William J. Crins

Carex subsect. Firmiculmes Kükenthal in H. G. A. Engler, Pflanzenr. 20[IV,38]: 93. 1909

Plants cespitose or not, short to long rhizomatous, sometimes inconspicuously rhizomatous. Culms brown or red brown at base. Leaves: basal sheaths fibrous; sheath fronts membranous; blades V-shaped in cross section when young, glabrous. Inflorescence 1 spike; bractless; spike androgynous, with not more than 15 perigynia, lax. Proximal pistillate scales less than 10 mm, apex short- or long-awned. Perigynia ascending, veinless or weakly veined with 2 strong marginal veins, stipitate, narrowly obovate, trigonous in cross section, 4.7–8.4 mm, 2–3 times as long as wide, base tapering, with spongy tissue, apex rounded to beak, glabrous; beak truncate. Stigmas 3. Achenes trigonous, 4–5 mm, almost as large as bodies of perigynia; style deciduous.

Species 3 (3 in the flora): w North America.

The relationships of Carex sect. Firmiculmes are unclear. The absence of bracts and presence of foliaceous pistillate scales are reminiscent of sect. Phyllostachyae Tuckerman ex Kükenthal. The groups differ in numerous other characters. The presence of rachillae suggests that the section is primitive; its phylogenetic position remains unresolved.

Lower Taxa

• Carex geyeri Boott
• Carex multicaulis L. H. Bailey
• Carex tompkinsii J. T. Howell