''Carex spicata'' is a species of

sedge The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus ''Carex'' wit ...

in the genus ''Carex''.

Description

The culms of ''Carex spicata'' are long and approximately triangular in section. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are long and wide, with a distinct keel. The

ligule A ligule (from "strap", variant of ''lingula'', from ''lingua'' "tongue") is a thin outgrowth at the junction of leaf and leafstalk of many grasses (Poaceae) and sedges. A ligule is also a strap-shaped extension of the corolla, such as that of a ...

, at the base of the leaf, is long, with a large amount of loose white tissue. ''C. spicata'' differs from the other species in ''Carex'' section ''Phaestoglochin'' by the presence of a purple pigment in the roots, leaf sheaths and bracts. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

is long, and comprises 3–8

spikes The SPIKES protocol is a method used in clinical medicine to break bad news to patients and families. As receiving bad news can cause distress and anxiety, clinicians need to deliver the news carefully. By using the SPIKES method for introducing a ...

. Each spike is long, with female (pistillate) flowers at the base, and male (staminate) flowers at the tip.

Distribution and ecology

''Carex spicata'' has a European temperate distribution, although it has been extensively

naturalised Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the i ...

outside this native range. ''Carex spicata'' is usually found in

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

(usually in

British NVC community MG10 __NOTOC__ British NVC community MG10 (''Holcus lanatus'' – ''Juncus effusus'' rush-pasture) is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of three communities associated wit ...

in the British Isles), on roadsides, and in waste ground. It is found on heavy, slightly base-rich soils, and cannot tolerate much

competition Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indivi ...

Taxonomy

''Carex spicata'' was first described by the English botanist William Hudson in his 1762 work ''

Flora Anglica William Hudson FRS (1730 in Kendal – 23 May 1793) was a British botanist and apothecary based in London. His main work was ''Flora Anglica'', published in 1762. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1761. Life and work Hudson was ...

''. It is known in the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

as "spiked sedge", in North America as "spicate sedge" or "prickly sedge". In

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

it is called ', and in

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

, its name is ', ' or '. Few hybrids have been reported between ''C. spicata'' and other members of ''Carex'' sect. ''Phaestoglochin'', but hybrids have been reported between ''C. spicata'' and '' C. otrubae'', and between ''C. spicata'' and '' C. echinata''.

References

External links

''Carex spicata'' Hudson, Fl. Angl. 349. 1762.

Flora of North America The ''Flora of North America North of Mexico'' (usually referred to as ''FNA'') is a multivolume work describing the native plants and naturalized plants of North America, including the United States, Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenla ...

''Carex spicata'' Huds.
University of Michigan Herbarium
''Carex spicata''
"The Plants of Pennsylvania"
''Carex spicata''
"The History of the British Flora" * {{Taxonbar, from=Q159055 spicata Flora of Europe Plants described in 1762 Taxa named by William Hudson (botanist)