75.
Carex
canescens
Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 974. 1753.
Carex cinerea Pollich; C. curta Goodenough; C. richardii Thuilling
Plants cespitose, in small and medium-sized clumps; rhizomes short. Culms erect, not stiff, 15—90 cm. Leaves: sheaths pale brown abaxially, inner band thin, hyaline, sometimes slightly red tinged, concave at summit; ligules slightly longer than wide; blades pale green to gray-green flat, 10—20(—30) cm × (1.5—)2—4 mm, subequal to shorter than culms, not stiff. Inflorescences 2—15 cm × 5—10 mm; proximal bracts shorter than to exceeding spikes; distal bracts usually scalelike. Spikes 4—8, gynecandrous, proximal ± remote, distal spikes approximate, sometimes flexuous, containing (5—)10—20(—30) perigynia suborbicular to oblong, 3—12 × 3—5 mm; terminal spike staminate for less than 1/2 of length, often clavate due to more conspicuous staminate part. Pistillate scales hyaline with green, 3-veined center when young, usually brownish tinged in age, broadly ovate, subequal to, not concealing perigynia, apex obtuse to acutish. Perigynia appressed-ascending, gray-green, becoming yellowish brown, obscurely many-veined, elliptic-ovate, 1.8—3 × 1.2—1.7 mm, widest near middle, membranous; beak abaxial suture inconspicuous, small marginal teeth. Achenes pale brown, oblong-obovate, 1.25—1.5 × 1—1.25 mm, dull to slightly glossy. 2n = 56.
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora): North America, South America, Eurasia, Australia, New Guinea.
