Notes on Carex chordorrhiza

Carex chordorrhiza L.f., a deviating morph (three inflorescences on the right) and typical (on the left) (Finland, Espoo, Kalajärvi, 1997). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimens). – The right-hand plants differ from typical C. chordorrhiza (Cyperaceae): (i) the culms are slightly more erect, (ii) the bract of the lowest spike is longer, (iii) the spike glumes are more acute, (iv) the spike glumes are rather pale brown, with distinctly green midrib (vs. medium to  dark brown, midrib often not being green), (v) the perigynia taper to beak more gradually, and (vi) the phenology may be somewhat retarded. This kind of plants grew among typical C. chordorrhiza, mainly in an oligotrophic mire ('nevakorpi') at the margin of a bog, also accompanied by e.g. Scheuchzeria palustris.