 2.53 mm, brownish at maturity, nearly non-stipitate, rounded at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Thicket on high mountains; 39004000 m. SW Sichuan (Yanyuan xian, huolushan).
Chinese qi wu tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 1830 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm thick, slender, obtuse-trigonous, stiff. Leaves shorter than culm, flat, blades 35 mm wide slightly stiff, dark-brown and persistent sheaths at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, bracts sheaths greenish, bract orifice, white and membranous, with linear bract leaf at apex. Spikes 34, terminal spike staminate, oblong, 1.21.3 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowers peduncle 4.57 cm, taller than or not taller than the adjacent pistillate spike; lateral spike 23, pistillate, remotely cylindrical, 23 cm, ca. 4 mm thick, densely many-flowered peduncles slender, very long-exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong or obovate oblong, 3.84.2 mm rounded or emarginate at apex, mucronate, dark-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margin of upper part, green on middle, 13-nerved, scabrous on dosum and nerves. Utricles slightly longer than glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 44.2 mm, papery, yellow-green, 2 lateral-nerved, without thin-nerved, densely hispidulous, gradually narrowed to a long stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, beak orifice obliquely truncate, membranous. Nutlets obovate-oblong, 2.12.5 mm, nearly non-stipitate at base, rounded at apex; style thickened into conical-shaped at base, erect or recurved, stigmas 3.
* In Rhododendron thickets, under Pinus and Larix forests; 36004500 m. NE Yunnan (Lijiang).
Chinese zang dong tai cao
Rhizome obliquely ascending, ligneous, stout. Culms dense tufted, 2040 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slightly scabrous. Leaves slightly shorter than or nearly equaling to culm, elongating after blossom, flat or plicate, blades 12 mm with soft, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths green, membranous on margin, short bract leaves at apex. Spikes 34, remote, rarely the lowermost one basilar, terminal spike staminate, clavate cylindrical, 1.52 cm, ca. 22.5 mm thick, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, cylindrical, 12 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, laxly many-flowered; peduncles filiform, very long-exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong or oblong, 4.34.7 mm, rounded or emarginate at apex, with scabrous awn, papery, brownish on both sides, white and membranous on margin, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricles shorter than or equaling to glume, obovate-oblong, inflated-trigonous, 44.5 mm, papery, greenish, densely pubescent, a lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved, gradually narrowed to a short stipe, abruptly contracted above to a recurved and short beak, entire at orifice. Nutlets obovate-oblong, 2.52.8 mm, trigonous, short-stipitate at base, recurred and short beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Meadow thicket on high mountains or under forests; 30004300 m. S Qinghai, W & SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan, E & S Xizang [Sikkim, Nepal, India (IKashmir), Afghanistan].
Chinese dao luan lin tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 2040 cm tall, ca. 1 mm thick, slender triquetrous, smooth. Leaves slightly shorter than or equaling to culm, flat, soft, smooth, blades 1.32.2 mm, plicate at upper part, linear, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths long, bract leaved at apex, linear, longer than peduncle. Spikes 34, remote, the lowermost one basilar; terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 1.52.5 cm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes 24, pistillate, cylincrical, 23 cm, ca. 3.5 mm thick, densely many-flowered; peduncles slender, filiform, soft, very long-exserted from the bract sheath. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong or oblong, 3.54.8 mm, nearly rounded at apex, mucronate, papery, darkly purple-brown, narrowly white and membranous margined at upper part, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricles slightly longer than glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 4.25 mm, papery, green, densely white-pubescent, indistinctly 2 lateral-nerved, without thin-nerved, grdually narrowed to a short stipe, abruptly contracted above to a short beak obliquely slitting at orifice, 2-toothed. Nuts obovate oblong, trigonous, 2.53.5 mm, brown at maturity, short-stipitate at base, nearly beakless at apex; style inflated at base, erect or slightly bent, stigmas 3.
* Thickets or meadow on high mountains, grassland at Abies forests margin; 34004250 m. NW Yunnan (Deqin), E Xizang.
Chinese mi sheng tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 1030 cm tall, [unreadable word; see page 159] up to 1.5 mm thick, compressed-triguetrous, smooth. Leaves rathe shorter than culm, scabrous and involute on margins, linear, slightly stiff, blades 0.81 mm wide, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base, sheaths eventually disintegrataing into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths green or dorum and purple-red on venter, white and membranous on margins, the lowermost one with setaceous bract leaf, the upper ones without bract leaf. Spikes 24, the lowermost spike remote, the remainders approimate; terminal spike staminate, taller than the adjacent pistillate spike, cylindrical, 810 mm, densely many-flowered lateral pikes 13, pistillate, nearly cylindrical, 720 mm[, xxxx mm thick??; copy missing; see page 159] densely 4010-or more flowered; peduncles short, usually not exserted or slightly exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes oblong, 4.55 mm, acute at apex, short awned papery, purple-brown on both sides, broadly white and membranous on margins, green on middle, 3-nerved. Utricle slightly shorter than glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, 3.54 mm, papery, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and seveal thin-nerved, gradually narrowed to a short stipe, contracted above to a recurved and short beak or nearly beakless, truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-elliptical, obtuse-trigonous, 33.2 mm, slightly concave on 3-sides, brown at maturity, short-stipitate or nearly non-stipitate, recurved and short-beaked at apex; style rather short, not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Sunny meadow thicket on high mountains; 17003900 m. Gansu, S Qinghai, W, SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan, E & S Xizang.
Chinese bing zhuang tai cao
Rhizome short or elongated and obliquely ascending. Culms densely or laxly tufted, 2540 cm, slender, ca. 1.5 mm thick, triquetrous, slightly scabrous, subrigid. Leaves shorter than or equaling to culm, flat, blades 23 mm wide, slightly stiff, brown or dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base, sheaths usually disintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheaths brown on lower part, green on dorum, white and membranous on margins, bract leaf short or setaceous. Spikes 34, the lowermost one slightly remote, the remainders approximate or all spikes rather remote; terminal spike staminate, surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike, clavate-cylindrical, 820 mm, ca. 3 mm thick, densely several-or many-flowered; lateral spikes 23, pistillate, oblong or oblong-cylindrical, 12 cm, 33.5 mm thick, loosely or densely many-flowered; peduncles usually not exserted or slightly exserted from bract sheath; rhachis erect. Pistillate glumes obovate, ovate, ovate-oblong or oblong, 44.5 mm, obtuse or acute at apex, mucronate or aristate, papery, brown or brown-red at both sides, green on middle, broadly white and membranous on margins, 13-nerved. Utricles slightly shorter than glume, obovate or obovate-oblong, obtusely trigonous, 3.54.5 mm, greenish, densely white-pubescent, nerveless or indistinctly short-nerved on dorsum, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved or short-nerved on venter, rarely nerveless gradually narrowed to a long stipe at base, rounded at apex, abruptly contracted above to a recurved and short-beak, emarginate at orifice. Nutlets obovate, trigonous, 2.53 mm, yellow-brown at maturity, short-stipitate at base, very short and recurved beaked at apex; stylis thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Grassland, mountain slopes, under loose forests; 5002000 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (Far East, Siberia)].
1a. Utricles usually nerveless or indistinctly short-nerved on
dorsum, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved or short-nerved on venter,
rarely nerveless
................................................................................................................... 146a.
var. pediformis
1b. Utricles usually several convex-nerved on dorsum and venter .................... 146b. var. pedunculata
Chinese bing zhuang tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex rhizina Blytt ex Limdom; C. kilinowii Turganinow; C. pediformis C. A. Meyer a genuina Maximowicz; C. pediformis C. A. Meyer var. floribunda Korshinsky, S. I.; C. macroura Meinshausen; C. rhizodes Blytt var. abbrevias Meinshausen; C. sutschanensis Komarov; C. aneuracarpa V. I. Kreczetowicz; C. ayouensis X. Y. Mao & Y. C. Yang.
Utricles usually nerveless or indistinctly short-nerved on dorsum, 2 lateral-nerved and several thin-nerved or short-nerved on venter, rarely nerveless.
Grasslands, mountain slopes, under loose forests; 5002000 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (Far East, Siberia)].
This plant is a good grazing grass, and used as the material for making mats.
We have researched in a great deal of specimens in China, we find that the spikes, glumes and utricles of this species have many variable characters, but these characters have their continuity and are very difficult to distinguish into several species, therefore we agree with the opinion of authors in (Flora Plantarum Herbacearum China Bureali-Orientalis) (1976) that they combined Carex macroura Meinshausen, C. hankaensis Kitagawa and C. supermascula V. I. Kreczetowicz etc., into C. pediformis C. A. Meyer.
Chinese zuo tai cao
Utricles usually convex-nerved on dorsum and venter.
Under forests; 500600 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol [Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese dai pi zhen tai cao
Rhizome stout, obliquely ascending. Culms densely tufted, 1035 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm thick, slender, compressed-triquetrous, scabrous on upper part. Leaves shorter than culm at youth, eventually elongating, equaling to or longer than culm, blades 12.5 mm wide, flat, soft, slightly scabrous on margins, purple-brown and persistent sheathed at base, sheaths eventually distintegrating into fibers. Bracts spathose-shaped, bract sheath brownish on dorsal part, the remainder part green and brownish lined, white and membramous at sheath orifice and venter, bract leaves setaceous at the lower part and mucro-shaped at the upper part. Spikes 36, remote; terminal spike staminate, linear-cylindrical, 515 mm, 1.52 mm thick, lower than or equaling to the adjacent pistilate spike; lateral spikes 25, pistillate, oblong or oblong-cylindrical, 11.7 cm, 2.53 mm thick, laxly or subdensely 510-flowered; peduncles usually not exserted from bract sheath, the lowermost one slightly exserted; rhachis slightly flexuose. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, or obovate-lanceolate, 56 mm, acute at apex, mucronate, papery, purple-brown on both sides, green on middle, broadly white and membranous on margins, 3-nerved. Utricles shorter than glume, obovate-oblong, obtuse-trigonous, ca. 3 mm, papery, greenish, densely pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several convex-nerved, abruptly contracted to a long stipe, rounded at apex, short-beaked, truncate at orifice. Nutlets obovate-elliptical, trigonous, 2.52.8 mm, short-stipitate at base, recurved and short-beaked at apex; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Under forests or grasslands at forest edge, dry grasslands on sunny slope; 1102300 m. Anhui, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
1a. Culms 1035 cm tall; pistillate spikes loosely or slightly densely 510-flowered; rhachis slightly flexuose.
2a. Pistillate glumes lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate; utricles 2 lateral-nerved and several convex-nerved .................................................................................................. 147a. var. lanceolata
2b. Pistillate glumes obovate or obovate-oblong; utricles only 2
lateral-nerved
....................................................................................................... 147b.
var. subpediformis
1b. Culms lower; pistillate spikes only loosely 23-flowered; rhachis distinctly flexuose 147c. var. laxa
Chinese dai pi zhen tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex longiquamata Mainshausen ex Komarv; C. lanceolata Boott var. alashanica Egorova.
Culms 1035 cm tall. Pistillate spikes loosely or slightly densely 510-flowered; pistillate glumes lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate; utricles 2 lateral-nerved and several convex-nerved.
Under forests or grassland at forest edge, dry grassland on suny slopes; 1102300 m. Anhui, Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
The culms and leaves are used as material for making papers, and young plants are used as feed for animals.
Chinese ya bing tai cao
Carex prevernalis Kitagawa, C. pseudo-lanceolata V. I. Kreczetowicz; C. subpediformis (Kόkenthal) Suto & Suzuki.
Pistillate glumes obovate or obovate-oblong; utricles only 2 lateral-nerved, without distintly thin-nerved.
Mountain slopes, uner thickets, water-sides, field edges, 3002200 m; Gansu, Hebei, Hubei, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, W Sichuan [Japan, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese shao hua dai pi zhen tai cao
Carex karafutoana Ohwi.
Culms lower; lateral pistillate spikes only laxly 23-flowered, rhachis distinctly flexuose.
On rocks of mountain slopes near the forst. Jilin, Nei Mongol [Japan, Russia (Far East, E Siberia)].
Chinese wu gong tai cao
Rhizome elongate, creeping. Culms 1530 cm tall, 0.50.8 m thick, slender and soft. Leaves shorter than or equaling to the culm, filiform, soft, dark-brown and persistent sheathed at base. Bracts sheathing-shaped, brown, with setaceous bract leaf at apex. Spikes 2, terminal spike staminate, linear, 1.21.3 cm, ca. 1 mm thick, densely many-flowered peduncle thin, 2.53 cm, surpassing the lower pistillate spike; lateral spike 1, pistillate, oblong, 56 mm, laxly 23-flowered; peduncle rather slender, slightly exserted from bract sheath. Pistillate glumes subovate, 2.42.6 mm, attenuate and mucronate at apex, papery brown, broadly white and membranous on margins, 1-nerved. Utricles longer than glume, broadly ovoid, inflated-trigonous, 3.53.6 mm, green-brown, densely hispidulous, 2 lateral-nerved, and several longitudinal-nerved, abruptly contracted to a sort stipe at base, contracted above to a middle-beak, membranous at orifice, 2-toothed. Nutlets broadly obovoid-trigonous, ca. 1.8 mm, brown at maturity; style thickened at base, stigmas 3.
* Wet grassland on mountain slopes, under thickets or Pinus forests; 22003500 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan (Lijiang xian, Yulongshan).
Chinese yin ni tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms up to 30 cm tall, slender, triquetrous, short-bracteate or bractless sheathed at base, sheaths dark-purple, sometimes distintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 2.53 mm wide, soft, both surfaces or abaxial side scabrous. Bract leaf like, longer than spike, short-sheathed. Spikes 34, terminal spike staminate, lower than and approached the adjacent pistillate spike, the lower spikes remote, staminate spike narrowly obovate or nearly linear, ca. 5 mm, short-peduncled; lateral pikes pistillate, oblong, 0.82 cm, laxly 34-flowered, rarely 56-flowered, slightly long-peduncled. Pistillate glumes oblong or oblong-ovate, ca. 3.5 mm, mucronate or short-awned at apex, membranous pale, greenish on middle, 3-nerved. utricles near erect, longer than glume, elliptical or obovate-ellitpical, trigonous 56 mm, gray-green, brown-punctate, pubescent, 2 lateral-nerved and several indistinctly thin-nerved, abruptly contracted to a short stipe at base and to a short beak at apex, 2-toothed at orifice. Nutlets broadly elliptical, trigonous, ca. 3.5 mm, with tortuous stipe at base, concave at apex; style short, slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprJun.
* Mountain slopes, under forest or on gullysides. Anhui (Langyash) Jiangsu.
1a. Terminal staminate spike rather short, lower than the adjacent pistillate spike, the lowermost pistillate spike not basal; utricles short-beaked at apex ................................................... 147a. var. infossa
1b. Terminal staminate spike rather
long, surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike, the lowermost pistillate spike
near basal; utricles rather long-beaked at apex
....................................................................................................................... 149b.
var. extensa
Chinese yin ni tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Terminal staminate spike rather short, lower than the adjacent pistillate spike, the lowermost pistillate spike not basal. Utricles short-beaked at apex.
* Mountain slopes, under forests or on gullysides. Anhui.
Chinese xian sui ta cao
Terminal staminate spike rather long, surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike, the lowermost pistillate spike near basal. Utricles rather long-beaked at apex.
* Anhui (Qimen, Chawan).
Chinese bai lin tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms obtusely trigonous. Leaves narrow, involute on margins. Bracts sheathing-shaped, bladeless. Spikes unisexual, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate, loosely few-flowered, with slender peduncle. Pistillate glumes very broad-hyaline on margins. Utricles swelling-trigonous, glabrous, shiny, short-beaked, obliquely truncate at orifice at beak. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle; style thickened and globose at base, stigmas 3.
Two species in China.
1a. Leaves equaling 1/2 height of culms; terminal spike usually lower than the adjacent pistillate spike; pistillate spikes 26-flowered; pistillate glumes shorter than utricles; utricles 3.54 mm, yellow-green, shiny 150. C. alba
1b. Leaves equaling height of culms; terminal spike surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike; pistillate spikes 24-flowered; pistillate glumes equaling length of utricle; utricles ca. 3 mm, dark-brown, not shiny 151. C. ussuriensis
Chinese bai lin tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 1530 cm tall, rather slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth; sheaths leafless at base. Leaves rather shorter than culm, blades flat, ca. 1 mm wide, eventually involute on margins, soft, brown sheathed at base. Bracts sheathing-shaped, ca. 1 cm, brown-green, hyaline on margins, without bract leaf. Spikes usually 3, rarely 2 or 4, slightly approximate; terminal spike staminate, usually not surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike, linear, 11.5 cm; lateral spikes usually 2, rarely 1 or 3, pistillate, oblong or subovate, 510 mm, loosely 26-flowered, peduncles slender. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, acute at apex, ca. 3 mm, membranous, stramineous or yellow-brownish, without hyaline on margins, green 1-nerved. Utricles obliquely patent, slightly longer than glume, broadly obovate or elliptical-obovate, obtuse-trigonous, 3.54 mm, leathery, yellow-green, brownish yellow at maturity, several slightly concave-nerved, glabrous, shiny, abruptly contracted to a obtusely rounded base, contracted above to a short beak, obliquely truncate at orifice, hyaline on margin. Nutlets tightly enveloped in utricle, obovate-elliptical, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, dark-brown, brownish yellow and slightly convex on angles, tuberculate on surface; style thickened and globose at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
On rocks of mountain slopes, sand or swamps. Xinjiang [Midwestern Europe, Russia].
Chinese wu su li tai cao
Carex alba Scop. subsp. ussuriensis (Komarov) Kόkenthal.
Rhizome stoloniferous, stolons slender. Culms loosely tufted, 2040 cm tall, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, bladeless sheathed at base. Leaves nearly equaling to height of culm, blades ca. 0.5 mm wide, slightly revolute on margins, slightly soft, yellow-brown sheathed. Bracts sheathing-shaped, up to 2 cm, broadly membranous on margin of sheathing orifice, without bract leaf. Spikes 23, slightly remote; terminal spike staminate, usually surpassing the adjacent pistillate spike, lanceolate-linear, 12 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 0.51 cm, very loosely 24-flowered; rachis flexuose; peduncles slender, up to 3 cm, Pistillate glumes ovate or subelliptical, ca. 3 mm, hard-mucronate at apex, membranous, yellowish, broadly hyaline on margins, 1-nerved, basal part enclosed rachis. Utricles suberect, nearly equaling glume, obovate, indistinctly trigonous, ca. 3 mm, nearly leathery, yellow-green, dark-brown at maturity, glabrous, several slightly concave-nerved, not shiny, broadly truncate or nearly rounded at base, abruptly narrowed to a short beak at apex, truncate at orifice. Nutlets rather tightly enveloped in utricle, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style thickened at base, stigmas 3, slender. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Under needle forests or shade and wet places. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
Chinese shi sheng tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome stoloniferous. Bracts nearly spathose-shaped, usually short bract leaved, sheaths long or short. Spikes few, unisexual, rather remote, terminal spike staminate, lateral spikes pistillate, subdensely several-to many-flowered; peduncles slender, usually pendent. Pistillate glumes long or short mucronate or awned. Utricles leathery, glabrous. papillate or grandular punctate, nearly beakless or very short-beaked, truncate or emarginate at orifice. Nutlets rather tightly enveloped in utricle; style exserted from utricle, not thickened at base, stigmas 3.
Two species in China.
1a. The lowermost bract short-sheathed, sheath less than 5 mm; pistillate glumes slightly longer than utricle; utricles ovate or elliptical ................................................................................. 152. C. limosa
1b. The lowermost bract long-sheathed, sheath up to 2 cm, pistillate glumes shorter than utricle; utricles oblong-elliptical .............................................................................................................. 153. C. laxa
Chinese shi sheng tai cao
Rhizome long stoloniferous. Culms 2045 cm, triquetrous; rather slender, scabrid at upper part, red-brown sheathed at base, sometimes disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 1.52.5 mm wide, slightly plicate grooved on middle, scabrous on margins, sheathed. Bracts leaf like, with short bract leaf, bract sheaths short. Spikes 23, remote; terminal spikes staminate, linear, 22.5 cm, erect, peduncled; lateral spikes pistillate, sometimes few staminate-flowered at apex, oblong or ovate, 12 cm, subdensely many-flowered, peduncles slender, often pendent. Pistillate glumes ovate or lanceolate-ovate, 46 mm, hard-mucronate at apex, yellowish brown, green on middle, 13-nerved. Utricles suberect, slightly shorter than glume, ovate or elliptical, compressed-trigonous, 3.54 mm, leathery, several-nerved, glabrous, densely punctate, rounded at base, short-stipitate, abruptly narrowed above to a very short beak, truncate or emarginate at orifice. Nuts slightly loosely enveloped in utricles, elliptical, compressed-trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style exserted from utricle, not thickened at base, persistent, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
Swamps or grasslands at watersides. Heilongjiang, Liaoning [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia (Far East, Siberia), Europe, North America].
Chinese xi hua tai cao
Rhizome slender stoloniferous. Culms 2535 cm tall, slender, sometimes slightly pendent at apex, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, brownish and bladeless-sheathed at base. Leaves shorter than culm, blades 12 mm wide, flat, sometimes longitudinal grooved, slightly soft, scabrid on margins, sheathed. Bracts leaf like, short-bladed and long-sheathed. Spikes usually 3, rather remote; terminal spike staminate, linear-lanceolate; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 12 cm, subdensely few-flowered, peduncles slender, pendent. Pistillate glumes ovate or oblong-ovate, ca. 3 mm, obtuse at apex, mucronate, membranous, yellowish brown, green 1-nerved. Utricles suberect, slightly longer than glume, oblong-elliptical, indistinctly trigonous, ca. 3.5 mm, leathery, greenish, few-nerved, glabrous, densely papillose, gradually narrowed to a cuneate base, short-stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short-beak; beak ferruginous-brown, truncate at orifice. Nutlets rather tightly enveloped in utricle, obovate, trigonous; style exserted from utricle, not thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Swamps or wet places of lakeside or riverside. Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Japan, Russia, Europe].
Chinese shao hua tai cao zu
Dai Lunkai (戴伦凯); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms usually slightly slender. Leaves many shorter than culm, a little longer than culm, rather narrow. Bracts rather long-sheathed. Spikes 36, unisexual; terminal spike staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, rather remote, loosely flowered, peduncled. Pistillate glume usually mucronate. Utricles membranous or subleathery, inflated-trigonous, glabrous, densely puncticulate, short-beaked; style not thickened or slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3.
One species and one variety in China.
Chinese shao hua tai cao
Carex panicea Linnaeus var. spariflora Wahlenb., Fl. Lapp. 236. 1812; C. vaginata Tausch.
Rhizome slender-stoloniferous. Culms 2050 cm tall, slender, obtuse-trigonous, smooth, leaved at lower part. Leaves very shorter than culm; blades 35 mm wide, flat, slightly soft; sheaths brown, sometimes purplish red. Bracts long-sheathed and rather short-blade. Spikes 24, usually 3, rather remote; terminal spike staminate, subclavate, 11.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong-cylindrical or oblong, 12.5 cm, loosely several-flowered; peduncles long and erect. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm, obtuse or acute at apex, membranous, ferruginous-brown, hyaline on margins, green 3-nerved. utricles obliquely patent, longer than glume, ovate, inflated-trigonous, ca. 4 mm, subleathery, yellow-green, glabrous, indistinctly nerved, abruptly contracted to a broadly cuneate base, abruptly narrowed above to a short beak or middling beak, emarginate or 2 toothed at orifice. Nutlets rather loosely enveloped in utricle, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm, short-stipitate at base; style slightly thickened at base, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
Wet places under forests or grassland edges. Heilongjiang, Liaoning [Japan, Korea, Russia, Europe].
1a. Leaf blades 35 mm wide; utricles ca. 4 mm ............................................... 154a. var. sparsiflora
1b. Leaf blades much wide; utricles 56 mm .......................................................... 154b. var. petersii
Chinese shao hua tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex panica Linnaeus var. sparsiflora (Wahlenb.) Fl. Lapp. 236. 1812; C. vaginata Tausch, Flora 4: 557. 1821.
Leaf blades 35 mm wide. Utricles ca. 4 mm.
Wet places under forests or grassland edges. Heilongjiang, Liaoning [Japan, Korea, Russia, Europe].
Chinese da shao hua tai cao
Carex petersii C. A. Meyer ex F. Schmidt, Mem. Ac. St. Petersb. Ser. VII. 12: 194. 1868. C. falcata Turczaninow.
Leaf blades much wide. Utricles 56 mm.
Under forests or thickets grasslands. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Mongolia, Russia].
宽叶薹草组 kuan ye tai cao zu
Zhang Shuren (张树仁); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome elongated. Leaf blades broad, often lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, mid-nerve prominent abaxially, 2 of lateral nerves prominent adaxially. Spike androgynous, linear to linear-cylindrical; bract sheaths ± inflated above and spathelike, blade often shorter to a little longer than the sheath. Utricles trigonous, often prominently many-nerved, nearly beakless to shortly beaked, nearly truncate at orifice; stigmas 3.
?? species: ??distribution; five species in China.
1a. Bract blades nearly equaling to longer than the sheaths.
2a. Spikes 12 cm; peduncle 15 cm, erect, slightly exerted; utricles not convex adaxially, faintly nerved, beak erect ....................................................................................... 156. C. grandiligulata
2b. Spikes 25 cm; peduncle 310 cm, slightly nodding,
long-exerted; utricles convex adaxially, prominently many-nerved, beak recurved
........................................................................................................ 157. C. wuyishanensis
1b. Bract nearly bladeless or blades much shorter than the sheaths.
3a. Utricles nearly beakless or very shortly beaked ................................... 155. C. siderosticata
3b. Utricles distinctly short-beaked, beak of 1/8 to 1/3 length of the utricle.
4a. Spike linear-cylindrical, staminate part 1/4 to 1/2 length of the spike; utricles ca. 3 mm, convex adaxially; beak bent downward, ca. 1/8 to 1/4 length of the utricle; pistillate glume slightly shorter than the utricle, acute at apex ................................................................................... 158. C. glossostigma
4b. Spike linear, staminate part 1/2 to 3/4 length of the spike; utricles ca. 4.5 mm, not convex adaxially; beak erect, ca. 1/3 length of the utricle; pistillate glume ca. 1/2 length of the utricle, nearly truncate at apex ............................................................................................. 159. C. longshengensis
宽叶薹草 kuan ye tai cao
Rhizome elongated. Flowering culms and vegetative culms spaced; flowering culms clothed by bladeless sheaths at base, pale-brown, without leaves; Leaf blades of vegetative culms oblong-lanceolate, 1020 Χ 12.5 cm, sometimes with white stripes, mid-nerve and 2 lateral nerves rather distinct, sometimes ciliate, glabrous adaxially, sparsely pilose on nerves abaxially or on both surfaces. Flowering culms up to 30 cm tall, bract sheaths inflated above and spathelike, 22.5 cm, with blade 510 mm. Spikes 36(10), single or binate at each node, androgynous or terminal spike usually staminate, linear-cylindrical, 1.53 cm, loosely flowered; peduncles 26 cm, usually exerted. Pistillate glumes elliptic-oblong to lanceolate-oblong, obtuse at apex, 45 cm, hyaline-membranous on both sides, the green costa 3-nerved, sparsely rusty-punctate. Utricles obovate or elliptic, trigonous, 34 mm, glabrous or pilose slenderly and prominently many-nerved, attenuate to a very short stipe at base, contracted above to a short beak or beakless, truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style persistent, not thickened at base, slightly exerted from utricle; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
Undergrowth or margins of coniferous, broad-leaved, or mixed forests, rather dry grasslands; 10002000 m. Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
1a. Utricle glabrous, leaf blade margin glabrous ............................................. 155a. var. siderosticata
1b. Utricle pilose, leaf blade margin ciliate .............................................. 155a. var. ciliato-marginata
宽叶薹草(原变种) kuan ye tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Carex siderosticata var. variegata Akiyama.
All spikes androgynous; utricle glabrous; leaf blade glabrous at margins, glabrous adaxially and sparsely pilose on nerves abaxially.
Undergrowth or margins of coniferous, broad-leaved, or mixed forests; 10002000 m. Anhui, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia (Far East)].
毛缘宽叶薹草 mao yuan kuan ye tai cao
Carex siderosticata var. pilosa H. Lιveillι ex Nakai.
Terminal spike usually staminate; utricle pilose; leaf blades ciliate and sparsely pilose on both surfaces. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
Rather dry grasslands, forests margins; Anhui, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].
大舌薹草 da she tai cao
Rhizome slender and elongated. Flowering culms and vegetative culms spaced. Sub-basal sheaths of flowering culms with blades; blades of vegetative culms narrowly linear, 200400 Χ 2.54 mm, herbaceous, mid-nerve and sometimes 2 lateral nerves prominent, glabrous. Flowering culms 2030 cm tall, with spikes at nodes above the middle; bract sheaths not distinctly inflated above, bract blades equaling or slightly longer than the sheath, ligule up to 2 mm, lowest sheath densely puberulous. Spikes androgynous, single or binate at node, linear-cylindrical, 12 cm, staminate part usually equaling pistillate part, with denser staminate flowers and 23 pistillate flowers; peduncles 15 cm, shortly exerted. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, obtuse at apex, ca. 4 mm, the costa green, hyaline-membranous laterally, tinged with pale brown and rusty-punctate. Utricles elliptic, ca. 45 mm, faintly nerved, rusty-punctate, attenuate to a short beak, nearly truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm; style base not thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Undergrowth of loose forests, rocky places; 16001800 m. Hebei, Shaanxi, Sichuan.
武夷山薹草 wu yi shan tai cao
Rhizome rather stout, sometimes elongated. Sub-basal sheaths of flowering culms with blades; blades of vegetative culms, herbaceous, linear, shorter than the culm, 57 mm wide, glabrous, mid-nerve and 2 lateral nerves slightly prominent, ligule up to 1 mm. Flowering culms 5065 cm tall, with spikes at nodes above the middle; bract sheaths hardly inflated above, glabrous, blades nearly equaling to slightly longer than the sheath. Spikes androgynous, single to ternate at each node, linear-cylindrical, 25 cm, staminate part nearly equaling pistillate part, densely flowered; pistillate part loosely 37-flowered; peduncles 310 cm, slender, exerted, slightly nodding. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate, obtuse at apex, ca. 34 mm, pale brown, rusty-punctate, the costa with 3 green nerves. Utricles elliptic-ovate, ca. 3 mm, convex adaxially, prominently many-nerved, shortly stipitate at base, contract above to a short recurved beak 0.5 mm, emarginate abaxially at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; style base not thickened; stigmas 3; rachilla small, ca. 1.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr.
* Grasslands; ca. 1000 m. Fujian.
长梗薹草 chang geng tai cai
Carex dayunshanensis L. K. Ling & Y. Z. Huang; C. exerta Chό; C. ferruspiculata Chό; C. mandarinorum Raymond.
Rhizome rather stout and elongated. Flowering and vegetative culms spaced, sub-basal sheaths of flowering culms bladeless; blades of vegetative culms leathery to papery, broadly linear, 2040 Χ 12.5 cm, glabrous or pilose on nerves both surfaces or abaxially, mid-nerve and 2 of lateral nerves prominent. Flowering culms 3040 cm tall, with spikes at nodes of 2/3 upper part of culm. Bract sheaths inflated above and spathelike, glabrous or shortly pilose, blades much shorter to 1/2 sheath in length, ligule indistinct. Spikes androgynous, single to 5-nate at each node, linear-cylindrical, 23 cm, peduncled; peduncle 215 cm, slender, often exerted; staminate part 1/41/2 as long as the spike, mostly distinctly shorter than pistillate part, rather densely flowered; pistillate part with 815 flowers, utricles sparse at maturity. Pistillate glumes ovate-elliptic, obtuse at apex, 2.5 mm, pale brown, rusty-punctate, mid-nerve distinct, many lateral nerves indistinct. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, ovate-elliptic, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, prominently many-nerved, suddenly contract above to a short beak, beak bent downward, ca. 1/8 to 1/4 as long as the utricle, nearly truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm; style base not thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
* Wet and shady places in forests; 8001500 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
龙胜薹草 long sheng tai cao
Rhizome stout, sometimes elongated. Sub-basal sheaths of flowering culms bladeless; leaf blades of vegetative culms herbaceous to papery, broadly linear, 4050 Χ 1.53.5 cm, glabrous, mid-nerve and 2 lateral nerves distinctly prominent. Flowering culms 3050 cm tall, with spikes at nodes above the middle; bract sheaths slightly inflated above and spathelike, glabrous, 2.55 cm (except uppermost one very short), nearly bladeless or blades up to 1 cm, inligulate [?= without ligule]. Spikes androgynous, single or binate at each node, linear, 2.54.5 cm, peduncled; peduncle 18 cm, slender, often exerted; staminate part nearly 1/2 to 3/4 as long as the spike, distinctly longer than pistillate part, rather densely flowered; pistillate part with 25 flowers, utricles sparse at maturity. Pistillate glumes nearly square to horizontally oblong, 2.5 mm, nearly truncate at apex, brown, rusty-punctate, with 3 distinct nerves at middle, faintly nerved at both lateral sides. Utricles oblong-elliptic, trigonous, 4.55.5 mm, prominently many-nerved, brown, rusty-punctate, suddenly contract above to an erect beak 1.5 mm, nearly truncate at orifice. Achene tightly enveloped, elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm; style base not thickened, sparsely puberulous, persistent; stigmas 3. Fl.fr. MayJun.
* Undergrowth of dense forests; ??altitude. Guangxi.
多穗薹草组 duo sui tai cao zu
Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun); Tetsuo Koyama
Carex subsect. Decorae Kukenthal in Engler, Pflanzenr. 38(IV. 20): 541. 1909.
Rhizome short or long creeping. Culms slightly stout. Leaves basal or cauline. Bracts leaflike, rarely setaceous, sheathing. Inflorescence panicles, each partial panicle with 27 spikes, terminal 12 staminate; remainder androgynous, with peduncles unequaling. Pistillate glumes pale-brown, purple-red or sanguineous. Utricles suberect or obliquely patent, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, glabrous or hispid, beak long, the orifice pale-hyaline. Achenes oblong or elliptic-obovate, trigonous; stigmas 3.
About 26 species; 10 species in China.
1a. Leaves cauline ............................................................................................... 160. C. insignis
1b. Leaves basal, rarely cauline.
2a. Spikes sessile or subsessile, several spikes disposed
in capital inflorescences
......................................................................................................... 167.
C. subperakensis
2b. Spikes peduncled, not disposed in capital inflorescence.
3a. Leaves blades 25 mm wide.
4a. Utricles ca. 2.3 mm; culms compressed cylindrical ............................. 161 . C. pomiensis
4b. Utricles 37 mm; culms trigonous.
5a. Pistillate glumes equaling the utricle, obtuse at apex, unawned; utricles hispidulous; curved, stipitate at base ........................................................................................... 162. C. jizhuangensis
5b. Pistillate glumes much shorter than the utricle; the 1-nerved costa excurrent in a awe; achenes erect, stipitate at base.
6a. Utricles elliptic, 34 mm, glabrous ................................................... 163. C. dielsiana
6b. Utricles lanceolate, 67 mm, sparsely pubescent ............................... 164. C. urelytra
3b. Leaves blades 712 mm wide.
7a. Style curved at base .................................................................... 165. C. zhenkangensis
7b. Style erect at base.
8a. Utricles glabrous, faintly nerved; style glabrous at base ............. 166. C. baiposhanensis
8b. Utricles hispidulous, conspicuous nerved.
9a. Style hispidulous at base ............................................................... 168. C. perakensis
9b. Style glabrous at base ........................................................................... 169. C. morii
秆叶薹草 gan ye tai cao
Rhizome long stoloniferous. Culms 90100 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple bladeless sheaths. Leaves cauline, shorter than the culm, blades linear, 45 mm wide, flat, scabrous adaxially, with purple-reddish long sheaths. Bracts leaflike, with purple-reddish long sheaths, 3.54.5 mm. Spikes numerous, arising 35 from the axil of bract, long linear, androgynous or terminal staminate, 1.55 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate, 22.5 mm, pale-brown, hyaline on margins, emarginate and ciliate at apex, the 3-nerved costa excurrent in a scabrous awn. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 mm, membranous, olive-green, purple-puncticulate, hispidulous above or later glabrous, truncate at base, abruptly contracted above to a scabrous long beak, the orifice hyaline, emarginate or subentire. Achenes tightly enveloped, rhomboid-trigonous ca. 2 mm, dark chestnut; style slightly thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AugOct.
Forests, ditch sides 15001800 m. SE Yunnan [Bhutan, India (Asamu), Nepal, Vietnam].
波密薹草 bo mi tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 4050 cm tall, densely tufted, compressed-cylindrical, smooth, clothed at base with castaneous sheaths. Leaves basal, blade linear, shorter than the culm, 23 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins. Lower bracts leaflike. Spikes linear, 14 cm, arising 47 from the axile of bract, usually pistillate, only one spike gynaecandrous; with unequaling peduncles. Pistillate glumes elliptic, ca. 2 mm, pale-castaneous, 1-nerved, narrowly white-hyaline margined. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, ca. 2.3 mm, short stipitate at base, abruptly contracted above to a long beak, 0.81 mm. Achenes tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous; style short, stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
* Ditch sides in forests, moist places, 21002800 m. Xizang (Motu).
季荘薹草 ji zhuang tai cao
Rhizome long-creeping. Culms 4060 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple-reddish sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves slightly shorter than the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, leathery, stiff. Lower bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing, 34 mm, purple-reddish, upper blades setaceous. Spikes numerous, arising single or binate from the axils of bract. the upper 13 staminate, 13 cm; remainder androgynous, the staminate part longer or equaling than the pistillate part, with slender smooth peduncles. Pistillate glumes oblong, 3 mm, purple-reddish, the green 3-nerved in the middle, with white-hyaline on the upper margins, obtuse at apex. Utricles longer than the glume, long cylindrical, trigonous, 33.5 mm, olive-green, many-nerved, densely hispidulous, short-stipitate at base, gradually tapering above to a short beak, the orifice entire. Achenes tightly enveloped, oblong-trigonous, ca. 35 mm, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, curved stipitate at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AugOct.
* Guangdong.
丽江薹草 li jiang tai cao
Rhizome short, woody. Culms densely tufted, 2560 cm tall, trigonous, smooth. Leaves cauline, almost equaling or longer than the culm, blades linear, 2 mm wide, flat, scabrous above, rigid, with brown-green sheaths, the lowest sheath bladeless. The lowest bract leaflike, longer than the inflorescence. Spikes 47, androgynous, linear-cylindrical, 34 cm, the upper ones usually binate, lower spike single, rarely branched at base, with long peduncles. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, reddish, the 1-nerved costa excurrent in a mucro. Utricles longer than glume, elliptic, obtuse trigonous, 34 mm, yellowish green, glabrous, many-nerved, contracted at base, gradually narrowed above to a medio [=??] beak, the orifice truncate, hyaline. Achenes loosely enveloped, trigonous, ca. 15 mm; style thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. MayJul.
* Grassy slopes, moist places along the streams, forest margins, 19003800 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
扁果薹草 bian guo tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, rigid, 2060 tall, trigonous, subsmooth, occasionally 1-leaved at the middle, clothed at base with purple or dark brown sheaths, disintegrating into parallel fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 35 mm wide, flattish or with ± revolute on margins, with purple-brown nerves. Lower bracts equaling or shorter than subtending spike, long-sheathing, the upper bracts short-sheathing, the blades setaceous. Spikes 710 at 57 nodes, the middle node 2- or 3-nate, rarely 4-nate, upper ones sub contiguous, the lower spaced, all androgynous, with staminate part 1/3 or 2/5 the length of the spike, cylindrical to oblong-cylindrical, ca. 25 cm, the staminate part 12 mm wide, the pistillate part 34 mm wide, densely many-flowered, peduncles exserted. Pistillate glumes ovate to lanceolate-ovate, 34 mm, (excluding awn) acute at apex, membranous, yellow-brown with pale-hyaline margins, the 1-nerved costa excurrent in a scabrous awn 13 mm. Utricles longer than the glume, lanceolate, flattened-trigonous, 67 mm, erect, thinly membranous, yellowish green with brown flecks or turning brown, faintly nerved, sparsely puberulent, contracted at base, serrulate on upper margins, gradually tapering above to a beak, deeply 2-lobed at orifice. Achenes elliptic trigonous, ca. 2.5 mm long, stipitate; stigmas 3, persistent.
* Forest floors on high mountains; Taiwan.
No specimens have been seen by the present authors.
镇康薹草 zhen kang tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 6570 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with dark brown sheaths. Leaves subequaling the culm, widely linear blades, 710 mm wide, herbaceous, slightly stiff, flat, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, short than the inflorescence, long-sheathing, 33.5 mm. Inflorescence nearly paniculate, spikes numerous, terminal spike staminate, 11.5 cm; remainder spikes androgynous, the staminate part longer than the pistillate part, cylindrical, 1.54.5 cm, loosely flowered, with slender peduncles unequaling. Pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, 5.86.5 mm, yellow-brown, with white-hyaline margins. Utricles longer than the glume, obliquely patent, ovate-lanceolate, 77.5 mm, (including beak), nerveless for two ribs on edges, glabrous, at short-stipitate base, ca. 1 mm, abruptly contracted above to a long beak, ca. 3.5 mm, obliquely truncate, 2-toothed at orifice. oblong, ca. 2 mm, short stipitate at base; style ca. 2.5 mm, curved at base, glabrous; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
* Grassy slopes, subalpine thickets; 30003600 m. Guangxi, Yunnan.
百坡山薹草 bai po shan tai cao
Rhizome woody, stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 4050 cm tall, slender, clothed at base with reddish brown sheaths. Leaves subequaling the culm, blades linear, 57 mm wide, flat, scabrous above. Bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, long-sheathing. Spikes numerous, 25 at each node, 56 nodes, all spaced, the upper 36 spikes staminate, lower spikes as a rule pistillate, occasionally becoming androgynous linear-cylindrical, 23.5 cm, loosely flowered, with slender peduncles. Pistillate glumes oblong, 44.5 mm, sanguineous-red, broadly hyaline on margins, the yellowish green 3-nerved costa forming a short awn at subrounded or emarginate at apex. Utricles almost longer than the glume, ovate-rhomboid, trigonous, 57 mm, membranous, green, glabrous, finely nerved, contracted a short-stipitate at base, gradually narrowed above to a scabrous, long beak, short 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes elliptical, 2.83 mm, brown; style thickened at base; stigmas 3. longer or the longest. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Forests; 900 m. Sichuan.
类霹雳薹草 lei pi li tai cao
Rhizome short, stout, woody. Culms 5070 cm tall, trigonous, thick, clothed at base with brown the sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 711 mm wide, usually plicate at base, purple-brown, many-nerved, scabrous abaxially. The lower bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, long-sheathing, the upper bracts with short blades or setaceous or glumaceous, shorter than the inflorescence, nearly sheath less. Spikes numerous, 37 disposed in capitate, spikes androgynous, ovate-cylindrical, the staminate part 1/4 to 1/3 the length of the spike. almost without peduncles. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, acute, ca. 2.5 mm, with white-hyaline on margins, the green 3-nerved costa excurrent in a short mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate-elliptic, flattened, trigonous, ca. 3 mm, membranous, pale-greenish, densely white hispidulous, gradually narrowed above to a beak, the orifice sharply 2-toothed. Achenes elliptic, ca. 2 mm, pale-brown, compressed-trigonous with faces slightly concave; style thickened at base, scabrous; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
* Forests; 900 m. Fujian (Yong an).
霹雳薹草 pi li tai cao
Carex dunnii Hayata; C. prainii C. B. Clarke; C. setulifolia Nelmes; C. tatewakiana Ohwi; C. tonkinensis Franchet.
Rhizome stout, woody. Culms central, 30120 cm tall, ca. 2 mm thick below, trigonous, with several nodes, clothed at base with short-bladed or bladeless dark purple-red sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves basal or cauline, some overtopping the culm, blades broadly linear, 412 mm wide, stiff, flattish, leathery, cauline leaves rather long, sheathing, pale-greenish and black-brown-nerved abaxially, dark brown, membranous. Lower bracts leaflike, longer than the inflorescence, long-sheathing, upper bracts glumaceous. Inflorescence an interrupted panicle, 3040 cm, with 3 to 6 partial panicles, partial panicles 25 cm, the lower ones single or binate, the upper ones binate or occasionally ternate, each bearing 3 to 7 sessile spikes, the lower ones with long-peduncles, spikes bisexual, androgynous, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 1.53 cm, the staminate part 1/2 to 1/3 the length of the spike. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate to oblong, acute to subobtuse at apex, 2.24.5 mm, pale or slightly brown, membranous, the 1-nerved costa excurrent in a short awn 11.5 mm. Utricles longer than the glume, obovate-elliptic or ovate fusiform, trigonous, 4.56 mm, many-nerved, hispidulous above, herbaceous, gradually tapering to both ends, the beak conical, 12 mm, hispidulous or glabrescent, obliquely truncate at hardly 2-toothed orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, obovate-elliptic, trigonous, 2.53 mm, dark brown, on faces concave; style erect, sparsely hispidulous, slightly thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulOct.
Shady and moist places in forests; 7001800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Indonesia, Malaysia].
森氏薹草 sen shi tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms 70120 cm tall, acutely trigonous, several nodose, smooth, clothed at base with brown or chestnut-brown sheaths, ± disintegrating into fibers. Leaves basal and a few upper spaced on the culm, usually shorter than the culm, blades broadly linear, 49 mm wide, flattish, leathery. Bracts leaflike, the lower two overtopping the inflorescence; remainder bracts much shorter; lower bract sheaths 35 cm. Inflorescence paniculate, interrupter, with 3 to 6 partial panicles, partial panicles binate or ternate, 39 cm, some further branched, bearing 3 to 14 spikes, peduncled exserted. Spikes androgynous, oblong or ovate-oblong, 12 cm, the staminate part shorter than the pistillate part, nearly densely flowered, sessile or short-peduncled. Pistillate glumes ovate to ovate-elliptic, acute at apex, 2.83 mm, thinly membranous, lightly brown with broad whitish margins, faintly many-nerved, the green 3-nerved costa projecting beyond the glume apex forming a short mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, suberect, fusiform, lanceolate-elliptic, 4.56.5 mm, compressed trigonous, attenuated to both ends, pale-brownish, herbaceous, finely many-nerved, hispidulous on upper half to 2/3, the beak ca. 1 mm, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, rhomboid-elliptic trigonous, 3.54 mm; style thickened at base; stigmas 3.
* Tropical forests; 5001000 m. Taiwan.
No specimens have been seen by the present authors
冻原薹草组 dong yuan tai cao zu
Liang Songyun (梁松筠 Liang Song-jun); Tetsuo Koyama
Rhizome short or stoloniferous. Culms trigonous, smooth, rarely scabrous above. Bracts leaflike or setaceous, usually sheathing or sheath less. Spikes 27(10), terminal spike staminate (sometimes gynaecandrous); laterals pikes pistillate, upper ones contiguous, the lower ones spaced, with slender long peduncles, usually pendent. Pistillate glumes dark purple-red or brown, awned. Utricles membranous, elliptic or narrowly trigonous, usually compressed, yellow-green or brown, hispidulous or glabrous, scabrous on margins, gradually attenuated above to a long beak, orifice hyaline, obliquely truncate or 2-toothed; style thickened or not at base; stigmas 3, rarely 2.
This section divided into two subsection.
1a. Utricles glabrous; terminal spike gynaecandrous or
staminate
1.
subsect. Fuliginosae
1b. Utricles hispidulous, at
least scabrous on margins; terminal spikes staminate
2.
subsect. Ferrugineae
黑色薹草亚组 hei se tai cao ya zu
Spikes 37(13), terminal spike gynaecandrous or staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, nearly clavate-oblong or cylindrical, ovate, densely flowered, all and lower spikes with long peduncles, usually pendent, rarely sessile. Bracts short bladed, sheathing or sheath less. Pistillate glumes dark brown. Utricles glabrous; stigmas 3.
About 20 species; 14 species in China.
1a. Terminal or all spikes gynaecandrous.
2a. All spikes gynaecandrous; pistillate glumes lanceolate, long acuminate at apex, much longer than the utricle .......................................................................................................... 175. C. atrofuscoides
2b. Terminal 1 or 12 spikes gynaecandrous.
3a. Plants without creeping rhizomes; terminal spike gynaecandrous; utricles gramineous, green on margins 176. C. viridimarginata
3b. Plants with creeping rhizomes.
4a. Upper 12 spikes gynaecandrous; remainder ones pistillate; utricles dark purple-red, abruptly contracted above to a short beak ............................................................ 177. C. nivallis
4b. Terminal spike gynaecandrous or merely staminate;
remainder ones pistillate; utricles yellow-green, abruptly contracted above to
a long beak
...................................................................................................... 178.
C. psychrophila
1b. Terminal spike staminate.
5a. Bracts sheath less; rhizome creeping; stigmas 2 ....................................... 179. C. neodigyna
5b. Bracts sheathing.
6a. Rhizome not creeping; plants without creeping rhizomes.
7a. Leaves blades 34 mm wide; utricles narrowly lanceolate, scabrous on upper margins 180. C. cruenta
7b. Leaves blades 12.5 mm wide; utricles oblong.
8a. Spikes 713 ................................................................................ 181. C. gonggaensis
8b. Spikes 46.
9a. Terminal spike staminate; pistillate glumes elliptic,
obtuse at apex
...................................................................................................... 182.
C. nakaoana
9b. Terminal 2 or 3 spikes staminate; pistillate glumes broadly ovate, acuminate at apex 183. C. kwangtonshanica
6b. Rhizomes creeping. plants with creeping rhizomes.
10a. Leaves blades 1 mm wide, involute at apex.
11a. Lateral pistillate spikes sessile; utricles abruptly contracted above to a long beak 170. C. mucronatiformis
11b. Lateral pistillate spikes with peduncles, slender, slightly pendent; utricles abruptly contracted above to a short beak or beakless ......................................................... 171. C. montis-everestii
10b. Leaves blades 23 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex.
12a. Utricles broadly elliptic, with rather broadly light-green to yellowish green-margins 172. C. coriophora
12b. Utricles without light-green to yellowish green-margins.
13a. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 45 mm, acute at apex 173. C. atrofusca
13b. Pistillate glumes elliptic, 33.5 mm, obtuse at apex ..................... 174. C. qinghaiensis
类短尖薹草 lei duan jian tai cao
Rhizome long creeping. Culms 1020 cm tall, slender, smooth, clothed at base with pale-brown sheaths, eventually disintegrating reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter than the culms, blades linear, ca. 1 mm wide, papery, involute, green, slightly firm, acuminate at apex. Lower part bracts setaceous, upper glumaceous. Spikes 23, approximate; terminal spike staminate, clavate, 11.5 cm, with a short peduncle; lateral spikes pistillate or with several staminate flowers at apex, ovate, 610 mm, sessile. Pistillate glumes oblong-lanceolate, ca. 4 mm, brown, with pale-hyaline margins, the green 1-nerved costa forming a mucro at the glume apex. Utricles ovate-trigonous, 44.5 mm, yellow-green below, red-brown above, glabrous, faintly nerved, contracted at short-stipitate base, abruptly contracted above to a long beak, at orifice white-hyaline, obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes tightly enveloped, ovate-trigonous, chestnut-colored, 2 mm; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3.
* Alpine meadows, sandy; 20003900 m. Gansu, Qinghai.
窄叶薹草 zhai ye tai cao
Rhizome woody, stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 5(2)15 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple-red sheaths. Leaves linear, shorter than the culm, blades ca. 1 mm wide, pale-green, involute, minutely dentate on margins, curved at apex. Lower bracts setaceous, upper glumaceous. Spikes usually 2, rarely 34, approximate, terminal spike staminate, occasionally with 12 pistillate flowers at base, oblong, ca. 10 Χ 3 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or ovate, 1015 Χ 610 mm, densely many-flowered; with slender peduncles, smooth. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, 56.5 mm, lustrous, dark purple-red with broadly white-hyaline margins. the green 1-nerved costa forming a mucro at glume apex. Utricles subequaling the glume, elliptic or ovate, compressed, ca. 5 Χ 2.5 mm, faintly nerved, pale-green below, dark purple-red above, glabrous, slightly scabrous on upper margins, subrounded at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak or beakless, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic, ca. 1.2 mm, short-stipitate ca. 0.5 mm; style 3 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
* Slopes, flood land, thickets, meadows or grasslands; 40005500 m. Xizang.
扁囊薹草 bian nang tai cao
Carex atrofusca Schkuhr var. coriophora (Fischer) Kukenthal.
Rhizome short stoloniferous. Culms 5070 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with pale-brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves linear, shorter than the culm, ca. 1/3 in length of the culm, blades 35 mm wide, flat, pale-green, firm, scabrous on upper margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing, spikes 35, upper spikes 12 staminate, oblong, 1015 Χ 34 mm; remainder spikes pistillate, elliptic or oblong, 1017 Χ 510 mm, densely many-flowered, with slender, smooth peduncles 24 cm. Pistillate glumes oblong or oblong-ovate, acute at apex, 44.2 Χ ca. 2 mm, pale-ferruginous below, purple-brownish above, with a green midrib, narrowly white-hyaline on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, broadly elliptic, much compressed-trigonous 4.85.2 Χ ca. 3 mm, yellowish brown with pale-green on margins, glabrous, faintly nerved, sometimes with minutely dentate on upper margins, nearly rounded at both ends, abruptly contracted above to a short, narrowly cylindrical beak, at orifice pale-hyaline 2-toothed. Achenes much loosely enveloped, ca. 1.5 mm, yellowish, stipitate 1 mm at base; style slender, erect, not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
Wet grasslands on river banks, boggy meadows, slopes; 7003500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi, [Mongolia; Russia (Siberia)].
1a. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-oblong, acute at apex ............................. 172a. subsp. coriophora
1b. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at apex ..................... 172b. subsp. langtaodianensis
扁囊薹草(原亚种) bian nang tai cao (yuan ya zhong)
Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, acute at apex.
Wet grasslands on river banks, boggy meadows. slopes; 7003500 m. Gansu, Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi [Mongolia; Russia (Siberia)].
浪淘殿薹草 lang tao dian tai cao
Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at apex.
* Marshes, 3000 m. Gansu (Minxian, Langtaodian).
黑褐穗薹草 hei he sui tai cao
Carex atrofusca Schkuhr var. angustifructus & minor (Boott) Kukenthal; C. oxyleuca V. Kreczetovicz; C. ustulata Wahlenberg var. minor Boott.
Rhizome long-creeping. Culms 1070 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed with brown sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than the culm, 1/71/5 in length of the culm, (2)35 mm wide, flat, slightly stiff, pale-green, acuminate at apex. The lowest bract leafy, green, shorter than the spike, sheathing, upper glumaceous, dark purple-red. Spikes 25, upper 12 spikes staminate, oblong or ovate, 715 Χ ca. 6 mm, densely many-flowered; with pendent slender peduncles 0.52.5 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate or oblong lanceolate, 4.55 mm, dark purple-red, with a light midrib, narrowly white-hyaline on margins, long acuminate at apex. Utricles longer than the glume, oblong or elliptic, 4555 Χ 2.52.8 mm, compressed, dark purple above, stramineous, nerveless, glabrous, nearly rounded at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, the orifice white-hyaline, 2-toothed. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong, compressed-trigonous 1.51.8 mm, stipitate 0.51 mm at base; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
Alpine and subalpine meadows in thickets; 20005200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal, Kashmir, C Asia, Afghanistan].
青海薹草 qing hai tai cao
Rhizome long-creeping. Culms 3040 cm tall, trigonous, slightly scabrous, clothed at base with dark chestnut-colored. Leaves shorter than the culm, half in length of the culm, blades linear, 24 mm wide, flat, slightly stiff, scabrous on margins. Bracts reduced to short-bladed shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing. Spikes 34, oblong, upper 12 spikes staminate, 11.5 cm; with short peduncles or subsessile, lower 2 ones pistillate, with slender long-peduncles, pendent. Pistillate glumes elliptic, 33.5 mm, dark purple, obtuse at apex. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, ca. 4 mm, compressed, dark purple-red, membranous, glabrous, contracted at base, abruptly contracted above to a short beak. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong, ca. 1 mm wide, stipitate ca. 0.5 mm; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Thickets; 30003400 m. Qinghai (Tongren).
类黑褐穗薹草 lei hei he sui tai cao
Rhizome short, oblique. Culms 2030 cm tall, trigonous, smooth, clothed with brown sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than the culm, 1/2 in length of the culm, blades linear, 24 mm wide, flat, pale-greenish, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Lower bracts reduced to short-bladed or setaceous. longer or shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing 4 mm, purple, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 23 entirely gynaecandrous, ovate or elliptic, 11.5 Χ 0.81.2 cm; with slender peduncles, pendent. Pistillate glumes lanceolate, 5.56 Χ 1.2 mm, dark purple-red, 1-nerved, narrowly white-hyaline on upper margins, long-acuminate at apex. Utricles shorter than the glume, ovate-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 4 mm, stramineous at base, upper dark purple-brown, membranous, glabrous, nerveless, cuneate at base, gradually narrowed above to a short beak, the orifice smooth, white-hyaline, emarginate. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic, obtusely trigonous, ca. 1.5 mm, pale-brown, at short-stipitate 0.5 mm base; style enclosed in the utricle, erect, scabrous at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulAug.
* Alpine meadows in thickets or Alpine meadows; 10004700 m. Qinghai, Shaanxi, W Sichuan, Xizang.
绿边薹草 lu bian tai tai cao
Culms 1520 cm tall, slender, trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple-red sheaths, slightly disintegrating into fibers. Leaves nearly equaling the culm, blades linear, ca. 2 mm wide. The lowest bracts leaflike, sheath less, shorter than the inflorescence, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 34, slightly approximate, terminal spikes gynaecandrous, obovate-lanceolate, 1.31.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 812 mm, ca. 3 mm wide, densely many-flowered; the lowest spike with short-peduncle; remainder sessile. Pistillate glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, dark brown, white-hyaline on margins, the green 3-nerved costa projecting beyond the glume apex forming a short mucro. Utricles subequaling or slightly longer than the glume, elliptic, trigonous, 33.5 mm, membranous, stramineous, green on margins, finely nerved, glabrous, cuneate base, abruptly contracted above to a conical beak, slightly scabrous on margins, the orifice brown, 2-toothed. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, ca. 2 mm; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Alpine grasslands; 2500 m. Shanxi.
喜马拉雅薹草 xi ma la ya tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 2040 cm tall, trigonous, clothed with brown-purple sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades broadly linear, 67 mm wide, flat, acuminate at apex. Lower bracts leaflike, gradually attenuated above to a long cuspidate, short-sheathing, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 35, subfastigiate, 23.5 cm, clavate-cylindrical, dark purple-red, upper 12 gynaecandrous or staminate, sessile; remainder spikes pistillate, with slender peduncles, the lowest one sometimes remote. Pistillate glumes lanceolate or oblong, 45 mm, dark purple-red, the green 1-nerved costa forming a mucro or not at the glume apex. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic or ovate, compressed-trigonous, 56 mm, dark purple-red, pale base, papery, glabrous, nerveless, slightly scabrous on upper margins, rounded at base, with much short stipitate, abruptly contracted above to a short beak, the orifice hyaline, obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong or elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm, long-stipitate at base; style enclosed in the utricle, not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Grassland in picea forests, alpine grassland in thickets; 30005200 m. W Sichuan, W Xizang, NW Yunnan. [Afghanistan, Nepal, Kashmir, Sikkim, Turkistan].
黄绿薹草 huang lu tai cao
Rhizome stoloniferous. Culms 3060 cm tall, slender, acutely trigonous, scabrous above, pendent, clothed with purple-red bladeless sheaths at base, disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves subequaling the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins. Lower bracts leaflike, sheath less. Spikes 35, oblong-cylindrical, 1020 Χ ca. 6 mm, densely many-flowered upper ones approximate, subsessile, the lowest one remote, with long-peduncle; terminal spike gynaecandrous or merely staminate, clavate; lateral spikes pistillate. Pistillate glumes lanceolate-ovate, dark purple-red, the 1-nerved costa excurrent in a long awn. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, trigonous, 3.54 mm, nearly erect, stramineous-green, membranous, densely punctate, many-nerved, glabrous, gradually narrowed at base, abruptly contracted above into a slender, curved, slightly scabrous long beak, the orifice purple-red, 2-toothed. Achenes ovate, short-stipitate; style tortuous at base, not thickened; stigmas 3.
Slopes; 30003700 m. Sichuan [Kashmir, Sikkim].
No specimens have been seen by the present authors.
双柱薹草 shuang zhu tai cai
Rhizome short, stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 813 cm tall, rigid, clothed with brown bladeless sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 34 mm wide, flat, stiff. Bracts reduced to short-bladed, sheath less. Spikes 45, the lowest one nearly radical, upper 13 spikes staminate; remainder pistillate, ovate, 11.5 Χ 0.60.7 cm, densely many-flowered, with short peduncles. Pistillate glumes oblong, 46 mm, brown, white-hyaline on margins, glabrous, the green 1-nerved costa excurrent in a mucro at glume apex. Utricles equaling the glume, oblong, pale below, brown above, slightly compressed, papery, glabrous, faintly nerved, hispid on margins, contracted to a short-stipitate base, gradually attenuated above to a obliquely truncate long beak, 2-toothed. Achenes subrounded, ca. 2 mm; style puberulent, not thickened at base; stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
* Alpine thickets and meadows; 39004100 m. Sichuan.
狭囊薹草 xia nang tai cao
Rhizome creeping. Culms 2075 cm tall, erect, acutely trigonous, slender, slightly pendent, clothed with brown sheaths at base. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 34 mm wide, flat. Lower bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, long-sheathing, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 47, upper 13 staminate or mixed pistillate and staminate, sometimes gynaecandrous; remainder spikes pistillate, oblong, 1.53 cm, densely many-flowered, with slender peduncles 27 cm, pendent. Pistillate glumes ovate or lanceolate, acuminate at apex, ca. 4 mm, dark-sanguineous, stramineous midrib. Utricles longer than the glume, narrowly lanceolate, Achenes narrowly elliptic, with long stipitate; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Picea forests, alpine meadows in thickets, grasslands; 30005600 m. W Sichuan, Xizang (Ya dong), [Nepal, Pakistan, Kashmir, Sikkim].
贡嘎薹草 gong ga tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 2535 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, rigid, smooth, clothed at base with brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 12 mm wide, flat, soft. Lower bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing, upper ones glumaceous. Spikes 713, upper ones fastigiate, with short-peduncles, lower spikes slightly spaced, with long-peduncles, sometimes the lowest one nearly radical and distant, 2030 Χ 1.52 mm, terminal spike staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, erect, densely many-flowered at base, upper part slightly sparse. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, 1.82.5 mm, the green 1-nerved costa scabrous excurrent in a mucro at glume apex. Utricles narrowly oblong, compressed-trigonous, 44.8 mm, stramineous-green, several nerved. glabrous, gradually narrowed to both ends, the orifice white-hyaline, obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes narrowly oblong, long-stipitate at base; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
* Grassy slopes, moist place in riversides; 20003400 m. Sichuan (Gongga Shan).
钝鳞薹草 dun lin tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms densely tufted, 2535 cm tall, smooth, clothed at base with brown sheaths, disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, ca. 2.5 mm wide, flat, acute at apex. Lower bracts leaflike, shorter than or subequaling the inflorescence, long-sheathing. Spikes 45, terminal spike staminate, oblong, 1.21.5 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong, 1.52 cm, loosely flowered, lower ones with peduncles. Pistillate glumes elliptic, ca. 2.5 mm, dark castaneous with purple, glabrous or hispid on midrib adaxially. Utricles longer than the glume, narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 2.53 mm, much short-stipitate at base, gradually narrowed above to a beak, ciliate on margins only. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Aug.
Gravelly slopes, thickets; 40005000 m. Xizang [Nepal, Sikkim].
光头山薹草 guang tou shan tai cao
Rhizome short. Culms tufted, 1020 cm tall, slender, compressed-trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with purple-red, bladeless sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades 11.5 mm wide, flat, scabrous on margins. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing. Spikes 45, upper 23 staminate, approximate, linear-cylindrical, 812 mm, sessile; remainder 23 spike pistillate, distant, narrowly cylindrical, 812 mm, 57-flowered, with slender slightly scabrous peduncles. Pistillate glumes broadly ovate, sub acuminate at apex, ferruginenous, narrowly whith-hyaline on margins. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic, trigonous, suberect, ca. 4 mm, castaneous, lustrous, glabrous, nerveless, contracted at base, gradually attenuated above to a scabrous long beak, 2-toothed. Achenes tightly enveloped, elliptic, obtusely trigonous, ca. 2.2 mm, pale; style not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl and fr. MayJul.
* Crevices of rocks on mountain top; ca. 2700 m. Shaanxi (Huxian).
锈色薹草亚组 xiu se tai cao ya zu
Culms slender. Bracts leaflike, sheathing. Spikes 39(12), upper 13 staminate; remainder spike pistillate, ovate, or cylindrical, lower ones with long-peduncles, usually pendent. Pistillate glumes brown or purple-red. Utricles hispid, scabrous on margins, finely nerved or nerveless; stigmas 3.
About 38 species; 24 species 2 subspecies 3 variety in China.
1a. Stigmas 2, rarely 3.
2a. Pistillate glumes red-brown, with much narrowly white-hyaline on margins; utricles red brown above, pale stramineous below ................................................................................ 184. C. przewalskii
2b. Pistillate glumes pale-brown, broadly white-hyaline on margins; utricles stramineous-green 185. C. yajiangensis
1b. Stigmas 3.
3a. Utricles 2 mm .................................................................................... 186. C. limprichtiana
3b. Utricles 3.57 mm.
4a. Rhizome stoloniferous.
5a. Pistillate spikes densely many-flowered.
6a. Pistillate glumes obovate, ciliate on upper margins,
terminal spike staminate, with a long-peduncle, remote by the next lateral
spike
187.
C. chrysolepis
6b. Pistillate glumes ovate-oblong, not ciliate on upper
margins; terminal spike staminate, with short peduncle, nearly by the next
lateral spike
188.
C. drepanorhyncha
5b. Pistillate spikes loosely flowered.
7a. All spikes androgynous, narrowly cylindrical ................................. 189. C. karlongensis
7b. Terminal spike staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, narrowly oblong.
8a. Utricles glabrous; pistillate spikes oblong, 1020 Χ 58 mm ............ 190. C. tatsiensis
8b. Utricles densely hispid; pistillate spikes narrowly cylindrical, 2545 Χ ca. 5 mm 191. C. brachyathera
4b. Rhizome without stolons.
9a. Utricles trigonous.
10a. Leaves longer than the culm, with purple-red sheaths at base; peduncles 39 cm; utricles oblong-lanceolate .............................................................................. 192. C. purpureovagina
10b. Leaves shorter than the culm, with dark brown sheaths at base.
11a. Peduncles 1521 cm; utricles obovate-oblong, 4.24.5 mm ......... 193. C. ridongensis
11b. Peduncles 2.55.5(13) cm; utricles narrowly elliptic, ca. 4 mm ............. 194. C. setosa
9b. Utricles compressed-trigonous.
12a. Utricles with green or pale-green margins.
13a. Plants slender, 1020 cm tall; leaves blades ca. 1 mm wide .......... 195. C. hirtelloides
13b. Plants slightly stiff, 2545 cm tall; leaves blades
1.53 mm wide
.............................................................................................. 196.
C. haematostoma
12b. Utricles without green or pale-green margins.
14a. Pistillate glumes with ciliate on upper margins.
15a. Utricles with curved beak ................................................... 197. C. fulvo-rubescens
15b. Utricles with short-beak .......................................................... 198. C. makinoensis
14b. Pistillate glumes not ciliate on upper margins.
16a. Utricles with short beak or beakless.
17a. Utricles hispid on upper.
18a. Upper 24 spikes staminate; style scabrous ......................... 203. C. heshuoensis
18b. Upper 711 spikes staminate; style glabrous .................... 204. C. graminiculmis
17b. Utricles wholly hispid.
19a. Terminal spike gynaecandrous or staminate; lateral spikes on upper 12 subsessile, nearly the terminal spike ...................................................................... 206. C. siroumensis
19b. Terminal spike staminate or few pistillate flowered at base; lateral pistillate spikes with peduncles, spaced ............................................................. 207. C. cranaocarpa
16b. Utricles with long-beak.
20a. Style scabrous or pubescent.
21a. Basal sheaths disintegrating into reticulate fibers; utricles oblong-elliptic with erect long-beak; style scabrous ............................................................................. 205. C. hirtella
21b. Basal sheaths disintegrating into parallel fibers;
utricles lanceolate-trigonous with curved very long-beak; style pubescent
............................................................................................ 200.
C. scabriostris
20b. Style glabrous.
22a. Pistillate spikes sessile, erect; leaves blades plicate,
ca. 1 mm wide
........................................................................................ 201.
C. kunlunsannsis
22b. Pistillate spikes with peduncles 36 mm, pendent; leaves flat, 36 mm wide.
23a. Spikes 58; pistillate spikes narrow linear .............................. 202. C. regeliana
23b. Spikes 35; pistillate spikes ovate, oblong-obovate ............. 199. C. stenocarpa
红棕薹草 hong zong tai cao
Carex haematostoma Nees var. digyne Kukenthal; C. przewalskii Egorova var. ramosa Y. C. Yang.
Rhizome short, creeping. Culms tufted, 1545 cm tall, erect, trigonous, clothed at base with brown sheaths, eventually disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than or equaling the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, flat, long acuminate at apex. The lowest bract short-bladed shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing, 410 mm. Spikes 37, approximate, 15 spikes staminate on upper, cylindrical, 720 mm; remainder ones pistillate, sometimes staminate flowered at apex, oblong or ovate-elliptic, 1020 mm, densely many-flowered, with short peduncles. Pistillate glumes oblong-ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 3.55 mm, red-brown, narrowly white-hyaline on margins, acute. Utricles longer than the glume, elliptic-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 46 mm, membranous, red-brown above, stramineous-yellow below, gradually attenuated above to a beak, the orifice white-hyaline, emarginate. Achenes loosely enveloped, elliptic or broadly ovate, compressed-trigonous, ca. 2 mm, stipitate ca. 1 mm; style pubescent, stigmas 2, rarely 3. Fl. and fr. JunSep.
* Alpine meadows, subalpine thickets, grasslands; 20004500 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan.
雅江薹草 ya jiang tai cao
Rhizome short, woody. Culms 4050 cm tall, smooth, clothed at base with yellow-brown sheaths. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 12 mm wide, flat, gray-green, slightly soft, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing. Spikes 47, upper 23 ones staminate, 1012 mm; remainder spikes pistillate, sometimes few spikes with staminate flowers at apex, cylindrical, 12 cm, many-flowered, with peduncles 520 mm. Pistillate glumes ovate, acute, 33.2 mm, yellow-brown, broadly white-hyaline on margins, 1-nerved, hispid. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate, trigonous, 3.54.4 mm, stramineous-greenish, membranous, faintly nerved, hispid, short stipitate at base, gradually attenuated above to a beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes oblong, ca. 2.5 mm, yellow-brown, short stipitate, ca. 0.5 mm; style ca. 1.5 mm, pubescent, not thickened at base; stigmas 2.
* Sichuan.
小果囊薹草 xiao guo nang tai cao
Rhizome with slender, rigid stolons. Culms 814 cm tall, slender, trigonous, slightly scabrous, clothed at base with sheaths, disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, ca. 1 mm wide, pale-green, revolute on margins. Bracts reduced to short-bladed, the lowest one equaling the inflorescence, short-sheathing. Spikes 3, approximate, sessile; terminal spike gynaecandrous, subclavate, ca. 8 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, oblong or ovate, densely many-flowered but loosely at base. Pistillate glumes ovate, acute at apex, brown, narrowly white-hyaline on margins, the 1-nerved costa excurrent to a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, obliquely patent, ca. 2 mm, membranous, stramineous-ferruginous, faintly nerved, contracted at base, abruptly contracted above to a smooth long beak, 2-toothed at orifice; stigmas 3.
* 3500 m. Sichuan.
黄花薹草 huang hua tai cao
Carex chrysolepis Franchet & Savatier var. odentostoma (Kukenthal) Ohwi; C. gokwanensis Hayata; C. odentostoma Kukenthal.
Rhizome short, stolons elongated. Culms sub loosely tufted, 1035 cm tall, slender, erect or ± curved, subsmooth, clothed at base with yellow-brown to dark brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 1.53 mm wide, flattish or slightly curved. Lower bracts with sheaths 11.5 cm, the lowest with a setaceous blade, upper bracts glumaceous. Spikes 25, the upper ones close together, the lower 2 or 3 somewhat distant, erect, with long peduncles; terminal spike staminate, linear-clavate, 1030 Χ ca. 5 mm; lateral spikes pistillate, linear cylindrical, 13 Χ 0.50.8 cm, sub loosely to sub densely many-flowered, mostly with short peduncles that are enclosed in the bract sheaths. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate or obovate, acute, ciliate on rounded-truncate at apex, reddish or purplish brown, somewhat shiny, the green costa 1-nerved ending in a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, erect to erect-patent, ovate-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 47 mm, faintly nerved, stained with reddish brown above, wholly pubescent, sub densely hispidulous on both edges, beak rather long, deeply lobed at orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, elliptic-oblong; style beaklike, thickened at base; stigmas 3.
Rather dry grasslands in forests. Taiwan [Japan].
镰喙薹草 lian hui tai cao
Rhizome woody, rigid, stoloniferous. Culms tufted, 2045 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with dark brown sheaths, eventually disintegrating into reticulate fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 35 mm wide, flat, slightly rigid, pale-green, scabrous on margins. Bracts reduced to short-bladed, sheathing 815 mm, the lowest one setaceous. Spikes 45, terminal spike staminate, larger, 35 Χ 0.30.5 cm, clavate with short peduncle; lateral spikes pistillate, distant, narrowly cylindrical, 2?? Χ 0.40.5 cm, densely many-flowered, sub loosely at base. Pistillate glumes obovate-oblong, ca. 3.5 mm, red-brown, narrowly white-hyaline on margins, the 1-nerved costa ending a mucro in truncate or emarginate glume apex. Utricles longer than the glume, ovate or narrowly elliptic, trigonous, 4.24.5 mm, yellow-green with ferruginous, membranous, densely hispid, gradually attenuated to stipitate ca. 1 mm at base, abruptly contracted above to a beak 1.21.8 mm, the orifice obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes tightly enveloped, ovate, trigonous, pale-brown, 1.52 mm; style slightly thickened at base; stigmas 3.
* Forests, Alpine thickets, meadows or roadsides; 20004200 m. W Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
卡郎薹草 ka lang tai cao
Rhizome long-creeping. Culms 2025 cm tall, slender, compressed-trigonous, smooth, basal sheaths pale-brown. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 1.52 mm wide, flat, scabrous abaxially, smooth adaxially, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing 0.53 mm. Spikes 3, slightly spaced, androgynous, narrowly cylindrical, 2.53 cm, staminate part linear, densely many-flowered equaling or slightly longer than the pistillate part. pistillate part loosely many-flowered, with slender peduncles 13 cm, the lowest peduncle 3.510.5 cm, scabrous. Pistillate glumes ovate or ovate-oblong, acute at apex, 2.83 mm, pale-brown, broadly whith-hyaline on margins, the green 1-nerved costa forming a mucro at glume apex. Utricles equaling the glume, obovate, trigonous, 33.5 mm, nerveless except for 2 costas on edges, pubescent, especially on upper, flavo-green or olivaceous-green, cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a beak ca. 1 mm, the orifice white-hyaline, obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes tightly enveloped, obovate, trigonous, ca. 2 mm, brown, short stipitate at base, ca. 0.5 m; style erect, not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunAug.
* Flood lands. Alpine meadows; 30004000 m. W Sichuan.
打箭薹草 da jian tai cao
Carex ferruginea Scopoli var. tatsiensis Franchet.
Rhizome with long stolons. Culms 1530 cm tall, slender, acutely trigonous, smooth, basal sheaths purple-brown. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 12 mm wide, flat, rarely plicate, pale-green, soft, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing 0.71.5 cm, purple-brown above. Spikes 35, terminal spike staminate, linear, 12 cm; remainder spikes pistillate, distant, rarely several staminate flowered at apex, oblong, 12 Χ 0.50.8 cm, loosely flowered, with slender scabrous peduncles. Pistillate glumes ovate-lanceolate or oblong, acute at apex, 3.54 mm, brown or castaneous, broadly white-hyaline on margins, the 1-nerved costa forming a mucro. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, obliquely patent at maturity, ovate-elliptic, obtusely trigonous, 55.5 mm, membranous, glabrous, ferruginous, nerveless except for 2 costas on edges, slightly lustrous, cuneate at base, abruptly contracted above to a scabrous beak 23 mm, the orifice obliquely truncate, 2-toothed. Achenes tightly enveloped, ovate-elliptic, trigonous, 2.83.2 mm, pale-brown or pale-brown, stipitate ca. 1 mm; style erect, not thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Alpine meadows, shaded and moist grassland in forest slopes; 30004000 m. Gansu, Qinghai, W Sichuan.
垂穗薹草 chui sui tai cao
Rhizome woody, rather thick, usually stoloniferous. Culms loosely tufted, 3060 cm tall, slender, trigonous, scabrous above, clothed at base with brown or dark brown sheaths, ± disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 1.52.5 mm wide, slightly stiff, flattish or flattish plicate. The lowest bract leaflike, shorter than the spike, sheathing 35 cm, upper ones setaceous. Spikes 35, upper spikes contiguous to closely contiguous, suberect, the lowest one much remote and pendent on long-exserted, with filiform peduncle; terminal spike staminate or rarely bearing a few pistillate flowers at base, clavate to linear-clavate, 23 cm; lateral spikes pistillate, narrowly cylindrical, 2.54.5 Χ ca. 0.5 cm, sub laxly many-flowered, peduncles exserted, filiform. Pistillate glumes oblong, truncate or shallowly emarginate at cuspidate apex, thinly herbaceous, deeply chestnut-brown with pale upper margin, greenish 1-nerved costa projecting beyond the glume apex forming a straight scabrous awn 1 mm. Utricles slightly longer than the glume, erect, ovate-fusiform, trigonous, 4.55 mm, gradually attenuated at both ends, short-stipitate at base, membranous, nearly nerveless except for two costas on edges, densely hirsute except at very base, the beak rather long, 2-toothed at obliquely truncate orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, ovate-elliptic, compressed-trigonous, 22.5 mm, including short stipitate; style thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul.
* Sandy grasslands at high altitudes. Taiwan.
紫红鞘薹草 zi hong qiao tai cao
Rhizome oblique, woody. Culms tufted, 2528 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, smooth, basal sheaths purplered, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves longer than the culm, blades linear, 2.5 mm wide, greenish, scabrous on margins, long acuminate at apex. Bracts reduced to short-bladed, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing 1.52 cm. Spikes 3, distant, terminal spike staminate, linear, 4850 Χ 1.52.5 mm, densely many-flowered; lateral spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 2.83.2 Χ 0.304 cm, slightly densely many-flowered, with peduncles 39 cm. Pistillate glumes ovate or broadly oblong, acute at apex, 3.33.5 mm, brown, white-hyaline on margins, the green 1-nerved costa forming to a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, oblong lanceolate, trigonous, 3.54 mm, stramineous, nerves slightly conspicuous, hirsute, contracted on both ends, short-stipitate at base, beak 11.3 mm, hispidulous on both edges, shallowly 2-lobed at obliquely truncate orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, elliptic, trigonous, 22.2 mm; style erect conspicuous thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. AprMay.
* Shaded in valleys, rocky in laxly forests; 10001700 m. Guangxi.
日东薹草 ri dong tai cao
Rhizome woody, oblique. Culms tufted, 7080 cm tall, slender, basal sheaths dark brown, bladeless. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 23 mm wide, flat, scabrous. Bracts reduced to short-bladed, long-sheathing. Spikes 4, distant, cylindrical, 3.54 Χ 0.30.4 cm; terminal spike staminate; lateral spikes pistillate, slightly densely many-flowered, with peduncles 1521 Χ ?? cm. pendent. Pistillate glumes oblong, 3.23.5 mm, brown, the green 3-nerved costa excurrent to a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, obovate-oblong, trigonous, 4.24.5 mm, hirsute, nerveless except for 2 costas on edges. gradually attenuated to a short-stipitate at base, abruptly contracted above to a brown long beak, the orifice white-hyaline, 2-toothed. Achenes obovate-oblong, ca. 2 mm; style slightly thickened at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Sep.
* Alpine meadows in thickets; 30004000 m. Xizang.
刺毛薹草 ci mao tai cao
Carex pachyrrhiza Franchet.
Rhizome elongated, oblique. Culms 1545 cm tall, slender, obtusely trigonous, smooth, clothed at base with brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 24 mm wide, slightly stiff, greenish, scabrous on margins. Bracts setaceous, sheathing 12 cm or spathaceous. Spikes 37, terminal spike staminate, cylindrical, 34 Χ ca. 0.4 cm; slightly laxly flowered, with slender peduncles 2.55.5(13) cm, scabrous above. Pistillate glumes oblong, 33.5 mm, subrounded or emarginate at apex, ferruginous, much narrowly white-hyaline on margins, scabrous adaxially, the green 1-nerved costa excurrent in a short mucro. Utricles equaling the glume, narrowly elliptic, trigonous, ca. 4 mm, stramineous-green or ferruginous above, hirsute, ferruginate-punctate or not, gradually attenuated to a short-stipitate at base, abruptly contracted above to a beak, 2-toothed at obliquely truncate orifice. Achenes tightly enveloped, oblong or obovate, trigonous, 2.53 mm, stramineous, short-stipitate at base; style erect, slightly thickened or not at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JunJul.
Subalpine meadow in thickets; 20003700 m. Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Kashmir, Nepal].
1a. Utricles ferruginous-punctate ................................................................... 194b. var. punctata
1b. Utricles not ferruginous-punctate.
2a. Bracts setaceous ....................................................................................... 194a. var. setosa
2b. Bracts spathaceous .......................................................................... 194c. var. mianxianica
刺毛薹草(原变种) ci mao tai cao (yuan bian zhong)
Utricles not ferruginous-punctate.
Subalpine meadow in thickets; 20003700 m. Gansu, Guizhou, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Kashmir, Nepal].
锈点薹草 xiu dian tai cao
Utricles ferruginous-punctate.
* Grassy land at top of mountains. Guangxi, Sichuan.
沔县薹草 mian xian tai cao
Bracts spathaceous. Utricles not ferruginous-punctate, rhizome short.
* Sandy in stream sides of hill. SW Shaanxi (Mianxian).
流石薹草 liu shi tai cao
Carex haematostoma Nees var. hirtelloides Kukenthal, Fedde, Repert. Beib. 12: 311. 1922.
Rhizome short, woody. Culms 1025 cm tall, slender, smooth, often pendent, clothed at base with brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades finely linear, ca. 1 mm wide, slightly weakly, curved. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, sheathing. Spikes 36, terminal spike staminate, 812 Χ 0.20.3 cm, oblong, the upper spikes with short peduncles, the lowest spike with a long peduncle, remote. Pistillate glumes ovate, acute at apex, 2.63 mm, 1/22/3 in length of utricle, dark purple-red, much narrowly white-hyaline on margins, the green 3-nerved costa forming a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, compressed-trigonous, 4.24.5 mm, gray-green, membranous, hirsute, faintly nerves, short-stipitate at base, gradually attenuated above to a beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes oblong, ca. 2.2 mm, brown, short-stipitate ca. 0.5 mm at base; style slightly scabrous, hirsute at base; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. JulSep.
* Slopes; 30004900 m. W Sichuan, NW Yunnan.
红嘴薹草 hong zui tai cao
Rhizome woody. Culms tufted, 2570 cm tall, smooth, clothed at base with pale-brown sheaths, disintegrating into fibers. Leaves shorter than the culm, blades linear, 1.53 mm wide, flattish, slightly revolute, gray-green, scabrous on margins, acuminate at apex. Bracts leaflike, shorter than the inflorescence, short-sheathing. Spikes 48, upper 24 staminate, approximate, subclavate-cylindrical 1.41.8 cm; remainder spikes pistillate, cylindrical, 13 cm, lower 12 ones distant, sometimes the lowest one branched, densely many-flowered; with peduncles 28 cm, scabrous. Pistillate glumes oblong, 2.53.5 mm, dark brown or dark purple-red, much narrowly white-hyaline on margins, the green 1-nerved costa scabrous excurrent in a mucro. Utricles longer than the glume, oblong-elliptic, compressed-trigonous, 45 mm, dark brown above, pale below, green or pale on margins, membranous, faintly nerved, densely hirsute, gradually attenuated above to a short beak, 2-toothed at orifice. Achenes loosely enveloped, oblong-trigonous, sub compress