Carex firma

Carex firma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Carex
Subgenus: Carex subg. Carex
Section: Carex sect. Frigidae
Species:
C. firma
Binomial name
Carex firma

Carex firma is a species of sedge that grows in the mountains of southern and central Europe.

Description

Carex firma forms thick cushions. Its leaves are up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) long in normal conditions (up to 10 cm or 4 in in moist, sheltered localities), dark green and stiff.[1] The stems are up to 20 cm (7.9 in) tall (exceptionally 30 cm or 12 in), but always at least twice as long as the leaves.[1]

Ecology

In synecology, Carex firma is a characteristic part of the "Caricetum firmae" (also called "Firmetum"), which is an important community in the alpine zone over calcareous rock.[2]

Carex firma can survive temperatures as low as −50 °C (−58 °F).[3]

Taxonomy

Carex firma was first described by Nicolaus Thomas Host in 1797, in his work Synopsis Plantarum in Austria provinciisque adjacentibus sponte crescentium.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b M. A. Fischer, W. Adler & K. Oswald (2005). "Segge, Riedgras / Carex (inkl. Vignea)". Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol (in German) (2nd ed.). Land Oberösterreich, Biologiezentrum des OÖ Landesmuseum, Linz. pp. 1093–1119. ISBN 3-85474-140-5.
  2. ^ M. A. Fischer, W. Adler & K. Oswald (2005). "Standorts- und Vegetationsökologie". Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol (in German) (2nd ed.). Land Oberösterreich, Biologiezentrum des OÖ Landesmuseum, Linz. pp. 127–135. ISBN 3-85474-140-5.
  3. ^ Ökke Atıcıa & Barbaros Nalbantoğlu (2003). "Antifreeze proteins in higher plants". Phytochemistry. 64 (7): 1187–1196. Bibcode:2003PChem..64.1187A. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00420-5. PMID 14599516.
  4. ^ Nicolaus Thomas Host (1797). "Carex". Synopsis Plantarum in Austria provinciisque adjacentibus sponte crescentium. Vienna, Austria: Christian Friedrich Wappler. pp. 502–512.