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197. Carex aquatilis Wahlenberg, Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 24: 165. 1803.
Plants not cespitose. Culms 20–150 cm. Leaves: basal sheaths red-brown or brown; sheaths of proximal leaves glabrous, fronts with indistinct spots, veinless, apex U-shaped; blades usually amphi-stomic, papillose on both surfaces. Inflorescences: proximal bract longer than inflorescence. Spikes: erect; proximal 2–6 spikes pistillate; terminal (1–)2–4 spikes staminate. Pistillate scales red-brown to purple-brown, apex obtuse or acute, awnless. Perigynia ascending, veinless, somewhat flattened, loosely enclosing achenes, ellipsoid or obovoid, dull, apex obtuse or acute, papillose. Achenes not constricted, glossy. 2n = 72–80.
Varieties 4 (4 in the flora): North America, Europe.
Carex aquatilis is circumboreal and variable; four extensively intergrading varieties are recognized in North America. The species is distinguished by amphistomic (epistomic in var. dives) papillose leaves, glabrous sheaths with a concave apex, perigynia that lack veins and are usually brown-spotted on the proximal half, and have glossy achenes.
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| 1 |
Spikes pendent or the terminal erect; proximal peduncle to 11 cm; perigynia ellipsoid; beak purple-brown, 0.3–0.4 mm; culms scabrous on angles. |
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197b var. dives |
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Spikes erect; proximal peduncle not more than 4 cm; perigynia usually obovoid; beak pale or purple-brown, not more than 0.2 mm; culms glabrous or scabrous on angles. |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Pistillate scales pale brown with narrow red-brown margins and broad pale midvein. |
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197c var. substricta |
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Pistillate scales red- or purple-brown and narrow pale midvein. |
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(3) |
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| 3 (2) |
Perigynia pale brown; staminate spikes usually 2–4. |
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197a var. aquatilis |
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Perigynia purple-brown on apical 1/2; staminate spikes usually 1–2. |
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197d var. minor |
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Lower Taxa
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