| Distribution | All physical specimens that have been examined by a website editor (Sorrie) so far (December 2018) show that Carex grisea in the strict sense does not occur in NC. Specimens have been annotated to C. amphibola, C. corrugata, and other related species such as C. planispicata. Achenes of true C. grisea are much larger than those of relatives. True C. grisea occurs in southwestern VA and may turn up in northwestern NC. Note that RAB (1968) gives many records of this species across the state, but clearly these records now belong to C. planispicata, C. corrugata, and other related species. | |
| Abundance | Though Weakley's (2018) maps shows it as "rare" in all three NC provinces, his text says "… south to VA, TN, MS …" and thus implies that it does not range as far south as NC. Given the website specimen review (so far) and Weakley's (2018) text, this website ranks the species as SRF (State Reported Falsely). Also, it is not on the NC NHP list of species. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | A synonym is C. amphibola var. turgida.
The genus Carex is the largest in North America, and among the largest in the world. In temperate and boreal regions, Carex is often the dominant or co-dominant ground layer in many habitats. Seeds (achenes) are valuable food for birds and small mammals, while foliage is used by birds and mammals to make nests and as food by mammals. Species of Carex often look vastly different from one another -- spikes erect vs. drooping, tiny inflorescence vs. whopping, culms leafy vs. naked, perigynia beaked vs. beakless, stems densely bunched vs. single, etc. The genus has been divided into many sections (or groups), based on shared characters; some taxonomists have suggested that these be different genera, but that proves unworkable (so far). All Carex share the feature of a perigynium (an outer covering) which completely surrounds the achene (seed). This covering may fit tightly or loosely (like a small bladder), depending on which group or species. Details of perigynia shape, ornamentation, presence and size of beak, number of striations (or veins) are all important ID features. In recent years Rob Naczi and colleagues have stressed the importance of arrangement of perigynia -- whether spiral (3+ ranks) or distichous (2-ranked) -- and have named a number of new species as well as split off some older synonyms. Therefore, RAB's (1968) key, excellent for its time, can only be used in a general way today. Members of some sections of Carex are difficult to key out (notably Ovales, Laxiflorae, Griseae); this is in part due to variation among individuals of a species, or failings of the key. FNA has drawings of most species and some species may be found in two or more places within a key, to acount for variability. New species to NC, and new to science(!), continue to be found in NC. | |
