Question: Good morning Dr. I collected and photographed what appears to be Carex pensylvanica. I would appreciate your comment. Thank you …
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Question
Good morning Dr. I collected and photographed what appears to be Carex pensylvanica. I would appreciate your comment. Thank you in advance. I examined the blades below the culm and the characteristic triangular shape was present. The specimen was collect in Southbridge MA.
Answer
Dear califyank, good morning. Beautiful photograph--thanks again for sharing. Your plant certainly could be. The members of section Acrocystis (to which Carex pensylvanica belongs) are early flowering members of the sedge genus. Carex pensylvanica, like Carex lucorum, is a colonial species that forms broken lawns of leaves on the forest/woodland floor in some locations of New England. The rhizomatous habit is really important for distinguishing these species from other members of the section. I won't be able to tell you with confidence without mature perigynia, only to say your hypothesis is a very reasonable one.
