90. Carex austrina (Small) Mack.

Pl. 57 a; Map 206

C. muehlenbergii Schkuhr ex Willd. var. australis Olney

C. muehlenbergii var. austrina Small

Plants with poorly developed rhizomes, forming tufts or clumps. Flowering stems 20–90 cm long, shorter than to more commonly longer than the leaves. Leaf blades 2–35 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, green to light green. Leaf sheaths tight around the stem, the ventral side relatively firm and without cross-wrinkles, usually remaining intact at maturity, the dorsal side green or light brown, lacking white areas or mottling, the ligule about as long as wide and U- or V-shaped. Inflorescence compact, narrowly ovate to more commonly narrowly oblong in outline, dense, but at least the lowermost spikes separated on the axis and easily distinguished (the axis easily visible between the lowermost spikes), with 4–12 spikes, the lowermost bracts 6–50 mm long, shorter than to often somewhat longer than the inflorescence, hairlike with the base noticeably broadened and strongly nerved, the dilated portion longer than the lowermost perigynium. Spikes 5–13 mm long, 7–15 mm wide, with 8–24 mostly ascending perigynia, the scales 3.0–4.2 mm long, about as long as or somewhat longer than the perigynia, ovate to broadly ovate, the tip sharply pointed and mostly short-awned. Perigynia 3.5–4.5 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, up to 2 times as long as wide, elliptic-ovate in outline, widest just below the middle, the tip with a short beak with minutely toothed or roughened margins, the base rounded to broadly narrowed, the basal portion not thickened with corky to spongy tissue (rarely slightly thickened), light green to straw-colored, the ventral surface nerveless, the dorsal surface usually with 4–9 nerves. Stigmas long, slender, straight or sometimes loosely coiled. Fruits 2.0–2.5 mm long, broadly ovate to nearly circular in outline. April–July.

Scattered nearly throughout Missouri, but mostly absent from the northern half of the Glaciated Plains Division (Nebraska to Texas east to Iowa and Alabama). Mesic to dry upland forests, upland prairies, and limestone and dolomite glades; also roadsides, railroads, and disturbed, open areas.