Flora of North America species comparison

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Carex peckii

Carex sect. Acrocystis

carex de Peck, Peck's sedge
Habit Plants loosely cespitose; rhizomes ascending, reddish brown, 0–15(–30) mm, slender. Plants loosely or densely cespitose, very short to long rhizomatous, stoloniferous.
Culms

21–47 cm, smooth to weakly scabrous distally;

bases not fibrous.

red or brown at base, shorter than leaves.
Leaves

blades pale green, shorter than culms, 1–3.3 mm wide, herbaceous, papillose abaxially, scabrous adaxially.

basal sheaths fibrous;

sheath fronts membranous, mouth ciliate;

blades V-shaped in cross section when young, adaxial surface without 2 marginal veins more prominent than midvein, blade 2+ cm, longer than its sheath, 2–4.5 mm wide, glabrous.
Inflorescences

with both staminate and pistillate spikes;

peduncles of staminate spikes 0.4–2.2 mm;

proximal cauline bracts leaflike usually shorter than inflorescences.

racemose, with 2–6 spikes;

proximal nonbasal bracts filiform or scalelike, sheathless, abaxial surface smooth;

lateral spikes pistillate or, rarely, gynecandrous or staminate, sometimes some basal, pedunculate, prophyllate;

terminal spike staminate.
Spikes

proximal pistillate spikes 2–3 (basal spikes 0);

cauline spikes with proximal 2 spikes overlapping, se!parated by less than 7 mm, with 3–10 perigynia; staminate spikes 5.3–8.6 × 0.8–1.7 mm.

Perigynia

light green, veinless, ellipsoid, 3.2–4.2 × 1.1–1.3 mm, longer than wide;

beak straight, pale green, 0.7–1 mm, ciliate-serrulate, apical teeth 0.2–0.4 mm.

ascending, veined or veinless except for 2 strong marginal veins, stipitate, elliptic or ovate to orbiculate, round or rounded-trigonous in cross section, less than 10 mm, base tapering or rounded, often spongy, apex usually abruptly beaked, pubescent, rarely glabrous;

beak straight or bent, 0.5–2.3 mm, bidentate, teeth 0.2–0.5 mm.
Achenes

brown, obovoid to ellipsoid, obtusely trigonous in cross section, 1.9–2.4 × 1–1.3 mm.

trigonous, rarely biconvex, almost as large as bodies of perigynia;

style deciduous.
Scales

pistillate scales reddish brown to pale brown, with broad white margins, ovate, 2.2–3.2 × 1.2–1.8 mm, 1/2 to 2/3 length of perigynia, apex acute to acuminate,; staminate scales elliptic, 2.4–3.2 × 0.9–1.8 mm, apex acute.

Anthers

1.4–1.5 mm.

Stigmas

3.

(2–)3.
Proximal

pistillate scales white-hyaline or red-brown, 1–3-veined, apex obtuse to acuminate or cuspidate, rarely awned.
2n

= 36.

Carex peckii

Carex sect. Acrocystis
Phenology Fruiting mid May–mid Jul.
Habitat Mainly calcareous soils on dry to mesic slopes, in partial shade in rich, deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous, open woods, bases of slopes, or full sun on exposed outcrops
Elevation 10–2000 m (0–6600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; IA; MA; ME; MI; MN; ND; NE; NH; NY; SD; VT; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NS; ON; QC; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Circumtemperate and circumboreal
Discussion

Hybrids between Carex peckii and other members of the section have not been confirmed; occasional plants appear to combine its characteristics with those of other species, such as C. tonsa.

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

Species ca. 35 (20 in the flora).

Carex sect. Acrocystis is well known to be taxonomically difficult, and several complexes require further study, including the Carex umbellata-C. tonsa, the C. deflexa-C. rossii, and the C. geophila-C. pityophila groups. Range extensions and morphologically unusual plants continue to be discovered in areas such as the southern Appalachian Mountains, southeastern coastal plain, and western mountains. More intensive searching may reveal additional range extensions and perhaps also additional new taxa (see C. deflexa).

In the key that follows, perigynia from pistillate spikes at distal cauline nodes of stems with both staminate and pistillate spikes should be selected for measurement. Perigynia from pistillate spikes arising at basal nodes appear to exhibit much more variation in all dimensions, both within and among plants.

Some of the vegetative characters that help to distinguish taxa in the section, such as intact stem bases and rhizomes, are infrequently collected. Such incomplete specimens may be difficult to identify, especially if the inflorescences are immature or over-mature.

Some species in the section may rarely produce unisexual plants or culms (e.g., Carex communis, C. pensylvanica, C. turbinata). Only one species, C. serpenticola Zika, a serpentine endemic from the Klamath Mountains of Oregon and California, produces unisexual culms frequently.

Another potential source of difficulty in identification is caused by putative hybrids between one species that does and one species that does not produce pistillate spikes from basal nodes. Such hybrids have basal pistillate spikes on usually long, filiform peduncles, otherwise they resemble species lacking these basal peduncles. These putative hybrids, which appear to be sterile, have not been studied closely. Parentage of these hybrids is uncertain; they are thought to be derived from Carex peckii or C. pensylvanica and either C. tonsa or C. umbellata.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Inflorescences usually with either staminate or pistillate spikes, not both.
C. serpenticola
1. Inflorescences usually with both staminate and pistillate spikes.
→ 2
2. Pistillate spikes from basal nodes and cauline nodes in close proximity to staminate spike.
→ 3
2. Pistillate spikes produced only at cauline nodes in close proximity to staminate spike.
→ 11
3. Perigynia conspicuously several-veined to at least mid body.
→ 4
3. Perigynia with 2 main veins, otherwise veinless or with poorly developed, inconspicuous veins near base only.
→ 5
4. Pistillate scales purplish brown or reddish brown, apex obtuse to cuspidate; perigynium body globose to obovoid; terminal staminate spikes 10–25 mm; basal pistillate spikes on slender, elongate, arching peduncles; leaf blades bright green.
C. globosa
4. Pistillate scales reddish brown, apex cuspidate to acuminate; perigynium body ellipsoid; terminal staminate spikes 5.8–12.7 mm; basal pistillate spikes on stout, short, erect peduncles; leaf blades pale green or glaucous.
C. brainerdii
5. Bracts of the proximal nonbasal pistillate spikes leaflike, equaling or exceeding inflorescences; remnants of old leaves not, or only slightly, shredded into fibers; pistillate scales with apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, shorter than perigynia.
→ 6
5. Bracts of the proximal nonbasal pistillate spikes scalelike, usually shorter than inflorescences; remnants of old leaves persisting as tufts of stiff fibers; pistillate scales with apex acute to acuminate, equaling or exceeding perigynia.
→ 8
6. Rhizomes slender; culms usually loosely cespitose, arching or spreading, smooth except near inflorescence; perigynia 2.3–3.1 mm; beak 0.4–0.8 mm, apical teeth 0.1–0.2 mm; staminate spikes 3.1–11.3 mm.
C. deflexa
6. Rhizomes stout; culms densely cespitose, ascending, scabrous; perigynia 3.1–4.5 mm; beak 0.7–1.7 mm, apical teeth 0.2–0.4 mm; staminate spikes 4.8–12.8 mm.
→ 7
7. Cauline pistillate spikes 3–15-flowered; margins of perigynium beak ciliate-serrulate; culms 7–30(–40) cm; staminate spikes (4.8–)6–12.8 mm.
C. rossii
7. Cauline pistillate spikes 1–3-flowered; margins of perigynium beak smooth or weakly ciliate-serrulate; culms 3–12 cm; staminate spikes 4.8–5.7(–8) mm.
C. pityophila
8. Perigynia 1.5–2.1 mm wide, round in cross section; beak not strongly 2-edged.
→ 9
8. Perigynia 1–1.6 mm wide, obtusely trigonous in cross section, beak strongly 2 edged.
→ 10
9. Cauline pistillate spikes with 5–15 perigynia; culms strongly fibrous at base.
C. geophila
9. Cauline pistillate spikes with 1–6 perigynia; culms slightly fibrous at base.
C. brevicaulis
10. Perigynia 2.2–3.2 × 1–1.4 mm; beak 0.4–1 mm.
C. umbellata
10. Perigynia 3.1–4.7 × 1.1–1.6 mm; beak 0.9–2 mm.
C. tonsa
11. Perigynium body globose to obovoid, about as long as wide.
→ 12
11. Perigynium body ellipsoid, longer than wide.
→ 17
12. Plants densely cespitose; rhizomes short, not horizontally spreading or absent; widest leaves 3+ mm wide; staminate spikes 1–2.5 mm wide.
C. communis
12. Plants loosely cespitose or with solitary stems; rhizomes long, horizontally spreading (except in C. turbinata); widest leaves usually less than 3 mm wide; staminate spikes usually more than 2 mm wide.
→ 13
13. Perigynia 10–25-veined to at least mid body; rhizomes short, ascending or absent.
C. turbinata
13. Perigynia usuallly veinless except for 2 strong marginal veins running length of body and beak; rhizomes long, horizontally spreading.
→ 14
14. Perigynia 1.5–2.3 mm wide; achenes (1.4–)2.1–2.5 mm.
→ 15
14. Perigynia 1.1–1.5(–1.7) mm wide; achenes 1.3–1.9(–2.3) mm.
→ 16
15. Scales and bases of proximal cauline bracts green or reddish brown; pistillate scales and proximal staminate scales with conspicuous white margins 0.4–0.8 mm wide.
C. inops
15. Scales and bases of proximal cauline bracts dark purple to black; pistillate scales and proximal staminate scales with narrow white margins 0.1–0.2 mm wide.
C. serpenticola
16. Beaks of perigynia 0.5–0.9 mm; blades of distal cauline leaves well developed; culms usually smooth or weakly scabrous distally.
C. pensylvanica
16. Beaks of perigynia 0.9–1.6 mm; blades of distal cauline leaves poorly developed; culms usually strongly scabrous distally.
C. lucorum
17. Widest leaves 3+ mm wide; pistillate spikes and staminate spike not closely aggregated, usually clearly separated.
C. communis
17. Widest leaves 3.3 mm wide or less, if leaves more than 2.9 mm wide, then pistillate spikes closely aggregated with each other and with staminate spike.
→ 18
18. Proximal 2 pistillate spikes usually separated by more than 7 mm, remote, not overlapping; proximal cauline bracts equaling or exceeding inflorescences.
C. novae-angliae
18. Proximal 2 pistillate spikes contiguous or overlapping, usually separated by less than 7 mm; proximal nonbasal bracts shorter than inflorescences.
→ 19
19. Pistillate scales shorter than perigynia, perigynia conspicuous among scales.
→ 20
19. Pistillate scales about as long as perigynia, perigynia nearly or completely concealed.
→ 21
20. Perigynia 2.3–3.1 mm; culms slender, 5–31 cm; leaves usually equaling or longer than culms.
C. deflexa
20. Perigynia 3.2–4.2 mm; culms more robust, 21–47 cm; leaves shorter than culms.
C. peckii
21. Culms 10–45 cm, usually more than 20 cm; bases (remnants of old leaves) slightly or not at all fibrous; staminate peduncles 0.4–9.9 mm.
C. albicans
21. Culms 2–27 cm, usually less than 20 cm; bases (remnants of old leaves) slightly to strongly fibrous; staminate peduncles 0.3–1.2 mm.
→ 22
22. Rhizomes ascending to erect, 0–10 mm; stigmas 3; achenes obtusely trigonous in cross section; culm bases often strongly fibrous.
C. nigromarginata
22. Rhizomes horizontally spreading to ascending, 17–75 mm; stigmas 2 or 3; some achenes biconvex or trigonous; culm bases usually weakly fibrous.
C. floridana
Source FNA vol. 23, p. 540. FNA vol. 23. Authors: William J. Crins, Jeff H. Rettig.
Parent taxa Cyperaceae > Carex > sect. Acrocystis Cyperaceae > Carex
Sibling taxa
C. aboriginum, C. abrupta, C. abscondita, C. acidicola, C. acutiformis, C. adelostoma, C. adusta, C. aestivalis, C. aggregata, C. alata, C. albicans, C. albida, C. albolutescens, C. albonigra, C. albursina, C. alma, C. alopecoidea, C. amphibola, C. amplectens, C. amplifolia, C. angustata, C. annectens, C. anthoxanthea, C. aperta, C. appalachica, C. aquatilis, C. arapahoensis, C. arcta, C. arctata, C. arctiformis, C. arenaria, C. argyrantha, C. arkansana, C. assiniboinensis, C. atherodes, C. athrostachya, C. atlantica, C. atrata, C. atratiformis, C. atrofusca, C. atrosquama, C. aurea, C. aureolensis, C. austrina, C. austrocaroliniana, C. backii, C. baileyi, C. baltzellii, C. barbarae, C. barrattii, C. basiantha, C. bebbii, C. bella, C. bicknellii, C. bicolor, C. bigelowii, C. biltmoreana, C. blanda, C. bolanderi, C. bonanzensis, C. brainerdii, C. brevicaulis, C. brevior, C. breweri, C. bromoides, C. brunnescens, C. brysonii, C. bulbostylis, C. bullata, C. bushii, C. buxbaumii, C. calcifugens, C. californica, C. canescens, C. capillaris, C. capitata, C. careyana, C. caroliniana, C. caryophyllea, C. castanea, C. cephaloidea, C. cephalophora, C. chalciolepis, C. chapmanii, C. cherokeensis, C. chihuahuensis, C. chordorrhiza, C. circinata, C. collinsii, C. communis, C. comosa, C. complanata, C. concinna, C. concinnoides, C. congdonii, C. conjuncta, C. conoidea, C. constanceana, C. cordillerana, C. corrugata, C. crawei, C. crawfordii, C. crebriflora, C. crinita, C. cristatella, C. crus-corvi, C. cryptolepis, C. cumberlandensis, C. cumulata, C. curatorum, C. cusickii, C. dasycarpa, C. davisii, C. davyi, C. debilis, C. decomposita, C. deflexa, C. densa, C. deweyana, C. diandra, C. digitalis, C. diluta, C. disperma, C. distans, C. disticha, C. divisa, C. divulsa, C. douglasii, C. duriuscula, C. ebenea, C. eburnea, C. echinata, C. edwardsiana, C. egglestonii, C. eleusinoides, C. elliottii, C. elynoides, C. emoryi, C. endlichii, C. engelmannii, C. epapillosa, C. exilis, C. exsiccata, C. extensa, C. festucacea, C. feta, C. filifolia, C. fissa, C. fissuricola, C. flacca, C. flaccosperma, C. flava, C. floridana, C. foenea, C. folliculata, C. formosa, C. fracta, C. frankii, C. fuliginosa, C. garberi, C. geophila, C. geyeri, C. gholsonii, C. gigantea, C. glacialis, C. glareosa, C. glaucescens, C. glaucodea, C. globosa, C. gmelinii, C. godfreyi, C. gracilescens, C. gracilior, C. gracillima, C. granularis, C. gravida, C. grayi, C. grisea, C. gynandra, C. gynocrates, C. gynodynama, C. halliana, C. hallii, C. harfordii, C. hassei, C. haydeniana, C. haydenii, C. heleonastes, C. helleri, C. hendersonii, C. heteroneura, C. heterostachya, C. hirsutella, C. hirta, C. hirtifolia, C. hirtissima, C. hitchcockiana, C. holostoma, C. hoodii, C. hookeriana, C. hormathodes, C. hostiana, C. houghtoniana, C. hyalina, C. hyalinolepis, C. hystericina, C. idahoa, C. illota, C. impressinervia, C. incurviformis, C. infirminervia, C. inops, C. integra, C. interior, C. interrupta, C. intumescens, C. jamesii, C. jonesii, C. joorii, C. juniperorum, C. kobomugi, C. kraliana, C. krausei, C. lachenalii, C. lacustris, C. laeviconica, C. laeviculmis, C. laevivaginata, C. lapponica, C. lasiocarpa, C. latebracteata, C. lativena, C. laxa, C. laxiculmis, C. laxiflora, C. leavenworthii, C. lemmonii, C. lenticularis, C. leporinella, C. leptalea, C. leptonervia, C. leptopoda, C. limosa, C. livida, C. loliacea, C. lonchocarpa, C. longii, C. louisianica, C. lucorum, C. lupuliformis, C. lupulina, C. lurida, C. lutea, C. luzulifolia, C. luzulina, C. lyngbyei, C. mackenziei, C. macloviana, C. macrocephala, C. macrochaeta, C. magellanica, C. manhartii, C. marina, C. mariposana, C. maritima, C. mckittrickensis, C. meadii, C. media, C. melanostachya, C. membranacea, C. mendocinensis, C. merritt-fernaldii, C. mertensii, C. mesochorea, C. michauxiana, C. microchaeta, C. microdonta, C. microglochin, C. micropoda, C. microptera, C. misera, C. missouriensis, C. mitchelliana, C. molesta, C. molestiformis, C. muehlenbergii, C. multicaulis, C. multicostata, C. muricata, C. muriculata, C. muskingumensis, C. nardina, C. nebrascensis, C. nelsonii, C. nervina, C. neurophora, C. nigra, C. nigricans, C. nigromarginata, C. normalis, C. norvegica, C. nova, C. novae-angliae, C. nudata, C. obispoensis, C. obnupta, C. obtusata, C. occidentalis, C. oklahomensis, C. oligocarpa, C. oligosperma, C. opaca, C. oreocharis, C. ormostachya, C. oronensis, C. ouachitana, C. ovalis, C. oxylepis, C. ozarkana, C. pachystachya, C. paeninsulae, C. paleacea, C. pallescens, C. panicea, C. pansa, C. parallela, C. parryana, C. pauciflora, C. paysonis, C. pedunculata, C. pellita, C. pelocarpa, C. pendula, C. pensylvanica, C. perdentata, C. perglobosa, C. petasata, C. petricosa, C. phaeocephala, C. picta, C. pigra, C. pityophila, C. planispicata, C. planostachys, C. plantaginea, C. platyphylla, C. pluriflora, C. podocarpa, C. polymorpha, C. praeceptorum, C. praegracilis, C. prairea, C. prasina, C. praticola, C. preslii, C. projecta, C. proposita, C. pseudocyperus, C. pumila, C. purpurifera, C. radfordii, C. radiata, C. ramenskii, C. rariflora, C. raynoldsii, C. recta, C. reniformis, C. retroflexa, C. retrorsa, C. richardsonii, C. roanensis, C. rosea, C. rossii, C. rostrata, C. rotundata, C. rufina, C. rupestris, C. ruthii, C. sabulosa, C. salina, C. sartwelliana, C. sartwellii, C. saxatilis, C. saximontana, C. scabrata, C. scabriuscula, C. schottii, C. schweinitzii, C. scirpoidea, C. scoparia, C. scopulorum, C. senta, C. seorsa, C. serpenticola, C. serratodens, C. sheldonii, C. shinnersii, C. shortiana, C. siccata, C. silicea, C. simulata, C. socialis, C. sparganioides, C. specifica, C. spectabilis, C. specuicola, C. spicata, C. spissa, C. sprengelii, C. squarrosa, C. stenoptila, C. sterilis, C. stevenii, C. stipata, C. straminea, C. straminiformis, C. striata, C. striatula, C. stricta, C. styloflexa, C. stylosa, C. subbracteata, C. suberecta, C. subfusca, C. subnigricans, C. subspathacea, C. superata, C. supina, C. swanii, C. sychnocephala, C. sylvatica, C. tahoensis, C. tenax, C. tenera, C. tenuiflora, C. tetanica, C. tetrastachya, C. texensis, C. thornei, C. thurberi, C. timida, C. tincta, C. tompkinsii, C. tonsa, C. torreyi, C. torta, C. triangularis, C. tribuloides, C. trichocarpa, C. triquetra, C. trisperma, C. tuckermanii, C. tumulicola, C. turbinata, C. turgescens, C. typhina, C. umbellata, C. unilateralis, C. ursina, C. utriculata, C. vacillans, C. vaginata, C. vallicola, C. venusta, C. vernacula, C. verrucosa, C. vesicaria, C. vestita, C. vexans, C. virescens, C. viridula, C. vulpinoidea, C. whitneyi, C. wiegandii, C. willdenowii, C. williamsii, C. woodii, C. wootonii, C. xerantica
Subordinate taxa
C. albicans, C. brainerdii, C. brevicaulis, C. communis, C. deflexa, C. floridana, C. geophila, C. globosa, C. inops, C. lucorum, C. nigromarginata, C. novae-angliae, C. peckii, C. pensylvanica, C. pityophila, C. rossii, C. serpenticola, C. tonsa, C. turbinata, C. umbellata
Synonyms C. clivicola C. section Montanae
Name authority Howe: Rep. (Annual) Regents Univ. State New York New York State Mus. 47: 166. (1894) Dumortier: Fl. Belg., 147. (1827)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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