Carex elongata

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Carex elongata
In Poland
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Carex
Species:
C. elongata
Binomial name
Carex elongata
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Carex divergens Thuill.
    • Carex gebhardii Willd.
    • Carex multiceps Gaudin
    • Carex multiculmis Ehrh.
    • Carex pinnata Moench ex Rchb.
    • Caricina elongata (L.) St.-Lag.
    • Leptovignea elongata (L.) Fedde & J.Schust.
    • Olotrema gebhardii (Willd.) Raf.
    • Vignea elongata (L.) Rchb.
    • Vignea gebhardii (Willd.) Rchb.

Carex elongata, the elongated sedge, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cyperaceae, native to Europe, the Caucasus, western Siberia, Kazakhstan, and the Altai.[1][2] It occurs in boggy woodland and wet meadows, where it forms dense tussocks up to about 1 m tall.

Description

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Plants occur in dense tussocks about 1 m tall and 50 cm in diameter, owing to their short rhizomes and dense production of shoots. Each trigonous stem is up to 80 cm long and rough with upward-pointing teeth on the edges. Leaves are up to 90 cm long and 5 mm wide, tapering to a fine point. The ligule, which is important for identification, is 8 mm long and sharply pointed. The inflorescence consists of up to 18 golden-tinged spikes which are fairly tightly spaced at the top of the stem. Fruits (utricles) are 4 mm long, with dark ribs, and have 2 stigmas.[3] The diploid chromosome number (2n) = 56.[4]

=Botanical illustration

Ecology

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This is a plant of flooded woodland, in Britain it is typically found in W5 alder carr,[5] which typically occurs in river valleys and old peat bogs.[6] It is thought that the seeds germinate on dead wood, which floats on the surface of the water, and thereby avoids inundation at the vulnerable seedling stage.[7] In England, it used to grow on the rotten pilings of old canals, in similar conditions. It can also be found in W2 grey willow carr and W6 crack willow woodland.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Carex elongata L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Carex elongata elongated sedge". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Jermy, A.C.; Simpson, D.A.; Foley, M.J.Y.; Porter, M.S (2007). Sedges of the British Isles. London: Botanical Society of the British Isles. ISBN 978-0-901158-35-2.
  4. ^ Stace, C.A. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles. Middlewood Green: C&M Floristics. ISBN 978-1-5272-2630-2.
  5. ^ British Plant Communities. "W5 Alnus glutinosa woodland".
  6. ^ Rodwell, J.S. (1991–2000). British Plant Communities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  7. ^ Lockton, A.J. "BSBI species accounts: Carex elongata". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.