Carex obnupta
Encyclopedia
Carex obnupta is a species of sedge
known by the common name slough sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
where it grows abundantly in wet, often saline habitat such as wetland
s. The plant produces upright, angled stems approaching 1.2 meters in maximum height, growing in beds or colonies from rhizome
networks. The inflorescence
is a cluster of flower spikes accompanied by a long leaflike bract
. The pistillate
spikes and sometimes the staminate
spikes dangle on peduncles
. The fruit is coated by a hard, tough, shiny perigynium which is generally dark in color.
Carex
Carex is a genus of plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges. Other members of the Cyperaceae family are also called sedges, however those of genus Carex may be called "true" sedges, and it is the most species-rich genus in the family. The study of Carex is known as...
known by the common name slough sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where it grows abundantly in wet, often saline habitat such as wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s. The plant produces upright, angled stems approaching 1.2 meters in maximum height, growing in beds or colonies from rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
networks. The inflorescence
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. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a cluster of flower spikes accompanied by a long leaflike bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
. The pistillate
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
spikes and sometimes the staminate
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
spikes dangle on peduncles
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
. The fruit is coated by a hard, tough, shiny perigynium which is generally dark in color.