Carex acidicola
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Short description|Species of plant in the sedge family}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| genus = Carex
| species = acidicola
| authority = Naczi
}}
Carex acidicola (common name: acid-loving sedge){{Cite web |title=CPC Plant Profile: Acid-loving Sedge |url=https://saveplants.org/plant-profile/47338/Carex-acidicola/Acid-loving-Sedge/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=saveplants.org |language=en-US}} is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to south eastern parts of the United States in Alabama and Georgia.{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:325594-2|title=Carex acidicola Naczi |access-date=8 March 2023 |publisher=Kew Science – Plants of the World Online}}
The species was first described by the botanist Robert Naczi in 2002 from the type specimen collected in Clarke County in Georgia and was published in the journal Novon.{{cite web|url=http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/50194381|title=Carex acidicola Naczi|accessdate=20 June 2023|work=Tropicos|publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden}}
Description
This tuft-forming plant produces stems from the same rhizomatous root, forming a dense mat. It has purple to reddish-coloured culms that are {{cvt|11|to|41|cm}} in length and have a width of {{cvt|3.2|to|7.4|cm}} at the base. Proximal bract blades are whitish in colour. Leaves are deep green, with a width of {{cvt|3.7|to|5.5|mm}} at the base.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000344135|title=Carex acidicola Naczi|accessdate=20 June 2023|publisher=World Flora Online}}
Distribution and habitat
In 2002 this species was believed to grow in only a handful of sites in Georgia and Alabama.{{Cite journal |last=Naczi |first=Robert |date=2002 |title=Seven New Species and One New Combination in Carex from North America |url=https://www.nybg.org/files/scientists/rnaczi/Carex%207%20New%20Species/novo-12-4-508.pdf |journal=Novon |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=1}} It is usually found in sandy, acidic{{Cite web |title=Carex acidicola - Species Page - APA: Alabama Plant Atlas |url=http://floraofalabama.org/Plant.aspx?id=3874 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=floraofalabama.org}} or loamy soils in deciduous forests. It often occurs with Carex superata.{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242357018|title=Carex acidicola'' Naczi|accessdate=20 June 2023|publisher=Flora of North America}}