Carex barbarae

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Poales

Familia: Cyperaceae
Subfamilia: Cyperoideae
Tribus: Cariceae
Genus: Carex
Species: Carex barbarae
Name

Carex barbarae Dewey in W.H.Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 231 (1858).
Synonyms

Heterotypic
Carex laciniata Boott, Ill. Gen. Carex 4: 175 (1867).
Carex lacunarum Holm, Amer. J. Sci., ser. 4, 17: 316 (1904).
Carex magnifica var. lacunarum (Holm) Kük. in H.G.A.Engler (ed.), Pflanzenr., IV, 20(38): 366 (1909).

Homonyms

Carex barbarae Parish, nom. illeg. = Carex schottii Dewey

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern U.S.A.
California, Oregon

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Dewey, C. in W.H.Emory 1858. Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary 2(1): 231 (1858).

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Carex barbarae in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Dec 14. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Carex barbarae. Published online. Accessed: Dec 14 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Carex barbarae. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Dec 14.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Carex barbarae in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Vernacular names
English: Santa Barbara sedge, white-root sedge

Carex barbarae is a species of sedge known as Santa Barbara sedge.

Description

This sedge produces angled, hairless stems up to one meter tall or slightly taller, but not in clumps. The tough leaves are narrow with shredding, red-spotted or purple basal sheaths. The inflorescence produces erect and drooping spikes up to about 8 centimeters long with an associated long bract which exceeds the length of the spikes. The fruits are covered in a sac called a perigynium which is light to dark brown and sometimes red-spotted, leathery and tough, and sometimes with a toothed, hairy tip. The plant rarely matures into a fruiting stage, however, with most individuals remaining sterile.[1]
Distribution and habitat

Santa Barbara sedge is native to the western United States, in California and Oregon. It grows in wet and seasonally wet habitat, such as meadows and riverbanks.
Uses

Parts of this sedge were used in basketry and as sewing fiber by California Native American groups such as the Maidu and Pomo.[2]
References

Flora of North America
Ethnobotany