Carex adusta

Carex adusta, commonly known as the lesser brown sedge,^[1] swarthy sedge,^[2] browned sedge,^[3] or Carex brûlé,^[4] is a species of sedge (Carex) in the section Ovales. First described scientifically in 1839 by Francis Boott, Adusta is Latin for "burnt," probably referring to the color.

Carex adusta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Subgenus:	Carex subg. Vignea
Section:	Carex sect. Ovales
Species:	C. adusta
Binomial name
Carex adusta Boott
Synonyms
List Carex mirabilis var. adusta (Boott) Prov. Carex adusta var. glomerata L.H.Bailey Carex albolutescens var. glomerata Olney ex L.H.Bailey Carex pinguis L.H.Bailey

Dried seedhead

Description

Carex adusta is a densely tuft-forming, perennial, rhizomatous, grass-like plant growing up to 32 inches in height. Leaves are simple and alternate, and are linear in shape.^[5] The plants have densely clustered culms that grow 2.5–8 cm (1.0–3.1 in) high, and leaves measuring 7–25 cm (2.8–9.8 in) long by 2–3.5 mm wide.^[3] Inflorescence consists of up to 15 spikes, clustered together.^[6] The fruit is an obovate to elliptic achene.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in Canada and the northeastern United States, where it grows in dry, acidic, sandy soils,^[7][8] woodlands, road beds and disturbed sites.^[9]