Carex umbrosa

{{Short description|Species of plant in the sedge family}}

{{speciesbox

| image = Carex umbrosa1.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| display_parents = 2

| genus = Carex

| parent = Carex sect. Mitratae

| species = umbrosa

| authority = Host{{cite book|last1=Host|first1=Nicolai Thomae|title=Icones et descriptiones graminum austriacorum|date=1801|volume=1|location=Vindobona |url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/282642|at=pp. 52–53; [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/282801 Pl. 69]}}

| synonyms =

  • Carex caryophyllea var. umbrosa (Host) Fiori
  • Carex praecox var. umbrosa (Host) Wimm. & Grab.

}}

Carex umbrosa (commonly known as shady sedge),{{Cite web |title=Carex umbrosa - Shade sedge - Wild woodland grass. |url=https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/perennials/ornamental-grasses/ornamental-grasses-by-variety/carex/carex-umbrosa.html |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.promessedefleurs.ie}} is a species of sedge native to Europe and Asia as far east as Japan.{{cite book |author=M. Luceño |year=2008 |title=Cyperaceae – Pontederiaceae |editor1=S. Castroviejo |editor2=M. Luceño |editor3=A. Galán |editor4=P. Jiménez Mejías |editor5=F. Cabezas |editor6=L. Medina |chapter=Carex L. |pages=109–250 |series=Flora Iberica: Plantas Vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares |volume=18 |publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |isbn=978-84-00-08624-4 |url=http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/18_173_20_Carex.pdf }}

Description

Carex umbrosa is a perennial,{{Cite web |title=Carex umbrosa Host {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:302801-1 |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}} tussock-forming, rhizomatous, grass-like plant, reaching about 15 cm in height. Leaves are flat-bladed, green, growing between 15 and 20 cm in height. Inflorescence is a spike, brown in colour, flowering in early summer.{{Cite web |title=Carex umbrosa ‘Feuerbach’ – Esveld Shop |url=https://esveld.shop/a/product/carex-umbrosa-feuerbach/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=esveld.shop}}

Taxonomy

The following infraspecifics are accepted:

  • Carex umbrosa subsp. huetiana (Boiss.) Soó
  • Carex umbrosa subsp. umbrosa
  • Carex umbrosa subsp. pseudosabynensis T.V.Egorova.{{Cite web |title=Carex umbrosa Host {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:302801-1#synonyms |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}

Distribution and habitat

This species grows throughout Europe to the Caucasus, Mongolia to Russian Far East and Korea. As the name suggests, it prefers shady conditions, and is commonly found in moist, acidic clay soil in forested locations.

References

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