Difference between revisions of "Carex"
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Flowers unisexual, in spikes, the staminate naked and subtended by a bract or scale, the pistillate comprising a single pistil inclosed in a thin sac or perigynium; monoecious or rarely dioecious: sts. or culms solid, not jointed, mostly 3-angled: lvs. grass-like but 3- ranked. One large group has 2 styles and a lenticular achene, and the spikes are commonly androgynous or contain both sexes (Fig. 796); another division has 3 styles and a triangular achene, and the spikes are commonly unisexual, the staminate being above (Figs. 797, 798). | Flowers unisexual, in spikes, the staminate naked and subtended by a bract or scale, the pistillate comprising a single pistil inclosed in a thin sac or perigynium; monoecious or rarely dioecious: sts. or culms solid, not jointed, mostly 3-angled: lvs. grass-like but 3- ranked. One large group has 2 styles and a lenticular achene, and the spikes are commonly androgynous or contain both sexes (Fig. 796); another division has 3 styles and a triangular achene, and the spikes are commonly unisexual, the staminate being above (Figs. 797, 798). | ||
Carices are very abundant in cool temperate regions, both in species and in individual plants. There are more than 800 known species. Many of them grow on dry land, but the largest species grow in low grounds and swales, and often form much of the bulk of bog hay. Carices coyer great areas of marsh land in the upper Mississippi region and are employed in the manufacture of "grass carpets" or Crex fabrics. The species are difficult to distinguish because they are very similar, and the study of them is usually left to specialists. Some of our broad-leaved native species make excellent borders and interesting clumps in corners about buildings and along walls. Of such are C. platyphylla, C. plantaginea, C. albursina. Many of the lowland species are excellent adjuncts to the pond of hardy aquatics. Others have very graceful forms, with drooping spikes and slender culms (Fig. 798). The following native species, and probably others, have been offered by collectors: C. aurea, C. eburnea, C. flava, C. Grayi (one of the best), C. hysiricina, C. lupulina and its var. pedunculata, C. lurida, C. paupercula, C. pennsylvanica, C. plantaginea, C. Pseudo-Cyperus, C. retrosa, C. Richardsonii, C. riparia, C. Tuckermanii, C. utriculata, C. vulpinoidea. The species present no difficulties in cultivation if the natural habitat is imitated. Propagated readily by seed sown in late fall (germinating in spring) or by division of the clumps. | Carices are very abundant in cool temperate regions, both in species and in individual plants. There are more than 800 known species. Many of them grow on dry land, but the largest species grow in low grounds and swales, and often form much of the bulk of bog hay. Carices coyer great areas of marsh land in the upper Mississippi region and are employed in the manufacture of "grass carpets" or Crex fabrics. The species are difficult to distinguish because they are very similar, and the study of them is usually left to specialists. Some of our broad-leaved native species make excellent borders and interesting clumps in corners about buildings and along walls. Of such are C. platyphylla, C. plantaginea, C. albursina. Many of the lowland species are excellent adjuncts to the pond of hardy aquatics. Others have very graceful forms, with drooping spikes and slender culms (Fig. 798). The following native species, and probably others, have been offered by collectors: C. aurea, C. eburnea, C. flava, C. Grayi (one of the best), C. hysiricina, C. lupulina and its var. pedunculata, C. lurida, C. paupercula, C. pennsylvanica, C. plantaginea, C. Pseudo-Cyperus, C. retrosa, C. Richardsonii, C. riparia, C. Tuckermanii, C. utriculata, C. vulpinoidea. The species present no difficulties in cultivation if the natural habitat is imitated. Propagated readily by seed sown in late fall (germinating in spring) or by division of the clumps. | ||
| + | C. baccans, Nees. Robust, with curving lvs. to 2 ft. long and ½in. broad: fr. berry-like (whence the name), crimson or vermilion, in clustered spikes standing well above the lvs. India. G. 1:461. Useful for pots or for planting in a conservatory, for its ornamental fr., but probably not now in cult, commercially.—C. gallica variegate is offered abroad as a "very elegant, showy and charming" carex.-C. riparia. Curt., a rank-growing lowland species of wide distribution, is sometimes grown in a variegated-lvd. form. The name has no botanical standing.—With the extension of wild gardening, and particularly of bog- and water-gardening, many other species of Carex may be expected to appear in the trade lists. L. H. B. | ||
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Revision as of 10:08, 7 June 2009
Read about Carex in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Carex (name of obscure origin). Cyperaceae. Sedge. Grass-like perennials of very many kinds, a few of which are grown in bogs or as border plants. Flowers unisexual, in spikes, the staminate naked and subtended by a bract or scale, the pistillate comprising a single pistil inclosed in a thin sac or perigynium; monoecious or rarely dioecious: sts. or culms solid, not jointed, mostly 3-angled: lvs. grass-like but 3- ranked. One large group has 2 styles and a lenticular achene, and the spikes are commonly androgynous or contain both sexes (Fig. 796); another division has 3 styles and a triangular achene, and the spikes are commonly unisexual, the staminate being above (Figs. 797, 798). Carices are very abundant in cool temperate regions, both in species and in individual plants. There are more than 800 known species. Many of them grow on dry land, but the largest species grow in low grounds and swales, and often form much of the bulk of bog hay. Carices coyer great areas of marsh land in the upper Mississippi region and are employed in the manufacture of "grass carpets" or Crex fabrics. The species are difficult to distinguish because they are very similar, and the study of them is usually left to specialists. Some of our broad-leaved native species make excellent borders and interesting clumps in corners about buildings and along walls. Of such are C. platyphylla, C. plantaginea, C. albursina. Many of the lowland species are excellent adjuncts to the pond of hardy aquatics. Others have very graceful forms, with drooping spikes and slender culms (Fig. 798). The following native species, and probably others, have been offered by collectors: C. aurea, C. eburnea, C. flava, C. Grayi (one of the best), C. hysiricina, C. lupulina and its var. pedunculata, C. lurida, C. paupercula, C. pennsylvanica, C. plantaginea, C. Pseudo-Cyperus, C. retrosa, C. Richardsonii, C. riparia, C. Tuckermanii, C. utriculata, C. vulpinoidea. The species present no difficulties in cultivation if the natural habitat is imitated. Propagated readily by seed sown in late fall (germinating in spring) or by division of the clumps. C. baccans, Nees. Robust, with curving lvs. to 2 ft. long and ½in. broad: fr. berry-like (whence the name), crimson or vermilion, in clustered spikes standing well above the lvs. India. G. 1:461. Useful for pots or for planting in a conservatory, for its ornamental fr., but probably not now in cult, commercially.—C. gallica variegate is offered abroad as a "very elegant, showy and charming" carex.-C. riparia. Curt., a rank-growing lowland species of wide distribution, is sometimes grown in a variegated-lvd. form. The name has no botanical standing.—With the extension of wild gardening, and particularly of bog- and water-gardening, many other species of Carex may be expected to appear in the trade lists. L. H. B.
The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text. |
| Origin: | ✈ | ? |
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| Exposure: | ☼ | ?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property. |
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| Water: | ◍ | ?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property. |
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