Carex sylvatica
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C. sylvatica
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| Carex sylvatica |
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Carex sylvatica is a species of sedge found in deciduous woodlands across Europe. It typically reaches 60 cm (24 in) tall, and has an inflorescence made up of 3–5 pendent female spikes and a single male spike. It is also used as a garden plant, and has been introduced to North America and New Zealand.
Description
Carex sylvatica "resembles a small C. pendula",[2] growing to around 15–60 centimetres (6–24 in) tall, or up to 150 cm (5 ft) in exceptional cases.[1] Its rhizomes are very short, giving the plant a densely cespitose (tufted) form.[1][3] The leaves are 5–60 cm (2.0–23.6 in) long, 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) wide[1] and 1.0–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) thick,[3] with 17–31 parallel veins. The leaves have a slight keel, or are folded gently into an M-shape in cross-section.[1]
The top half or third of the stem bears the inflorescence, typically comprising 3–5 female spikes and a single apical male spike,[1] which may include a few female flowers at its base.[3] The female spikes are each 2.0–6.5 cm (0.8–2.6 in) long, and are held dangling on long, rough peduncles, arising from within a long leaf-sheath.[1] The male spike is much thinner, and is 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) long.[1]
Distribution and ecology
Carex sylvatica is found across Europe, and into parts of Asia, as far east as Iran.[4] It has also been introduced to North America, where it occurs in Ontario, New York and North Carolina, and to New Zealand,[3] where it was first recorded in 1969.[5]
In its native range, C. sylvatica lives in deciduous woodlands on heavy soils; it is sometimes found in unwooded areas, but usually only as a relic of ancient woodland.[1] In North America, it is generally found in disturbed areas within deciduous woodland.[3]
Taxonomy
Carex sylvatica was first described by the English botanist William Hudson in his 1762 work Flora Anglica.[6] Hybrids have been reported between C. sylvatica and C. strigosa (in France) and between C. sylvatica and C. hirta (in Austria).[3] Its English common name is "wood-sedge",[1] or, in North America, "European woodland sedge".[3]
Uses
Carex sylvatica can be used in gardens as ground cover under trees or shrubs.[2] Carl Linnaeus recorded that the Sami people used the plant as an insulating wadding.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
