102. Carex jamesii Schwein.
Pl. 58 o–s; Map 218
Flowering stems 5–30 cm
long. Leaf blades 1–35 cm long, 2–3 mm wide, flat. Staminate portion of the
spikes 2–10 mm long, linear, with 4–20 flowers, the scales oblong-obovate,
wrapped around the axis, truncate and uneven at the tip, brown with a light
green base and a tan upper margin. Pistillate portion of the spikes with 2–4
perigynia, the lowermost 1 or 2 scales 15–50 mm long and leaflike, the
uppermost reduced, white-margined, and sometimes awned. Perigynia 5–6 mm long,
the main body 2.4–2.7 mm long, 2.2–2.5 mm wide, circular to broadly
elliptic-obovate in outline. Fruits 2.4–2.7 mm long, circular to
elliptic-obovate in outline, circular to obscurely trigonous in cross-section,
dark brown to nearly black. 2n=70. April–June.
Scattered throughout
the state (northeastern U.S.
west to Nebraska and Oklahoma). Bottomland forests, mesic to less
commonly dry upland forests, and ledges and bases of mostly dolomite bluffs.