Flora of the Southeastern United States

Carex fraseriana Ker Gawler. Common name: Fraser's Sedge, Lily-leaf Sedge. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Cove forests, mostly rather acidic and associated with Rhododendron maximum, at moderate elevations. Distribution: A Southern and Central Appalachian endemic: w. MD and s. PA south through w. VA and WV to w. NC, e. TN, nw. SC, and n. GA (Jones & Coile 1988).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: This species is a peculiar plant, often considered a relict species most closely related to Carex, but recent molecular evidence suggests that it is evolutionarily deeply embedded within Carex and is best considered a component of that genus. The foliage slightly resembles some of the broader-leaved species of Carex (such as C. platyphylla or C. plantaginea) or genera of the Liliaceae; immediately distinctive, however, are the minutely undulate-scaberulous leaf margins. The odd leaves may be derived evolutionary from leaf sheaths (Reznicek in FNA 2002b). Kartesz & Gandhi (1991) have shown that Ker-Gawler's epithet fraseriana/fraserianus has priority over Andrews's epithet fraseri.

Synonymy ⓘ: = POWO, Va; = Carex fraseri Andrews — WV; = Cymophyllus fraseri (Andrews) Mack. — C, F, G, RAB, S, W; = Cymophyllus fraserianus (Ker Gawl.) Kartesz & Gandhi — FNA23, K4, NS, Pa, Tn. Basionym: Carex fraseriana Ker Gawl. 1811

Links to other floras: = Cymophyllus fraserianus - FNA23

Show in key(s) | Show Carex section in key

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 3