Flora of North America species comparison

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Carex sect. Laxiflorae

Carex kraliana

Kral's sedge
Habit Plants usually densely cespitose, short to long rhizomatous.
Culms

solitary or not, brown or purple at base.

densely tufted, slightly winged, 9.2–56 cm × 0.8–1.1 mm.
Leaves

basal sheaths not fibrous;

sheath fronts membranous;

blades usually M-shaped in cross section when young, adaxial side of blades with 2 lateral veins more prominent than midvein, widest leaf blades 5+ mm, glabrous.

basal sheaths brown or light brown;

sheaths 1–40 mm;

blades erect, ascending, or lax, dark green, midrib well developed abaxially, margins serrulate distally, 6.2–17 × 2.8–32 cm, blades of overwintering leaves smooth Inflorescences: peduncles of lateral spikes absent; of terminal spike 1.3–7.3(–15) mm.
Bracts

2–4, blade 1.2–21 cm × 2.6–11 mm, widest bract blade per plant 5.3–11 mm wide;

bract blade of distal lateral spikes lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, wider than spikes, wides bract blade of distalmost lateral spike (2.9–)3.2–8.3 mm wide.
Inflorescences

racemose, with 3–6 spikes;

proximal nonbasal bracts leaflike, long-sheathing, more than 4 mm, longer than diameter of stem;

lateral spikes pistillate, rarely basal, pedunculate, prophyllate;

terminal spike staminate.

Spikes

4–5 per culm, lateral spikes 5.3–18(–23) × 3.7–4.6 mm, distal 2–3 spikes overlapping and concealed by bracts;

terminal spike linear, 5.8–13(–18) × 0.9–2.1 mm wide, proximal to or overtoppped by distal 2 bracts, usually exceeded by or, sometimes, subequal to distalmost lateral spike.
Perigynia

ascending, yellow-brown, to dark brown when mature, not black-mottled, distinctly 8-veined or more, stipitate, obovate to narrowly obovate, trigonous to rounded-trigonous in cross section, base tapering, apex tapering to rounded, abruptly or gradually beak, smooth, glabrous;

beak 0.1–1.8 mm, usually more than 5 mm, orifice entire.

3–8(–14) per spike, spirally overlapping, aggregated, 29–34-veined, ovate or oblong, faces flat or slightly convex, 2.7–4.2(–5) × 1.3–1.7(–1.8) mm, base abruptly contracted to 0.1–0.2 mm stipe;

beak excurved 30–45° from long axis of perigynium, 0.2–0.6(–1) mm wide.
Achenes

trigonous;

style deciduous.

1.9–2.5(–2.9) × 1.2–1.6(–1.7).
Proximal

pistillate scales with apex obtuse, acute, or awned.

Stigmas

3.

Pistillate

scales 1.1–4.2 × 1.4–1.8 mm;

body ovate, 1.1–2.2, margins usually whitish, apex acute and awnless or awned, awn 0–2.2 mm.
Staminate

scales 1.9–3.8 × 0.8–1.5 mm, apex obtuse or acute, awnless.
Anthers

1.8–2.3 mm.

Carex sect. Laxiflorae

Carex kraliana
Phenology Fruiting spring.
Habitat Mesic deciduous or mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, calcareous to circumneutral soils
Elevation 50–800 m (200–2600 ft)
Distribution
North America; Central America
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IN; KY; LA; MD; MS; NC; OH; SC; TN; TX; VA
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 16 (15 in the flora).

Carex sect. Laxiflorae is a monophyletic section diagnosed by at least two apomorphies: acute culm angles and epidermal cells of the culms conspicously larger than underlying cells (R. F. C. Naczi 1992). Recent phylogenetic analyses indicate Carex sect. Laxiflorae is a sister group of a clade composed of Carex sects. Granulares, Careyanae, and Griseae (R. F. C. Naczi 1992; R. F. C. Naczi et al. 2002). Eight species formerly included in sect. Laxiflorae in most of the botanical literature have been segregated into sect. Careyanae.

Complete, ample specimens bearing mature perigynia are necessary for identification. Magnification of 10X and bright illumination should be used when examining basal sheaths for presence or absence of purplish coloration, because the coloration is often limited to small areas at the very bases of the plants. When measuring width of the perigynium, care should be taken to measure a perigynium at its widest point, as one face of a perigynium is usually slightly wider than the other two. When measuring length of the peduncle of lateral spike, include the portion of the peduncle enclosed in the bract sheath.

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

Carex kraliana is similar to several other species of sect. Laxiflorae, including C. albursina, C. blanda, C. crebriflora, C. laxiflora, and C. leptonervia. Older specimens of C. kraliana bear identifications most often of C. blanda, C. crebriflora, and C. laxiflora var. serrulata F. J. Hermann. Examination of the type of C. laxiflora var. serrulata reveals it is C. laxiflora rather than C. kraliana. Because of that confusion, reports of C. laxiflora var. serrulata from the southeastern United States should be examined closely. See discussion under 264. C. laxiflora.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Bract blades of distal lateral spikes lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, wider than spikes, concealing them (viewed from abaxial surface), widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike (2.9–)3.2–8.3 mm wide.
→ 2
1. Bract blades of distal lateral spikes linear, narrower than spikes, not concealing them (viewed from abaxial surface), widest bract blade of distalmost lateral spike 0.5–3.4 mm wide.
→ 3
2. Widest leaf or bract blade 13–38(–62) mm wide; pistillate scales from proximal portions of spikes truncate, awnless (sometimes mucronate); perigynia 1.8–2.1 mm wide.
C. albursina
2. Widest leaf or bract blade 5.3–11 mm wide; pistillate scales from proximal portions of spikes acute or awned; perigynia 1.3–1.7(–1.8) mm wide.
C. kraliana
3. Perigynia 8–18-veined, 2(–3) veins conspicuous.
C. leptonervia
3. Perigynia (22–)25–32-veined, all veins conspicuous.
→ 4
4. Basal sheaths purple, reddish purple, or purple tinged.
→ 5
4. Basal sheaths brownish, not purplish.
→ 8
5. Perigynia 2.4–3.3 mm.
→ 6
5. Perigynia 3.4–4.5 mm.
→ 7
6. Perigynia closely overlapping, 1.8–2.7 times long as wide; beaks 0.2–0.8 mm; internodes in proximalmost spikes 1.1–3.2(–4.8) mm; angles of bract sheaths denticulate.
C. gracilescens
6. Perigynia loosely overlapping or separate, 1.7–2.1 times long as wide; beak 0.1–0.3 mm; internodes in proximalmost spikes 3.3–14 mm; angles of bract sheaths smooth or minutely papillose.
C. ormostachya
7. Longest peduncle of terminal spike (0.4–)3.1–5.4(–15.7) cm; terminal spike exceeding bract blade of distalmost lateral spike; blades of overwintered leaves densely papillose abaxially.
C. purpurifera
7. Longest peduncle of terminal spike (0.9–)1.2–3.2(–5.3) cm; terminal spike usually exceeded by bract blade of distalmost lateral spike; blades of over wintered leaves smooth abaxially.
C. manhartii
8. Perigynia closely overlapping: ratio of longer lateral spike length (in mm) to perigynia number = 0.8–1.7.
→ 9
8. Perigynia loosely overlapping or separate: ratio of longer lateral spike length (in mm)/perigynia number = 1.9–3.4.
→ 12
9. Perigynia 2.5–3.8(–4.1) mm, 1.5–1.9 times as long as achene bodies; beak 0.2–0.6 mm.
C. blanda
9. Perigynia (3.3–)3.9–5.5 mm, 1.9–2.3 times as long as achene bodies; beak 0.5–1.7 mm.
→ 10
10. Distal lateral spikes overlapping; terminal spike exceeded by or subequal to distal lateral spike; perigynia ascending; peduncle of proximalmost spike arising in distal 1/2 of culm.
C. crebriflora
10. Distal lateral spikes separate; terminal spike clearly exceeding distal lateral spike; perigynia spreading; peduncle of proximalmost spike arising in proximal 1/3 of culm.
→ 11
11. Plants densely cespitose, short-rhizomatous.
C. styloflexa
11. Plants loosely cespitose or not cespitose, long-rhizomatous.
C. chapmanii
12. Pistillate scales 1.9–2.3 mm wide.
C. hendersonii
12. Pistillate scales 1.1–1.8 mm wide (to 2.1 mm in C. radfordii, to 2.2 in C. striatula).
→ 13
13. Longer peduncles of proximal lateral spikes 4.6–14 times as long as spikes they subtend; perigynia spreading.
→ 14
13. Longer peduncles of proximal lateral spikes 1.4–3.3(–5.3) times as long as spikes they subtend; perigynia ascending.
→ 15
14. Culms densely tufted.
C. styloflexa
14. Culms loosely tufted or solitary.
C. chapmanii
15. Longest bract blade 5–8 cm; blades of overwintered leaves densely papillose abaxially.
C. radfordii
15. Longest bract blade (4.5–)6.5–15 cm; blades of overwintered leaves usually smooth, rarely, sparsely papillose abaxially.
→ 16
16. Achenes 1.8–2.2(–3.4) mm; perigynia (2.6–)3.2–4.1(–4.6) mm; terminal spike 12–24(–34) mm.
C. laxiflora
16. Achenes 2.2–2.8(–4.6) mm; perigynia (3.4–)3.9–5.1 mm; terminal spike 22–32(–36) mm.
C. striatula
Source FNA vol. 23. Authors: Charles T. Bryson, Robert F. C. Naczi. FNA vol. 23, p. 439.
Parent taxa Cyperaceae > Carex Cyperaceae > Carex > sect. Laxiflorae
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. 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. peckii, 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. albursina, C. blanda, C. chapmanii, C. crebriflora, C. gracilescens, C. hendersonii, C. kraliana, C. laxiflora, C. leptonervia, C. manhartii, C. ormostachya, C. purpurifera, C. radfordii, C. striatula, C. styloflexa
Synonyms C. unranked Laxiflorae
Name authority (Kunth) Mackenzie: in N. L. Britton et al., N. Amer. Fl. 18: 244. (1935) Naczi & Bryson: Novon 12: 520, fig. 5. (2002)
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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