Carex hirtifolia

Carex hirtifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Subgenus:	Carex subg. Carex
Section:	Carex sect. Hirtifoliae Reznicek
Species:	C. hirtifolia
Binomial name
Carex hirtifolia Mack.
Synonyms
Carex pubescens Muhl. ex Willd., non Poir.

Carex hirtifolia, the pubescent sedge, is a species of sedge native to northeastern North America. It is the only species in Carex section Hirtifoliae.^[1][2][3] The entire plant is distinctively covered soft hairs.^[4]

Description

Plants of C. hirtifolia are shortly rhizomatous, forming loose tufts.^[3] The leaves are M-shaped in cross-section,^[3] and no more than 8 millimetres (0.3 in) wide.^[4] The inflorescences comprise 2–5 spikes, the last of which is staminate (male), the others being pistillate (female) and born on stalks less than 10 mm (0.4 in) long.^[3] The utricles are less than 10 mm (0.39 in) long, with a beak 0.7–1.5 mm (0.03–0.06 in) long.^[3]

References

1. "PLANTS Profile: Carex hirtifolia Mack., pubescent sedge".
2. Edward W. Chester (2009). A Fifth Checklist of Tennessee Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. ISBN 9781889878263.
3. Peter W. Ball. "Carex Linnaeus section Hirtifoliae Reznicek, Novon. 11: 458. 2001". Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Flora of North America. Vol. 23. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-515207-4.
4. Andrew L. Hipp (2008). Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges: an Introduction to the Genus Carex (Cyperaceae). University of Wisconsin Press. p. 56. ISBN 9780299225933.