Carex glaucescens | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Cyperaceae |
Genus: | Carex |
Species: | C. glaucescens
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Binomial name | |
Carex glaucescens Elliott
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Carex glaucescens is a perennial sedge that belongs to the family Cyperaceae. [1] The common name of this sedge is the southern waxy sedge due to the blue-grey, waxy appearance of the sheaths and fruits. [2] [3] The term "glaucous" means "gleaming" or "grey" in Latin; [4] the specific epithet of C. glaucescens is derived from this term. Carex glaucescens is a native plant in North America and is an obligate wetland species in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, and the Great Plains. [1]
Carex glaucescens is a graminoid, [1] meaning they have a grass-like [2] appearance. This species begins blooming in the early summer months, and begins developing fruits into the late summer months around July and August. [3] [5] Carex glaucescens features a staminate spikelet at the top of the plant which fertilizes the pistillate spikelets below it. [3] The fruits are born on pendulous pistillate spikelets which are covered by translucent papilla, which gives the fruit sac its glaucous appearance. [3] [5] Inside the fruit sac are ellipsoid achenes, the seed of the plant. [3]