Flora of the Southeastern United States

Carex Linnaeus. Common name: Sedge.

Contributed by Derick B. Poindexter, Alan S. Weakley, and Bruce A. Sorrie

Key to Carex

A genus of about 2000 (or more) species, herbs, cosmopolitan, especially temperate and boreal.

Key advice:Features of the perigynium are critical for identification, notably details of the shape, ornamentation or vestiture, presence and size of beak, size and oreintation of teeth at the perigynium orifice, and number of striations (or veins).

Other Comments: Key to sections adapted closely from FNA23.

References: Aaron (2024); Ball & Reznicek (2002) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2002b); Bryson (1985); Bryson, Kral, & Manhart (1987); Catling, Reznicek, & Crins (1993); Derieg et al. (2013); Dorey (2019); Downer & Hyatt (2003); Dragon & Barrington (2009); Fernald (1942b); Frye & Lea (2002); Goetghebeur (1998) In Kubitzki (1998b); Kirschbaum (2007); Kral, Manhart, & Bryson (1987); LeBlond et al. (1994); Lovit (2024); Lovit & Haines (2012); Mackenzie (1931-1935); Maguilla et al. (2015); McKenzie & Nelson (2022); Medford, Poindexter, & Weakley (2021) In Weakley et al. (2021); Naczi (1993); Naczi & Ford (2001); Naczi, Bryson, & Cochrane (2002); Poindexter & Naczi (2014); Poindexter & Weakley (2018b) In Weakley et al. (2018a); Poindexter et al. (2024) In Weakley et al. (2024a); Rettig (1989a); Rink & Licher (2024); Rothrock, Reznicek, & Hipp (2009); Sorrie et al. (2011); Ungberg (2022) In Weakley et al. (2022); Uttal (1971); Ward (2012a); Ward (2021). Show full citations.

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Show species in Carex

Sections:

• Leucocephalae
• [26a] Section 1a Vulpinae
• [26a] Section 1b Vulpinae
• [26b] Section 2 Heleoglochin
• [26c] Section 3 Multiflorae
• [26d] Section 4.0 Phaestoglochin
• [26e] Section 4.1 Dispermae
• [26f] Section 4.2 Chordorrhizae
• [26g] Section 4.3 Physoglochin
• [26h] Section 5 Holarrhenae
• [26i] Section 6 Divisae
• [26j] Section 7 Ammoglochin
• [26k] Section 8 Macrocephalae
• [26m] Section 9 Glareosae
• [26n] Section 10 Deweyanae
• [26o] Section 11 Stellulatae
• [26q] Section 12 Ovales
• [26r] Section 13 Phacocystis
• [26s] Section 14 Racemosae
• [26u] Section 15 Limosae
• [26v] Section 15.5 Thuringiaca
• [26w] Section 16 Rhynchocystis
• [26x] Section 17a Glaucescentes
• [26z] Section 17b Bicolores
• [26aa] Section 18 Paniceae
• [26bb] Section 19 Laxiflorae
• [26cc] Section 20 Granulares
• [26dd] Section 21 Careyanae
• [26ee] Section 22 Griseae
• [26ff] Section 23a Hymenochlaenae
• [26ff] Section 23b Hymenochlaenae
• [26ff] Section 23c Hymenochlaenae
• [26ii] Section 24 Porocystis
• [26kk] Section 25 Anomalae
• [26ll] Section 26 Hallerianae
• [26nn] Section 27 Hirtifoliae
• [26oo] Section 28 Paludosae
• [26pp] Section 29 Carex
• [26qq] Section 30 Vesicariae
• [26rr] Section 31 Lupulinae
• [26ss] Section 32 Rostrales
• [26tt] Section 33 Collinsiae
• [26uu] Section 34 Squarrosae
• [26vv] Section 35 Shortianae
• [26ww] Section 36 Spirostachyae
• [26xx] Section 37 Ceratocystis
• [26aaa] Section 38 Leucoglochin
• [26bbb] Section 39 Acrocystis
• [26ccc] Section 40 Clandestinae
• [26ddd] Section 41 Pictae
• [26fff] Section 42 Mitratae
• [26ggg] Section 43 Albae
• [26kkk] Section 44 Phyllostachyae
• [26lll] Section 45 Firmiculmes
• [26mmm] Section 46 Leptocephalae