Carex debilis Michx. var. pubera A. Gray

Locations ofCarex debilis Michx. var. pubera A. Gray in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Cyperaceae
Botanical Name
Carex debilis Michx. var. pubera A. Gray
Common Name
Allegheny Sedge
Synonym(s)
Carex allegheniensis Mackenzie
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Carex debilis Michaux, in part
Comments
Plants with pubescent perigynia that resemble both Carex debilis and C. flexuosa have been called C. debilis var. pubera Gray and C. allegheniensis Mackenzie. Flora of the Southeastern U.S. (Weakley et al. 2023) treats these as the latter, while FNA treats them as synonyms under C. debilis var. rudgei (Carex flexuosa). While perigynium length overlaps that of both C. debilis and C. flexuosa, these plants often form discrete populations, have consistently puberulent perigynia, and usually have the perigynia midribs excurrent as a short awn. However, mixed populations have been reported and make treatment as a species somewhat questionable. Further study is clearly needed to determine the appropriate rank. For the time being, treatment as C. debilis var. pubera seems to be a reasonable compromise. The current map is no doubt very incomplete and based on specimens so labelled or annotated at FARM, GMUF, LYN, NBYC, NY, and WILLI.
Habitat
Alluvial swamps, seepage swamps, wet streambanks, and floodplain forests. Widely distributed but infrequent; mountains, Piedmont, and extreme inner Coastal Plain.
Native Status
Native

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