Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Carex amplifolia F. Boott.
(Big Leaf Sedge)


Family: Cyperaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Carex amplifolia is a large wetland sedge, up to a meter tall, forming extensive rhizomatous populations. The spikelets are narrow, elongate and unisexual. The leaves are very broad, generally about 10mm across and are taller than the reproductive stems. The perigynia are fat, trigonous (have 3 stigmas), and are glabrous. The scales are about 1/3 the width of the perigynia, and are membranous at the margins with a green midvein. The scales are about the same length as the perigynia.



Carex amplifolia, large population, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, habit, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, perigynia in the field, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, perigynia & scales, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, leaf measured in lab, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, perigynia and scales measured, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020



Carex amplifolia, perigynium & scale measured, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Jennifer Douglass, Grant County, Mimbres Valley, along the Mimbres River at Rio Milagro Farm (private property), May 21, 2020


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