Carex fraseriana Ker Gawler. Section: Leucocephalae. Fraser's Sedge, Lily-leaf Sedge. Phen: May-Jul. Hab: Cove forests, mostly rather acidic and associated with Rhododendron maximum, at moderate elevations. Dist: 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

Other 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 ⓘ: = Va; = Carex fraseri Andrews – WV; = Cymophyllus fraseri (Andrews) Mack. – C, F, G, RAB, S, W; = Cymophyllus fraserianus (Ker Gawl.) Kartesz & Gandhi – FNA23, K1, K3, K4, Pa, Tn

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 3