Carex gaudichaudiana

{{Short description|Species of plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Carex gaudichaudiana Kunth (AM AK294590-1).jpg

| genus = Carex

| species = gaudichaudiana

| authority = Kunth

}}

Carex gaudichaudiana, also known as fen sedge, is a tussock-forming species of perennial sedge in the family Cyperaceae. It is native to parts of Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:299897-1|title=Carex gaudichaudiana Kunth |access-date=23 October 2022 |publisher=Kew Science – Plants of the World Online}}

Description

The sedge has a long rhizome with loosely tufted shoots. The erect and roughly textured culms are {{cvt|10|to|90|cm}} in length and have a triangular cross-section with a diameter of about {{cvt|1|mm}}. The dark green leaves are longer than the culms and have a width of {{cvt|2|to|4|mm}} and have a rough texture at the edges and are surrounded by pale yellow-brown to orange-brown coloured sheaths. It has erect inflorescences with a length of {{cvt|7|to|8|cm}} composed of three to eight spikes.{{cite web|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/9893ad3f-4c2d-464d-9fa1-6fca79c451fc|title=Carex gaudichaudiana Kunth Fen Sedge|access-date=23 October 2022|work=VicFlora|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria}}

In its native range it flowers in Spring and Summer between September and February.

Taxonomy

The species was first described by the botanist Carl Sigismund Kunth in 1837 as a part of the work Enumeratio Plantarum Omnium Hucusque Cognitarum, Secundum Familias Naturales Disposita, Adjectis Characteribus, Differentiis et Synonymis. Stutgardiae et Tubingae. It has six synonyms;

  • Carex gaudichaudiana var. typica Domin
  • Carex lacerans Kük.
  • Carex micrantha var. tenuinervis (Kük.) Kük.
  • Carex semiplena var. tenuinervis Kük.
  • Carex vulgaris var. gaudichaudiana (Kunth) Boott
  • Carex vulpi-caudata Akiyama.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000346934|title=Carex gaudichaudiana Kunth|access-date=23 October 2022|publisher=World Flora Online}}

Distribution

It is often found in damp areas including eastern and south eastern parts of Australia including South Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Carex_gaudichaudiana|title=Carex gaudichaudiana|work=Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet|access-date=23 October 2022|publisher=Government of South Australia}} Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania as well as the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.

See also

References