Carex hystericina

Carex hystericina is a species of sedge known by the common names bottlebrush sedge^[1] and porcupine sedge.^[2] It is native to North America and Canada through to Mexico and Jamaica.^[3]

Carex hystericina
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Carex
Species:	C. hystericina
Binomial name
Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd.
Synonyms
List Carex cooleyi Dewey Carex erinacea Muhl. ex Steud. Carex georgiana Dewey ex Steud. Carex hystericina var. angustior L.H.Bailey Carex hystericina var. cooleyi (Dewey) Dewey Carex hystericina var. dudleyi L.H.Bailey Carex hystericina f. dudleyi (L.H.Bailey) Wiegand

Description

This sedge produces dense or loose clumps of triangular stems up to a meter tall from short rhizomes. Leaves are green, basal and alternate, sometimes surpassing the stems in height. Basal leaves are fibrous and purplish in colour.^[2] The inflorescence is several centimeters long and is accompanied by a bract which is longer than the spikes. There are separate staminate (male) and pistillate (female) spikes on the same plant.^[2] The fruits are coated in perigynia with pointed, toothed tips.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

Carex hystericina grows in wet habitat such as wetlands and riverbanks, especially on calcareous soils.^[4]