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BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN VENEZUELA - I 65
state of Ta'chira, alt. 3045-3475 m., July 15, 1944, Steyermark 57370,
fruiting specimen.
The specific name refers to the collar-like apical appendage of
the perigynium.
This genus may be separated from Carex and related segregates,
such as Cymophyllus (if that is considered generic), by the combination
of sheathless leaves, the peculiar grass-like ligule with cartilaginous
margin, cucullate-incurved scales with the margins joined
below apex, apparently dioecious flowers, the peculiar whitish fleshy
lobed appendage at the summit of the young perigynium, and the
double-layered pericarp, which separates into an inner whitish membranous
layer surrounding the achene, and the outer firm part of the
pericarp proper. This inner layer becomes separated and stands
between the achene and the perigynium proper at maturity, but in the
younger flowers appears to be part of the inner part of the pericarp.
The peculiar appendage crowning the perigynium appears to be
separated from the perigynium proper, and not a direct continuation
of it, such as the beak in Core*. In Carex I have not found this
2-layered type of perigynium or the peculiar collar-like appendage
which appears to be separate from the perigynium.
Carex culmenicola Steyermark, sp. nov.
Planta subcaespitosa; culmis 30-45 cm. altis, foliaceis, trigonis,
glabris; foliis 15-30 cm. longis, 3-5 mm. latis, marginibus scabriduloserrulatis;
spicis pluribus, superioribus masculinis, inferioribus
foemineis, 4-8 cm. longis; bracteis foliaceis, erectis, 9-15 cm. longis,
4 mm. latis, longe vaginatis, vagina 8-20 mm. longa; glumis masculis
ovatis vel late oblongis, abrupte aristatis, 2.5-3.5 mm. longis, 1-1.5
mm. latis; glumis foemineis late ovatis vel suborbiculari-ovatis,
aristatis, 2.7-3 mm. longis, 1.5-1.8 ram. latis; stigmatibus 3; perigyniis
trigonis, elliptic is, sensim in rostrum brevem scabridulum
attenuatis, 3.25-3.5 mm. longis, 1 mm. latis, marginibus scabris, ore
bidentato; achaenio trigono, elliptic o-oblongo, stipitato, 2 mm.
longo, 0.75 mm. lato.
Leaves erect, prominently sulcate on upper side along center;
pistillate spikes on stout, erect peduncles, 4-8 cm. long, the rachis
scabrid-serrulate; lowest bracts shorter or nearly equaling the upper
spikes; sheaths tight, the truncate ligule up to 5 mm. long; staminate
scales pale to stramineous-brown, with elongate streaks, the aristae
serrulate-scabrid; pistillate scales 10-12-striate with pale striations,
rufous-brown with whitish hyaline margins and pale midrib, speckled
and streaked with reddish-brown; perigynia firm, closely enveloping
the achene, not inflated, conspicuously thickened along margins, one
side concave, the other two more or less plane, olivaceous-brown,
longer than the subtending scales, 3-nerved ventrally, two of the
margins scabrid from below the middle to apex of beak; beak about
1 mm. long, nearly as long as or more than half as long as body;