Darkbrown Sedge

Carex atrofusca is the only species in sect. Aulocytsis with papillose perigynia, suggesting that it is perhaps misplaced.

Plants loosely cespitose; rhizomes short, slender. Culms to 30(–60) cm. Leaves: blades 2–4 mm wide. Inflorescences 2–6(–8) cm; proximal internode 10–40 mm; peduncle of proximal spikes exserted to 4 cm; proximal bracts with blade 5–22 mm, sheath cylindric, 5–28 mm, mouth usually tinged with dark purple, 0.9–1.4 mm wide Spikes 2–5; lateral spikes usually pistillate, inclined or pendent, 8–19 × 4–7 mm; terminal spike staminate or gynecandrous, erect or inclined, 6–15 × 2–5 mm. Pistillate scales black with pale midvein, ovate or oblong-ovate, 3–4.8 × 0.9–1.6 mm, margins narrow and scarious, apex acute to obtuse, papillose at least on midvein. Staminate scales black with pale midvein, oblong-obovate, 3–5 × 1.2–1.8 mm, margins scarious, apex acute or obtuse. Anthers 1.9–2.6 mm. Perigynia ascending, pale brown proximally, black distally, indistinctly veined, ovate, 3–4.8(–5.5) × 0.9–1.6 mm, papillose at least on margins; beak distinct, 0.3–0.5 mm. Achenes ellipsoid, 1.4–1.6 × 0.7–0.9 mm.

Perennial, 10-25 cm. Rhizome short, emitting short stolons. Stem obtusely to acutely trigonous, papillose but smooth. Leaves at most 1/4 of stem length; sheaths 10-15 mm, greyish green; ligule c. 0.3 mm, arch high; blades 20-50 x 2.5-5 mm, flat, grey-green, both sides densely papillose, margins towards apex slightly scabrous. Inflorescence of 1 male and 2-4 female spikes, occasionally gynecandrous. Bracts up to 30 mm, narrow, with sheath up to 15 mm. Male spikes 5-10 mm, ellipsoid, light- to dark-brown; male glumes c. 3.5 mm, obtuse with scarious margins. Female spikes 7-15 x 4-7 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, black-brown, all pedunculate, lowest peduncle up to 30 mm; female glumes c. 3 x 1.5 mm, ovate, acuminate, blackish brown, apical margin scarious; utricles 3-4 x 1.5-2 mm, wide ovoid or ellipsoid, flat, blackish brown, papillose, beak 0.2-0.5 mm, cylindrical, papillose, sometimes scabrid, bidentate, ostiole margin scarious. Stigmas 3. Nut c. 2 x 1 mm, ellipsoid, trigonous, yellow.

Greenland; Man., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon; Alaska; Eurasia.

Distribution: Arctic circum-polar, in mountains of Europe and Central Asia (Dshungarskiy Alatau, Tian Shan, Pamir-Alai, NE Afghanistan, N Pakistan and Himalayas).

Fl. Per.: July–August.

Fruiting summer.

Sedge meadows, moist shores; 10–300m.

In alpine meadows, 3670-5250 m.

C. ustulata Wahlenb., Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl. N.S. 24: 156. 1803. C. ustulata Wahlenb. var. minor Boott, Ill. Gen. Carex 1: 71. 1858. C. atrofusca subsp. minor (Boott) Koyama, in H. Ohashi, Fl. East. Himalaya, 3rd Report: 122. 1978. C. oxyleuca V. Krecz., in Schiscgk., Fl. URSS 3: 284. 1935. C. hypsobates Nelmes in Kew Bull. 1940: 272. 1940; Mackenzie, N. Am. Caric.: Pl. 364. 1940; Schkuhr, l.c. 1: tab. Y, fig. 82. 1801.