332.
Carex
fissuricola
Mackenzie, Muhlenbergia. 5: 53. 1909.
Carex ablata L. H. Bailey var. luzuliformis L. H. Bailey
Plants densely or loosely cespitose; rhizomes thick, short. Culms to 80 cm. Leaves: blades 3—8 mm wide. Inflorescences with 3—5 spikes; peduncles of proximal spikes exserted more than 1 cm; proximal bracts with blade (10—) 15—50 mm, sheaths cylindric to ± expanded to mouth, 20—37 mm, mouth with narrow, ± purple band at top, usually Y- or V-shaped, mouth 0.7—1.8 mm wide. Lateral spikes pistillate or often androgynous, purple to brown, proximal spikes pendent to erect, 14—25 × 4—7 mm. Terminal spike staminate or androgynous, ± erect, 10—21 × 4.5—6 mm. Pistillate scales purple or brown with pale, usually indistinctly veined, ovate to elliptic, 2.3—3.8 × 0.8—1.7 mm, midvein and margins ciliate, apex obtuse to short-awned. Staminate scales purple or reddish brown with pale midvein, ovate to obovate, 3—4.4 × 1—1.4 mm, margins slightly ciliate, apex obtuse. Anthers 1.5—3 mm. Perigynia ascending, usually purple or red-brown, veins usually indistinct, ovate to elliptic, 3.2—5.5 × 0.9—1.7(—2) mm, margins flat, less than 1/2 mature achene width, margins setose-ciliate distally, usually at least sparsely hispidulous to shortly setose; beak ± distinct, apex brown to purple, setose-ciliate, distance from beak tip to achene apex usually more than 2 mm. Achenes obovoid, body 1.5—2 × 0.8—1 mm.
Fruiting summer. Meadows, rocky stream banks; 1500—3500 m; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Utah.
Carex fissuricola is intermediate between C. luzulifolia and C. luzulina. A population in Lemhi County, Idaho, has the terminal spike gynecandrous and the perigynium glabrous or subglabrous. It is tentatively included in C. fissuricola.
