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Photo is of parent taxon

Sitka sedge, water sedge

Photo is of parent taxon
Culms

35–150 cm, angles scabrous.

35–100 cm, angles scabrous.

Leaves

basal sheaths leafless, usually red-brown;

blades epistomic, 5–18 mm wide, adaxially papillose.

basal sheaths leafless, usually red-brown;

blades amphistomic, 5-8 mm wide, papillose on both surfaces.

Inflorescences

peduncle of proximal spike to 11 cm;

proximal bract longer than inflorescence, 3–10 mm wide.

peduncle of proximal spike not more than 4 cm;

proximal bract longer than inflorescence, 4–8 mm wide.

Spikes

pendent or the terminal usually erect;

proximal 3–6 spikes pistillate, 4.5–11.5 cm × 4–7 mm, base attenuate;

terminal 2–4 spikes staminate.

erect;

proximal 3–4 spikes pistillate, 2–4 cm × 4–7 mm, base cuneate or attenuate;

terminal 1–3 spikes staminate.

Perigynia

pale brown, ellipsoid, 1.9–3.5 × 1–1.2 mm, apex acute or obtuse;

beak purple-brown, 0.3–0.4 mm, papery.

obovoid, 2–3 × 1.2–2 mm, apex rounded;

beak pale brown, not more than 0.2 mm, thickened.

Pistillate

scales red-brown or purple-brown.

scales pale red-brown with narrow pale midvein.

2n

= 72, 74, 78, 80.

= 76.

Carex aquatilis var. dives

Carex aquatilis var. minor

Phenology Fruiting Jul–Aug. Fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat Marshes, shallow water along shores Wet tundra
Elevation 0–900 m (0–3000 ft) 0–600 m (0–2000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CA; MT; OR; WA; BC
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; NT; NU; QC; YT; Greenland
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Carex aquatilis var. dives is the most robust variety of C. aquatilis and the only member to have pendent spikes, ellipsoid perigynia, and epistomic leaves. Carex aquatilis var. dives intergrades with var. aquatilis and does not appear to be distinct at the specific level. It may hybridize with C. lyngbyei.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Although extensively intergrading along the Arctic coast, Carex aquatilis var. minor and var. aquatilis appear to be distinct; C. aquatilis var. minor has been reported to maintain its distinctive characteristics in cultivation (J. Cayouette and P. Morisset 1986b). It is reported to hybridize with C. bigelowii (= C. ×nearctica M. Raymond).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 23, p. 398. FNA vol. 23, p. 398.
Parent taxa Cyperaceae > Carex > sect. Phacocystis > Carex aquatilis Cyperaceae > Carex > sect. Phacocystis > Carex aquatilis
Sibling taxa
C. aquatilis var. aquatilis, C. aquatilis var. minor, C. aquatilis var. substricta
C. aquatilis var. aquatilis, C. aquatilis var. dives, C. aquatilis var. substricta
Synonyms C. dives, C. howellii, C. panda, C. sitchensis C. stans
Name authority (Holm) Kükenthal: in H. G. A. Engler, Pflanzenr. 28[IV,20]: 311. (1909) Boott: Ill. Carex, 163. (1867)
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