嵩草属 song cao shu
Zhang Shuren; Tetsuo Koyama
Herbs perennial. Rhizomes usually very short, sometimes obliquely and shortly creeping, rarely stoloniferous and spreading. Stems (culms) usually tufted, rarely scattered. Leaves basal or subbasal; basal leaf sheaths persistent and usually prominent; blades flat, folded, involute, or filiform. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate to spicate, sometimes unisexual; lowest bract leafy or glume-like, sheathless; branches of inflorescence sessile. Spikelets subtended by glumes (bracteoles), unisexual or bisexual; bisexual spikelets with one pistillate flower at base and one to several staminate flowers at distal parts enclosed by prophylls; unisexual spikelets with a solitary pistillate flower within prophylls. Sterile rachilla in pistillate spikelet usually present. Flowers unisexual. Pistillate flowers reduced to naked pistils; ovary 2- or 3-carpellate; style elongated; stigmas 3 or 2. Staminate flowers subtended by staminate glumes; stamens 1--3; filaments free, longer than glumes, slender; staminate glumes usually distinct in shape from spikelet glumes. Achenes trigonous or flattened, included in prophylls.
About 60 species: mainly distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere; 45 species in China (??# endemic).
??Kobresia caricina Willdenow
??Kobresia clarkeana var. megalantha Kükenthal
??Kobresia curticeps (C. B. Clarke) Kükenthal
??Kobresia lolonum Handel-Mazzetti
??Kobresia nitens C. B. Clarke
??Kobresia persica Kükenthal & Bornmüller
??Kobresia pygmaea var. curvispica Kükenthal ex Limpricht
??Kobresia schoenoides f. nana Kükenthal
??Kobresia setiglumis Boeckeler
1a. Inflorescence loosely paniculate, rarely spicate; lowest bract usually leafy; spikelets bi- or unisexual; prophylls utriculiform; rachilla prominent, flat to filiform, sometimes apically with staminate flowers; stigma 3.
2a. Prophylls thickly papery or leathery, ovate [oblong or elliptic??], ca. 8 mm; inflorescence spicate or paniculate ..................................................................................................... 7. K. inflata
2b. Prophylls herbaceous or membranous, ovate to linear, 3--10.5 mm; inflorescence usually paniculate.
3a. Prophylls less than 4 mm.
4a. Glumes and prophylls with ferruginous spots and lines ........................... 5. K. fragilis
4b. Glumes and prophylls without ferruginous spots and lines ...................... 6. K. curvata
3b. Prophylls more than 5 mm.
5a. Rhizomes elongated, stoloniferous ....................................................... 3. K. gammiei
5b. Rhizomes short, not stoloniferous.
6a. Culms rigid, stout, 1.1--2.2 mm in diam.; prophylls 6--10.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, with several obvious veins and 2 keels, often hairy ......................................... 2. K. uncinoides
6b. Culms usually slender, less than 1 mm in diam.; prophylls 5--6 mm, without veins or veins obscure, 2-keeled, usually glabrous.
7a. Prophylls 0.5--0.8 mm wide, linear to linear-oblong; inflorescence reddish brown 1. K. laxa
7b. Prophylls ca. 2 mm wide, oblong or ovate to lanceolate; inflorescence pale or yellowish green ................................................................................................ 4. K. loliacea
1b. Inflorescence densely paniculate to spicate; lowest bract usually glume-like, apex sometimes aristate; spikelets bi- to unisexual; prophylls +/- open, rarely utriculiform; rachilla usually tiny; stigma 3, rarely 2.
8a. Rhizomes slender and elongated, plants scattered; inflorescence paniculate or spike-like; prophylls open from apex to base; achenes oblong to nearly circular, flattened, long stipitate; stigmas 2(or 3).
9a. Leaf blade flat; inflorescence usually branched; prophylls 3--3.6 X 1.5--2 mm, membranous, margins free .......................................................................................................... 8. K. macrantha
9b. Leaf blade filiform; inflorescence usually simple spicate; prophylls 6--6.5 X 2--2.7 mm, thickly papery or subleathery, margins overlapping to free .............................................. 9. K. stolonifera
8b. Rhizomes thick and usually short, rarely with stolons, plants densely tufted; inflorescence paniculate to spicate; prophylls +/- open, rarely utriculiform; achenes various; stigma (2 or)3.
10a. Inflorescence spicate; spikelets bisexual; prophylls utriculiform, broadly elliptic or ovate, to 10 mm; basal sheaths yellowish brown, shiny; culms robust; glumes yellowish brown; rhizomes sometimes with stolons ............................................................................................................. 29. K. robusta
10b. Inflorescence spicate to paniculate, spikelets bi- to unisexual, prophylls usually open (when utriculiform, spikelets unisexual), usually less than 10 mm; basal sheaths??; culms??; glumes??; rhizomes without stolons.
11a. Inflorescence spicate, very rarely paniculate (K. tunicata); spikelets usually unisexual, occasionally androgynous (then leaf blade flat and inflorescence spicate); prophylls +/- open, or utriculiform.
12a. Leaf blade flat, margins neither involute nor folded.
13a. Spikelets bisexual, with 1(or 2) staminate flower(s) above basal pistillate flower.
14a. Plant slender, flaccid or slightly stiff; prophylls not utriculiform, margins connate from base to lower 1/3 part of prophyll ...................................................... 36. K. filicina
14b. Plant rigid; prophylls utriculiform, margins free above middle ... 37. K. duthiei
13b. Spikelets usually unisexual, with only one basal pistillate flower.
15a. Prophylls narrowly elliptic or oblong, not embracing achenes, keels obscure or absent 38. K. fissiglumis
15b. Prophylls linear or linear-oblong, embracing achenes, keels obvious and scabrid.
16a. Pistillate inflorescence linear, 2--6.5 cm; prophylls utriculiform when young, split from apex to below middle when mature ..................................... 39. K. esenbeckii
16b. Pistillate inflorescence oblong, 1.5--2 cm; prophylls open to base even at young stage 40. K. falcata
12b. Leaf blade filiform, margins involute or folded.
17a. Prophylls usually open, lanceolate to linear; achenes narrowly oblong or lanceolate to linear.
18a. Prophylls utriculiform, margins fused from base to middle parts or above 35. K. nepalensis
18b. Prophylls open, margins free.
19a. Inflorescence branched, paniculate ................................. 30. K. tunicata
19b. Inflorescence simple, spicate.
20a. Spike bisexual, androgynous; without staminate spike 33. K. cercostachys
20b. Spike often unisexual, occasionally bisexual; staminate spike often present together with pistillate one on same plant; occasionally dioecious.
21a. Plants and spikes slender ..................................... 34. K. vaginosa
21b. Plants and spikes stout.
22a. Basal sheaths fibriform, dull; pistillate glumes 5--6 X 1.5--2 mm, apically acute to obtuse; prophylls 5--6 X 1--1.8 mm .............. 31. K. graminifolia
22b. Basal sheaths not fibriform, slightly shiny; pistillate glumes 6.2--8 X 2.5--4 mm, apically rounded; prophylls 7--9 X ca. 1 mm .......... 32. K. woodii
17b. Prophylls utriculiform, oblong or elliptic or ovate; achenes oblong to broadly ovate.
23a. Prophylls ca. 5 X 4 mm, triangular-ovoid, leathery or thickly papery 45. K. yadongensis
23b. Prophylls 2--5 X 0.6--1.3 mm, elliptic or oblong to narrowly ovate, membranous.
24a. Midvein of glume distinct, ca. 1/3 width of glume, green ....... 43. K. vidua
24b. Midvein of glume less than 1/3 width of glume, pale yellow or pale green.
25a. Plant slender; glumes reddish brown to brown; prophylls elliptic 44. K. yangii
25b. Plant rigid; glumes pale brown; prophylls narrowly oblong or lanceolate.
26a. Plant robust; culms 1--2 mm in diam.; inflorescence large, pistillate inflorescence 15--40 X 2--3 mm, staminate inflorescence 17--30 X 4--5 mm 41. K. littledalei
26b. Plant slender; culms less than 1 mm in diam.; inflorescence small, pistillate inflorescence 10--20 X 2--3 mm, staminate inflorescence 6--13 X 2--5 mm 42. K. prainii
11b. Inflorescence paniculate to spicate; spikelets usually androgynous, sometimes unisexual (then inflorescence paniculate except K. pygmaea, which is dwarf plant with filiform leaves); prophylls open.
27a. Leaf blade flat or folded, sometimes margins involute, 1.5--10 mm wide.
28a. Basal sheaths prominent, brown, fibriform; leaf blade involute or folded; inflorescence densely spicate, brown to dark brown; prophylls oblong, with 2 keels and several veins; achenes obovate.
29a. Pistillate flowers without perianth scales .............................. 20. K. cuneata
29b. Pistillate flowers with 2 membranous perianth scales ... 21. K. lepidochlamys
28b. Basal sheaths prominent or not, pale brown, reddish brown or dark brown, not fibriform; leaf blade flat; inflorescence paniculate to spicate, pale brown to dark brown; prophylls ovate or oblong to lanceolate, 2-keeled, without veins; achenes obovoid or narrowly oblong.
30a. Plant larger and robust; basal sheaths prominent, shiny; culms 2--4 mm in diam., acutely triquetrous.
31a. Inflorescences smaller; glumes 5--6 mm, not awned; prophylls 4.5--7 mm 18. K. kansuensis
31b. Inflorescences larger; glumes 6.2--6.5 mm, awned; prophylls 5.6--7 mm 19. K. pseuduncinoides
30b. Plant smaller and slender; basal sheaths not prominent, pale brown to reddish brown, dull; culms less than 2 mm in diam., triquetrous or subterete.
32a. Stigmas usually 3.
33a. Inflorescence paniculate or occasionally spike-like; achenes narrowly oblong 22. K. royleana
33b. Inflorescence spicate or sometimes branched at base; achenes obovate or elliptic 23. K. humilis
32b. Stigmas usually 2.
34a. Glumes pale brown to brown, margins broadly hyaline or not hyaline; achenes obovate, shortly stipitate ............................................................ 24. K. pusilla
34b. Glumes dark brown, occasionally brown, margins narrowly hyaline or not hyaline; achenes oblong, distinctly stipitate .................. 25. K. karakorumensis
27b. Leaf blade filiform, less than 1.5 mm wide, usually involute.
35a. Culms more than 1 mm in diam.; inflorescence spike-like; spikelets androgynous.
36a. Prophylls open from apex to middle ............................... 28. K. burangensis
36b. Prophylls open from apex nearly to base, or open completely.
37a. Plant robust; basal sheaths yellowish brown to reddish brown, shiny, not fibriform; prophylls papery to membranous, 2-keeled or rarely keels obscure; achenes obovate or oblong-obovate ........................................................ 26. K. schoenoides
37b. Plant slender; basal sheaths brown to dark brown, dull, slightly fibriform; prophylls hyaline to thinly membranous, not keeled or obscurely keeled; achenes oblong or ovate-oblong 27. K. tibetica
35b. Culms less than 1 mm in diam.; inflorescence paniculate to spicate; spikelets androgynous or unisexual.
38a. Inflorescence usually paniculate ........................................... 10. K. filifolia
38b. Inflorescence usually spicate.
39a. Leaf sheaths with distinct membranous, reddish brown margins; spike panicle-like; staminate parts of androgynous spikelets often spike-like.
40a. Rhizomes slightly obliquely elongated, with pale brown scales 11. K. kukenthaliana
40b. Rhizomes short, without scales ...................... 12. K. handel-mazzettii
39b. Leaf sheaths without reddish brown margins; spike simple; staminate flowers of androgynous spikelets not spike-like, enclosed in prophylls.
41a. Plant usually dwarf; spikelets unisexual ..................... 17. K. pygmaea
41b. Plant usually not dwarf; spikelets bisexual.
42a. Achenes small, oblong or ovate-oblong [oblong-obovoid??], brown or dark brown when mature ................................................. 16. K. myosuroides
42b. Achenes large, obovate or oblong-obovate; yellowish or pale brown when mature.
43a. Basal sheaths dark brown, shiny ................... 15. K. capillifolia
43b. Basal sheaths pale brown, dull.
44a. Culms 1--1.5 mm in diam. ................. 13. K. setschwanensis
44b. Culms less than 1 mm in diam. ................... 14. K. pinetorum
疏穗嵩草 shu sui song cao
Kobresia pseudolaxa C. B. Clarke.
Rhizomes shortly elongated. Basal sheaths fewer, pale to dark brown, dull, with or without dried leaf blades. Culms loosely tufted, lower part triquetrous (3-edged), (4--)13--35 cm tall, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves subbasal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1.4--4 mm wide. Inflorescence a loose or sometimes slightly compact panicle, reddish brown, linear or oblong, 3.5--8 X 1--1.5 cm; lowest bract leaflike, surpassing inflorescence; lower inflorescence branches linear-lanceolate, compound. Lateral spikelets usually unisexual or occasionally bisexual; glumes reddish brown, with green midvein, narrowly ovate or oblong, 3.5--5 X 1--1.4 mm, midvein narrow, margins broadly hyaline, apex aristate, acute, or rounded. Prophylls pale green, utriculiform, linear or linear-lanceolate, sometimes slightly curved, (3.5--)4.5--6.6 X 0.5--0.8 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, margins fused to apex or free from apex to fused to 1/2. Achenes pale yellow or brown, narrowly oblong or elliptic-oblong, trigonous, 2.5--3 X 0.4--0.6 mm, slightly beaked. Rachillas in pistillate spikelets, longer than achenes, exserted from or included in prophylls, flat, green, margins scabrid. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Jul.
Moist meadows, on wet rocks; 2200--3700 m. Xizang [Afghanistan, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan].
钩状嵩草 gou zhuang song cao
Carex uncinoides Boott, Ill. Gen. Carex 1: 8. 1858.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths fewer, pale yellowish, dull, with dried leaf blades. Culm tufted, rigid and erect, obtusely triquetrous or nearly terete, (1.5--)6--50 cm tall, 1--2.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal or subbasal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 2--4 mm wide. Inflorescence densely paniculate, very rarely spicate, yellowish brown and partly green, (1--)2.5--7 X 0.8--1.7 cm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate, arista short or long and sometimes nearly equalling inflorescence; lower inflorescence branches sometimes distant, oblong or lanceolate, androgynous or pistillate. Lateral spikelets unisexual with only one pistillate flower; glumes yellowish brown, with green midvein, oblong or ovate, 1.7--2 X 1--1.4 mm, membranous, midvein extending into arista, margins not hyaline, apex aristate. Prophylls yellowish brown, utriculiform, narrowly lanceolate, 5.5--8.5(--10.5) X 1.4--1.5 mm, herbaceous, upper part often hairy, 2-keeled and many veined, keels scabrid, margins fused from base to just below apex. Achenes chestnut-brown, narrowly oblong, trigonous, 3.1--4.5 X 0.8--1.4 mm, slightly beaked, shortly stipitate. Rachillas in pistillate spikelets, longer than achenes, slightly exerted from prophyll, green, flat, margins ciliate. Stigma 3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Oct.
Alpine meadows; watersides, grassy slopes, forest edges, among shrubs; 2900--4900 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar, ??Nepal, Sikkim].
根茎嵩草 gen jing song cao
Kobresia williamsii T. Koyama.
Rhizomes elongated, stoloniferous. Basal sheaths fewer, pale yellow, dull, with dried leaf blades. Culms loosely tufted, triquetrous to subterete, 7--58 cm tall, slender, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal or subbasal, shorter than culms; blades flat, 1.5--4.5(--5) mm wide. Inflorescence loosely or densely paniculate, reddish brown with green, oblong or elliptic-oblong, 2.6--8 X 0.5--1.2 cm; lowest bract leafy or glume-like with long arista, shorter than inflorescence. Spikelets bisexual with 1 basal pistillate flower and 1 distal staminate flower, or unisexual with only one pistillate flower; glumes reddish brown, with green midvein, elliptic to oblong, (3.5--)5.5--8.5 X 3.2--4 mm, midvein broad, margins broadly hyaline, apex subacute to rounded-truncate. Prophylls pale green, partly brown, utriculiform, lanceolate, (5.6--)7--10.3 X 1--2 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth, apex attenuate into a beak. Achenes yellowish green, obovate, trigonous, 3.3--4 X 1.5--2 mm, not rostrate. Rachillas in unisexual spikelets, shorter or ca. as long as achenes, flat, prominent, sometimes with a sterile staminate glume at apex. Stigmas 3, base of style disc-like. Fl. and fr. May-Aug.
Grassy slopes, damp slopes in Abies forests, watersides, cliffs; 3700--4400 m. Xizang [Nepal, Sikkim].
黑麦嵩草 hei mai song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths fewer, pale brown, dull, without dried leaf blades, fibriform. Culms tufted, 15--45 cm tall, slender, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal or subbasal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1.5--2 mm wide. Inflorescence loosely paniculate, yellowish green, linear, 2.5--6 cm X 4--5 mm; lowest bract leafy, longer than inflorescence. Spikelets bisexual with 1 basal pistillate flower and 1--4 distal staminate flowers, sometimes unisexual with only one pistillate flower; glumes yellowish green, oblong, 4.5--5.5 X 2--2.5 mm, apex mucronate. Prophylls yellowish green, utriculiform, oblong or elliptic, 5--6 X ca. 2 mm, papery, 2 keels smooth, many veined, apex attenuate into beak. Achenes pale brown, obovate-oblong, triquetrous, 2.8--3 X ca. 1 mm, not rostrate. Rachilla in unisexual spikelet, prominent, flat, ca. 2/3 as long as achenes, with a sterile staminate glume at apex. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
* Slopes, roadsides, grasslands; 3200--3400 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
囊状嵩草 nang zhuang song cao
Kobresia bonatiana Kükenthal; K. clarkeana (Kükenthal) Kükenthal; K. curticeps (C. B. Clarke) Kükenthal var. gyirongensis Y. C. Yang; K. hispida Kükenthal; K. yuennanensis Handel-Mazzetti; Schoenoxiphium clarkeanum Kükenthal.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths fewer, pale brown, dull, with dried leaf blades. Culms tufted, erect, triquetrous or subterete, (2--)15--45 cm tall, slender, 0.5--1.1 mm in diam. Leaves basal or subbasal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1--1.6 mm wide. Inflorescence a loose or sometimes slightly compact panicle, rarely spike-like, brown or green and partly brown, linear, usually not curved, 1--4.5 cm X 2--7 mm; lowest bract leaf-like, surpassing inflorescence; lower inflorescence branches compound or simple, linear-oblong. Lateral spikelets usually unisexual or occasionally bisexual and androgynous; glumes pale brown with brown spots and lines, with green midvein, ovate or oblong, 2--3 X 1--1.7 mm, midvein broad, margins hyaline, apex aristate, acute, or rounded. Prophylls pale green with brown spots and lines, utriculiform, oblong, narrowly elliptic, or narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 2.4--3.5 X 0.8--1.2 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels slightly scabrid or smooth, margins fused to apex. Achenes pale yellow or brown, narrowly oblong or elliptic-obovate, trigonous, 2--2.5 X 0.5--1 mm, slightly beaked. Rachilla in pistillate spikelet, longer than achene, included in prophyll, green, flat, margins scabrid. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
Open grassy slopes, grasslands under Quercus woods, riversides; 2600--4300 m. Qinghai (Yushu Xian), Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].
弧形嵩草 hu xing song cao
Carex curvata Boott, Ill. Gen. Carex 1: 2. (1858), not Knaf (1847).
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths fewer, pale yellow, dull, thin, with dried leaf blades. Culms tufted, curved, obtusely triquetrous, (1.5--)6--36 cm tall, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal or subbasal, curved, +/- equalling culms; blade flat, 1--2 mm wide, sometimes margins involute. Inflorescence loosely paniculate, pale yellow or pale green, sometimes partly pale brown, linear or linear-oblong, 1.5--8 cm X 5 mm; lowest bract leaf-like, surpassing inflorescence; lower inflorescence branches oblong or ovate, androgynous. Lateral spikelets usually unisexual with only one pistillate flower or occasionally bisexual and androgynous; glumes pale yellow or pale green, with green midvein, ovate-oblong, 2--3.5 X 1--1.5 mm, nearly membranous, midvein narrow, margins very narrowly hyaline or not, apex mucronate, acute, or obtuse. Prophylls pale green, or pale yellow, or partly pale brown, utriculiform, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2.7--3.5 X ca. 1.5 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth, margins fused to apex. Achenes yellowish brown, narrowly ovate or elliptic-ovate, trigonous, 1.5--2 X 0.5--1 mm, slightly beaked. Rachillas in pistillate spikelet, slightly exceeding achenes, green, flat, margins ciliate. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
Open grassy slopes, among shrubs, roadsides, streamsides; 2700--4300 m. ??Qinghai, Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].
膨囊嵩草 peng nang song cao
Rhizomes obliquely and shortly elongated. Basal sheaths yellowish brown, dull, with dried leaf blades. Culms tufted, triquetrous, 6--12 cm tall, slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 2--3 mm wide. Inflorescence paniculate or spicate, 2--2.5 X 0.7--2 cm; lowest bract usually glume-like, apex long aristate. Spikelets unisexual, sometimes bisexual, shortly stipitate; glumes purplish brown to yellowish brown, ovate, 6.5--7.2 X ca. 3.5 mm. Prophylls brown or yellowish green with brown, utriculiform, oblong or elliptic, ca. 8 X 3 mm, thickly papery or leathery, 2 keels smooth. Achenes obovate, triquetrous, 3.5--4 X 2--2.5 mm, not rostrate. Rachilla prominent, flat, sometimes with 1 or 2 staminate flowers distally. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
* Alpine meadows, grasslands on slopes; 3600--4600 m. Xizang, Yunnan.
大花嵩草 da hua song cao
Blysmocarex macrantha subsp. nudicarpa (Y. C. Yang) D. S. Deng; B. nudicarpa Y. C. Yang; Kobresia macrantha var. nudicarpa (Y. C. Yang) P. C. Li; K. nudicarpa (Y. C. Yang) S. R. Zhang.
Rhizomes elongated, slender, stoloniferous. Basal sheaths pale brown, with dried leaf blades. Culms scattered, erect, triquetrous, 6--17 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1--3 mm wide. Inflorescence paniculate, 1--2 cm X ca. 6 mm; lowest bract leafy or glume-like, apex long aristate. Spikelets unisexual, sometimes bisexual; glumes chestnut-brown with green midvein, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4--5 X ca. 2 mm, margins broadly hyaline, apex acute or obtuse. Prophylls yellowish brown, ovate-lanceolate, 3--3.6 X 1.5--2 mm, thinly membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth, margins free or connate at base. Achenes elliptic-ovate or nearly circular, flattened, 1.5--2 X 0.8--1 mm, not rostrate, stipitate, stipe ca. 1 mm. Rachilla terete, minute, ca. as long as stipe of achene. Stigmas 2, very long. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.
Open ground, sandy soils; 2500--4800 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [Nepal].
匍茎嵩草 pu jing song cao
Blysmocarex macrantha subsp. stolonifera (Y. C. Tang ex P. C. Li) D. S. Deng.
Rhizomes elongated, slender, stoloniferous. Basal sheaths yellowish brown or brown, 2--5 cm, with dried leaf blades or not. Culms scattered, erect or curved, subterete, 10--20 cm, tall, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 0.4--0.8 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, reddish brown, ovate, 1.5--2 cm X ca. 8 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex long aristate. Spikelets bisexual or unisexual; glumes reddish brown, with yellowish brown midvein, narrowly ovate, ca. 6.5 X 3 mm, margins hyaline, apex acute. Prophylls yellow to yellowish brown, narrowly ovate, 6--6.5 X 2--2.7 mm, papery to leathery, margins free or connate at base and overlapping. Achenes oblong, flattened, ca. 3 X 1.5 mm, not rostrate, stipitate, stipe ca. 1 mm. Rachilla terete, minute. Stigmas 2, very long, slender. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
* Sandy, or rocky and sandy ground; 3200--4900 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Xizang.
丝叶嵩草 si ye song cao
Elyna filifolia Turczaninow, Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 28(1): 353. 1855; Kobresia capillifolia var. filifolia (Turczaninow) Kükenthal; K. filifolia var. macroprophylla Y. C. Yang; K. gracilis Meinshausen; K. macroprophylla (Y. C. Yang) P. C. Li; K. pratensis Freyn.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, reddish brown, slightly fibrillose, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, obtusely triquetrous, 15--50 cm, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade filiform, flabby, margins involute, folding or partly flat, 0.5--1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence usually a dense spike-like panicle, occasionally reduced to a spike, reddish brown or pale brown, ovate-oblong to oblong, 1--3 cm X 3--7 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Lower inflorescence branches with terminal spikelets staminate, lateral branches androgynous. Lateral spikelets 2--7-flowered, basal one pistillate, others staminate. Glumes reddish brown or brown, with yellowish brown midvein, ovate or ovate-oblong, large, (3--)4--4.5 (excluding arista) X 1.5--2 mm, membranous, margins broadly hyaline, apex acute or aristate. Prophylls brown or yellowish brown, ovate-oblong or oblong-elliptic, 3--4 X 1--1.5 mm, membranous, 1- or 2-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, margins free to base, apex rounded or slightly bidentate. Achenes dark brown, obovate or oblong-obovate, trigonous or biconvex, 2.5--3.5 (excluding beak) X ca. 1 mm, shortly beaked, beak slightly conical, very shortly stipitate. Stigmas usually 3, occasionally both 3 and 2 on same inflorescence. Fl. and fr. May-Oct. 2n = ca. 60.
Wet grassy slopes, boggy meadows; 1700--2900 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi [Mongolia, Russia].
宁远嵩草 ning yuan song cao
Schoenoxiphium kukenthaliana (Handel-Mazzetti) Ivanova.
Rhizomes shortly and obliquely elongated, with pale brown scales. Basal sheaths persistent, brown, spathe-like, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, obtusely triquetrous, 25--40 cm, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, longer than culms; sheaths with reddish brown, membranous margins; blade flat or folded, flabby, 1.5--2.5 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense panicle-like spike, pale brown, linear-lanceolate, 2.6--4 cm X 6--8 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Lateral spikelets many flowered, basal one pistillate, others staminate, staminate flowers ca. 6, at apex of a short rachilla. Glumes pale brown or brown, with yellowish brown midvein, ovate or ovate-oblong, 4.5--5.5 X 1.5--2 mm, membranous, midvein narrow, margins hyaline, apex acute or mucronate. Prophylls yellowish brown, oblong or oblong-elliptic, 4.3--5 X 1--1.5 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth, margins free from apex to lower part near base, apex rounded or slightly bidentate. Immature achenes yellowish, oblong-obovoid. Stigmas (2 or)3. Fl.??, fr.??
* Sandy ground; ca. 2700 m. Sichuan (Xichang).
密穗嵩草 mi sui song cao
Kobresia capillifolia (Decaisne) C. B. Clarke var. condensata Kükenthal.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown or dark brown, shiny, margins and apices fibrillose, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, slightly stiff, obtusely triquetrous, 18--50(--80) cm, slender, 1--2 mm in diam. Leaves basal, longer to shorter than culms; sheaths with reddish brown, membranous margins; blade folded or margins involute, 1.5--2.5 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense panicle-like spike or sometimes a simple spike, brown, linear-lanceolate or linear, 3--5 cm X 6--10 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Lateral spikelets many flowered, basal one pistillate, others staminate, staminate flowers ca. 6 forming a spike-like part above basal pistillate flower. Glumes brown, with yellowish green to green midvein, ovate or ovate-oblong, 4.5--5.5 X 1.5--2 mm, papery, midvein narrow or broad, margins hyaline, apex acute or mucronate. Prophylls yellowish brown, oblong, 4.5--5.5 X 1--1.5 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth or slightly scabrid, margins free nearly to base, apex rounded or acute. Achenes brown, oblong-obovoid, compressed-trigonous, 3--3.5 mm, shortly beaked, very shortly stipitate. Stigma (2 or)3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Grassy slopes, marshes, among scrub; 3300--4000 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.
四川嵩草 si chuan song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, pale brown, dull or slightly shiny, not fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, stiffly erect, obtusely triquetrous, (5--)10--40 cm, slender, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade folded or margins involute, stiff, 0.5--2 mm wide. Inflorescence usually a dense or occasionally a loose spike, sometimes with 1 or 2 short branches at base, greenish brown, oblong to cylindric, 1--3.5 cm X 3--5 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex long or shortly aristate; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones bisexual or unisexual with only 1 pistillate flower. Glumes ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 3--4.5 X 1--2.5 mm, acute or obtuse, lower glumes brown, with yellowish green to green midvein, papery, midvein broad, margins broadly hyaline or not hyaline, apex aristate or mucronate. Prophylls yellowish brown, oblong, 3--4.5 X 1--1.6 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels smooth or slightly scabrid, hyaline, margins free nearly to base, apex rounded or acute. Achenes yellowish, obovate or oblong-obovate, compressed-trigonous, 2.5--3 mm, shortly beaked, nearly sessile. Stigma 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, swampy meadows, forest understories; 2300--4300 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
1a. Inflorescence 2--3.5 cm, spikelets usually bisexual ........................ 13a. subsp. setschwanensis
1b. Inflorescence 1--1.5 cm, spikelets usually unisexual ....................... 13b. subsp. squamaeformis
四川嵩草 si chuan song cao
Kobresia longearistita P. C. Li.
Culms (5--)10--40 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaf blade 1--2 mm wide. Inflorescence often with 1 or 2 short branches at base, linear-lanceolate or cylindric, 2--3.5 cm X 3--5 mm, lateral spikelets usually bisexual with 2--5 staminate flowers above basal pistillate flower or occasionally unisexual with only 1 pistillate flower. Glumes oblong-ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 3.5--4.5 X 1.5--2.5 mm, lower ones: margins broadly hyaline or not hyaline, apex aristate. Prophylls 3--4.5 X 1--1.6 mm. Achenes 2.5--3 mm. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, swampy meadows, forest understories; 2300--4300 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
夏河嵩草 xia he song cao
Kobresia squamaeformis Y. C. Yang, Acta Biol. Plateau Sin. 2: 9. 1984, as “squmaeformis.”
Culms 9--16 cm tall, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaf blade filiform, margins involute, ca. 0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence not branched, oblong, 1--1.5 cm X ca. 3 mm; lateral spikelets usually unisexual with only 1 pistillate flower, occasionally bisexual with 1 staminate flower above basal pistillate flower. Glumes ovate, ca. 3 mm, lower ones: margins not hyaline, apex mucronate. Prophylls ca. 3 X 1 mm. Achenes ca. 2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.
* Grassy slopes; 3300--3600 m. Gansu (Xiahe), Qinghai (Zekog).
松林嵩草 song lin song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown, dull, without dried leaf blades. Culms loosely tufted, soft, obtusely triquetrous, 18--25 cm tall, slender, less than 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade filiform, soft, margins involute. Inflorescence spicate, not branched at base, pale brown, oblong, 8--10 X 2--3 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate or not; spikelets 10--15, terminal 2 or 3 spikelets staminate, lateral ones usually bisexual and androgynous. Lateral spikelets usually with 2--4 staminate flowers above basal pistillate flower. Glumes ovate-lanceolate, 3--4.5 mm, apex acute; lower glumes pale brown, with yellowish green to green midvein, membranous, midvein broad, margins broadly hyaline or not hyaline, apex apiculate. Prophylls pale brown, elliptic, 3.5--4 mm, membranous, 1- or 2-keeled, keels smooth or slightly scabrid, veinless, margins free nearly to base, apex emarginate. Achenes pale brown when mature, obovate-oblong or oblong, trigonous, 2.3--2.8 mm, shortly beaked, nearly sessile. Style base slightly thickened; stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Understories of pine forests; ca. 2600 m. NW Yunnan (Lijiang, Yongsheng).
The species is very similar to Kobresia setschwanensis except the plant is more slender, with a smaller inflorescence. Occurring in understories of pine forests, it may be an ecotype of K. setschwanensis.
线叶嵩草 xian ye song cao
Elyna capillifolia Decaisne in Jacquemont, Voy. Bot. 4: 173. 1844; Kobresia brunnescens Boeckeler; K. capilliformis Ivanova; K. elata Boeckeler; K. macrolepis Meinshausen; K. oviczinnikovii Egorova; K. yushuensis Y. C. Yang.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown to dark brown, shiny, sometimes apices and margins fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, slightly stiff, obtusely triquetrous, 10--45 cm tall, slender, 1(--1.5) cm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade filiform, margins involute, ca. 1 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense spike, sometimes lowest spikelets slightly distant, brown, linear-cylindric, 2--4.5 cm X 2--3 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate or not; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones androgynous. Lateral spikelets (2--)3--5-flowered, basal one pistillate, others staminate. Glumes pale brown to dark brown, with yellowish green to green midvein, ovate, ovate-oblong, or elliptic to lanceolate, 4--6 X 2.5--2.8 mm, papery, midvein narrow or wide, margins broadly hyaline, apex acute or rounded. Prophylls brown, oblong, lanceolate, or elliptic, 2.5--5 X 0.8--1.8 mm, membranous, 1- or 2-keeled, keels smooth or slightly scabrid, margins free nearly to base, apex rounded or truncate. Achenes brown to dark brown, elliptic to obovate, trigonous, (2--)2.5--3.5 X 0.8--1.5 mm, shortly beaked, nearly sessile. Stigmas (2 or)3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Dry and open grassy slopes, grasslands in Abies forests; 2000--4800 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [??Kashmir, ??Mongolia, ??Nepal; from Caucasus to C Asia - ??list of adjacent countries].
嵩草 song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, reddish brown to dark brown, dull or slightly shiny, sometimes margins and apices fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, slightly stiff, obtusely triquetrous or subterete, 2--40 cm tall, slender, ca. 0.5--1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or ca. as long as culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 0.25--0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense spike, reddish brown to brown, linear-cylindric, 1--3 cm X 2--3 mm, sometimes lowest spikelets slightly distant; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate or not; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral androgynous. Lateral spikelets 2(or 3)-flowered or rarely 1-flowered. Glumes yellowish brown to dark brown, with pale midvein, ovate or oblong-ovate, 2--4 mm, submembranous, midvein very narrow, margins broadly to narrowly hyaline or not hyaline, apex acute or rounded. Prophylls pale below, brown above, oblong or oblong-ovate, 2.2--3.5 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, margins free to lower 1/3 part or nearly to base, upper margins hyaline, apex rounded or acute. Achenes brown to dark brown, slightly shiny, oblong-obovoid [oblong or ovate-oblong??], trigonous or flattened-trigonous, 1.8--3 (including beak) X 0.8--1 mm, shortly beaked, nearly sessile. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Moist or dry, open places in calcareous soils, alpine meadows, on rocks, dry ridges, grassy slopes, among shrubs; 1500--4500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [??Mongolia].
1a. Glumes 2.5--4 mm, with broadly hyaline margins; achenes ca. 2.5 mm 16a. subsp. myosuroides
1b. Glumes 2--3 mm, with narrowly hyaline margins or without hyaline margins, achenes 1.8--2.3 mm 16b. subsp. bistaminata
嵩草 song cao
Carex myosuroides Villars, Prosp. Hist. Pl. Dauphine 17. 1779; C. affinis R. Br.; C. bellardii Allioni; Elyna myosuroides (Villars) Fritsch ap E. Janchen; E. spicata Schrader; Kobresia bellardii (Allioni) Degland ex Loiseleur-Deslongchamps; K. filiformis Dewey; K. scirpina Willdenow.
Basal sheaths reddish brown to brown. Inflorescence 1--3 cm X 2--3 mm. Glumes yellowish brown or reddish brown to brown, 2.5--4 X 1.2--2 mm. Prophylls oblong, 2.5--3.5 X 1--1.3 mm. Achene 2.5--3 (including beak) X 0.8--1 mm. Fl. and fr. May-Sep. 2n = 56.
Moist or dry, open places in calcareous soils, alpine meadows, on rocks, dry ridges, grassy slopes; 1500--3500 m. Gansu, Hebei, Jilin, Nei Mongol, ??Ningxia, ??Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang [??Mongolia; Circum-Arctic = ??circumboreal].
二柱嵩草 er zhu song cao
Kobresia bistaminata W. Z. Di & M. J. Zhong, Acta Bot. Boreal.-Occid. Sin. 6(4): 275. 1986; K. kashgarica W. B. Dickoré.
Basal sheaths brown to dark brown. Inflorescence 1--2.5 cm X ca. 2 mm. Glumes pale brown to dark brown, 2--3 mm. Prophylls oblong or oblong-ovate, 2.2--2.6 mm. Achene 1.8--2.3 (including beak) mm. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
* Alpine meadows, grassy slopes, among shrubs; 2100--4500 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, ??Ningxia, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang.
高山嵩草 gao shan song cao
Elyna pygmaea C. B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 383. 1883; Kobresia pygmaea var. filiculmis Kükenthal; K. microstachya Ivanova.
Plant usually extremely densely tufted, cushion-like. Basal sheaths persistent, brown or pale brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms stiffly erect, obtusely triquetrous, very short, (0.4--)1--10 cm tall, slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, ca. as long as culms; blade erect, filiform, margins involute, ca. 0.3 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense spike, brown, 0.3--10 cm X 1--3 mm; lowest bract glume-like, apex sometimes shortly aristate; all spikelets unisexual, terminal spikelets staminate, lateral pistillate occasionally with a sterile glume within prophyll. Staminate glumes brown, oblong-lanceolate, ca. 4 X 1.8 mm, membranous. Pistillate glumes brown, with yellowish green to green midvein, ovate or oblong-ovate, 3--6 X 2.2--2.5 mm, papery, midvein broad, margins narrowly hyaline, apex acute or obtuse. Prophylls brown, oblong or elliptic, 2--2.5 X 1--1.2 mm, membranous, 1- or 2-keeled, keels smooth or slightly scabrid, margins free to base, sometimes overlapping, apex truncate. Achenes brown to dark brown, shiny, obovoid, trigonous, 1.5--2 X ca. 1 mm, very shortly beaked and stipitate. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Dry and open grassy places, wet alpine meadows, on turf in wet habitats; 1100--5600 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, ??Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [??Nepal; Himalayas - ??list of adjacent countries].
甘肃嵩草 gan su song cao
Rhizomes short, thick, woody. Basal sheaths prominent, dark brown, shiny, not fibriform, leathery, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, sharply triquetrous, 20--70 cm tall, stout, 2.5--4(--6) mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blade flat, sometimes folded at base, 4--9 mm wide. Inflorescence densely paniculate or spike-like, brown or dark brown, partly green, narrowly oblong to lanceolate, 3--6.5 X 0.8--1.8 cm, consisting of densely arranged inflorescence branches; inflorescence branches complex or simple; lowest bract glume-like, broad green midvein elongated into filiform arista not exceeding inflorescence. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence branches staminate, lateral ones bisexual with a basal pistillate flower and 1--4 distal staminate flowers, or unisexual with a pistillate flower only. Glumes brown, with yellowish green or green midvein, oblong, oblong-elliptic, or oblong-ovate, 5--6.5 X 2--3.5 mm, midvein narrow, margins narrowly hyaline near apex, apex acute to aristate. Prophylls yellow or yellowish green at lower part, brown at upper part, narrowly oblong, 4.5--7 X 1--1.3 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins open to base. Achenes brown or grayish brown, narrowly obovate or narrowly oblong, trigonous, 4--5 X 0.8--1 mm, very shortly stipitate, slightly beaked. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Shaded and wet places, open marshes, among shrubs, alpine meadows, grassy slopes, watersides; 3000--4700 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
假钩状嵩草 jia gou zhuang song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent, yellowish brown, shiny, not fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, acutely triquetrous, 24--38 cm tall, 2.5--2.7 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blade flat, 4.7--9 mm, with transverse veins. Panicle compact, 5.5--6.5 X 1.5--1.8 cm; bracts glumaceous, long awned; lateral spikelets bisexual, with a basal pistillate flower and 2--4 distal staminate flowers. Glumes brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong-elliptic, 6.2--6.5 X 2.3--3.5 mm, margins of upper part hyaline, apex long awned to acute. Prophylls lower part yellow or yellowish green, upper part reddish brown, narrowly oblong, 5.6--7 X 1--1.3 mm, papery, 2 keels scabrid, margins free to base. Mature achenes not seen. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Jul.
Shrubs and grasslands on slopes, streamsides, swamps; 3800--4400 m. SE Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal].
The species was thought to be similar to Kobresia uncinoides (Boott) C. B. Clarke when it was published (Noltie 1993). After further study of specimens (including the type Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 20725, BM), the author considered it was most closely related to K. kansuensis Kükenthal. Noltie (pers. comm.) indicated that this species, with larger inflorescence, glumes, and prophylls, with awned glumes, and distributed in the Himalayas, differed from K. kansuensis, of which inflorescence, glumes and prophylls are smaller, glumes usually not awned, and distributed in W China.
截形嵩草 jie xing song cao
Rhizomes short, thick, woody. Basal sheaths prominent, brown or dark brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and stout, obtusely triquetrous, (10--)15--45 cm tall, 1.5--2.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blade filiform, folding or rarely flat, 1--3(--5) mm wide. Inflorescence a dense spike, sometimes interrupted and occasionally branched at base, brown or dark brown, oblong to narrowly oblong, 2--6 X 0.5--1.2 cm, consisting of densely arranged spikelets; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Terminal spikelet staminate, lateral ones bisexual with a basal pistillate flower and (1--)3--7 distal staminate flowers; glumes brown or chestnut-brown, with yellowish green or green midvein, oblong, oblong-elliptic, or oblong-ovate, 5--6 X 2--3 mm, margins hyaline or not, apex obtuse or rounded and aristate, arista 1--4 mm. Prophylls yellow or whitish yellow at lower part, brown at upper part, oblong, 5--7(--8) X 2.3--3 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, 3--8-veined between keels, margins open to base, apex truncate. Achenes yellow or yellowish brown, oblong, trigonous, 3--4.5 X 2--3 mm, very shortly stipitate, beaked. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Alpine meadows among shrubs, alpine swampy meadows, wet grassy slopes, grasslands under woods; 3000--4800 m. Gansu, ??Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
鳞被嵩草 lin bei song cao
Rhizomes short, thick, woody. Basal sheaths prominent, brown or dark brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and stout, obtusely triquetrous, to 60 cm tall, ca. 3 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade linear, folding, 2--3 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense spike, brown or dark brown, clavate, ca. 4.5 cm X 8--9 mm, consisting of densely arranged spikelets; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones bisexual with a basal pistillate flower and 2 or 3 distal staminate flowers. Glumes pale brown, with green midvein, ovate-lanceolate, 5--5.5 mm, margins hyaline, apex aristate, arista long. Prophylls pale brown, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 7 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, 2- or 3-veined between keels, margins open to base but overlapping, apex hyaline. Achenes elliptic, trigonous, beaked, with two scales of perianth present around achene. Stigmas 3. Fl.??, fr.??
* East facing alpine slopes; ca. 4300 m. Yunnan (Lijiang).
喜马拉雅嵩草 xi ma la ya song cao
Rhizomes short, thick, woody. Basal sheaths prominent, brown or reddish brown, dull, not fibriform, with dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, triquetrous, (2--)6--75 cm tall, 1--2 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1.5--4 mm wide. Inflorescence a dense or slightly loose panicle, sometimes spike-like, brown or reddish brown, 1--3.5 X 0.6--1.2 cm; lowest bract glume-like, apex aristate. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence branches staminate, lateral ones bisexual or unisexual. Glumes brown or reddish brown, with green midvein, ovate-oblong, 3--4.5 mm, margins hyaline or not. Prophylls pale brown, oblong or ovate-oblong, 3--5 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins open to base. Achenes narrowly oblong, trigonous, 2.5--4 mm, beaked, very shortly stipitate. Stigmas 3. Fl.??, fr.??
Usually in moist habitats, among scrub; 700--5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [??Afghanistan, ??Nepal; C Asia, Himalayas, W Asia - ??list of adjacent countries].
1a. Plant stout, culms 1.5--2.5 mm in diam., leaf blade 2--4 mm wide; spikelets usually bisexual, occasionally unisexual .............................................................................................. 22a. subsp. royleana
1b. Plant slender, culms 1--1.5 mm in diam., leaf blade 1.5--2 mm wide; spikelets usually unisexual 22b. subsp. minshanica
喜马拉雅嵩草 xi ma la ya song cao
Trilepis royleana Nees, Linnaea 9: 305. 1834; Elyna kokanica Regel; E. stenocarpa Karelin & Kirilov; Kobresia paniculata Meinshausen; K. royleana var. kokanica (Regel) Kükenthal; K. royleana var. paniculata (Meinshausen) Kükenthal; K. stenocarpa (Karelin & Kirilov) Steudel; K. stenocarpa var. royleana (Nees) C. B. Clarke; K. stenocarpa var. simplex Y. C. Yang.
Culms rigid, acutely triquetrous, or subterete at lower part, 5--35 cm tall, 1.5--2.5 mm in diam. Leaf blade flat, 2--4 mm wide. Inflorescence spiculate and large, or spike-like and smaller, compact or slightly loose at lower part, 1--3.5 X 0.6--1.2 cm. Lateral spikelets usually bisexual with 1 basal pistillate flower and 1--3(--6) distal staminate flowers, or occasionally unisexual with 1 pistillate flower only. Glumes ovate-oblong, 3--4.5 mm. Prophylls 3--5 mm. Achenes 3--4 mm, beak to 1 mm. Sterile rachillas in pistillate spikelets, terete, ca. 1/3 as long as achenes.
Usually in moist habitats; 700--5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [??Afghanistan, ??Nepal; C Asia, Himalayas, W Asia - ??list of adjacent countries].
岷山嵩草 min shan song cao
Kobresia minshanica F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Y. C. Yang, Acta Biol. Plateau Sin. 2: 1. 1984; K. menyuanica Y. C. Yang.
Culms triquetrous, or subterete at lower part, 30--75 cm tall, slender, 1--1.5(--1.8) mm in diam. Leaf blade flat, 1.5--2(--2.5) mm wide. Inflorescence spiculate, or spike-like, compact or slightly loose at lower part, 1.2--3.5 cm X 7--9 mm. Lateral spikelets usually unisexual with 1 pistillate flower only, occasionally bisexual with 1 basal pistillate flower and 2--5 distal staminate flowers. Glumes ovate-oblong, 3.5--4 mm. Prophylls 3.5--4 mm. Achenes ca. 3 mm, shortly beaked. Sterile rachillas in pistillate spikelets, terete, much shorter than achenes.
* Moist places among scrub; 2900--3800 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan.
矮生嵩草 ai sheng song cao
Elyna humilis C. A. Meyer ex Trautvetter, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 1: 21. 1871; Kobresia royleana var. humilis (C. A. Meyer ex Trautvetter) Kükenthal.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent, pale brown to brown, dull, fibriform, with dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, obtusely triquetrous, short, 3--10 tall, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, folded at base, 1--2 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, brown, oblong to elliptic, 0.8--1.7 cm X 4--6 mm, consisting about 10 densely arranged spikelets; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence staminate, lateral ones bisexual with a basal pistillate flower and 2--4 distal staminate flowers. Glumes brown, with a yellowish green or green midvein, oblong, ovate-elliptic, or ovate, 3--5 X 1.5--2.5 mm, margins broadly hyaline, apex obtuse or rounded. Prophylls pale brown, oblong or elliptic, 3.5--5 X 1.5--2 mm, membranous, glabrous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins opened to base. Achenes brown or grayish brown, narrowly obovate or elliptic, trigonous, 2.5--3 X 1--1.5 mm, very shortly stipitate, slightly beaked. Stigmas (2 or)3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
Sunny slopes, alpine meadows; 2500--4000 m. ??Ningxia, ??Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [??Mongolia; C Asia - ??list of adjacent countries].
高原嵩草 gao yuan song cao
Kobresia coninux F. T. Wang & T. Tang; K. daqingshanica X. Y. Mao; K. helanshanica W. Z. Di & M. J. Zhong.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths pale brown to brown, dull, fibriform, with dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, obtusely triquetrous, short, 2--15 cm tall, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blades flat, folded at base, 1--1.5(--2) mm wide. Inflorescence spicate or branched at lower part, consisting of densely arranged spikelets, brown, oblong, elliptic, or ovate-oblong, 0.5--1.2 cm X 3--4 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex shortly aristate. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence staminate, lateral ones bisexual with a basal pistillate flower and 3 or 4 distal staminate flowers. Glumes brown or pale brown, with yellowish green or green midvein, oblong, ovate, or lanceolate, 3.2--5 X 1.5--2.5 mm, margins hyaline or not, apex obtuse or acute. Prophylls pale brown, oblong, ovate-oblong, or elliptic, 3.2--4 X 1--2 mm, membranous, abaxially sometimes hairy, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins opened to base, apex truncate or bidentate. Achenes brown and shiny, obovate or oblong-obovate, flattened, 2--2.5 X 0.8--1.4 mm, shortly stipitate, beaked, beak conical. Stigmas 2(or 3). Fl. and fr. May-Oct.
* Exposed dry slopes, alpine meadows, shaded places, marshes; 1300--5300 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.
喀拉昆仑嵩草 ka la kun lun song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths pale brown to brown, dull, fibriform, with dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, dwarf, erect and rigid, subterete at lower part, triquetrous above, (2--)3--15(--20) cm tall, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, usually shorter than culms; blade flat or folded, recurved, 1--2.5 mm wide. Inflorescence simple spicate, consisting of a little loosely arranged spikelets, rarely compound, brown or dark brown, shortly cylindric, 0.5--1.2 cm X 2--4 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like. Terminal spikelets of inflorescence staminate, lateral ones bisexual with 1 basal pistillate flower and 2 or 3 distal staminate flowers. Glumes brown or dark brown, with pale midvein, ovate, 2.5--3 mm, midvein narrow, margins very narrowly hyaline or not hyaline, apex obtuse. Prophylls pale brown at upper part, oblong or elliptic, ca. as long as glume, membranous, glabrous, hyaline at base, obscurely 2-keeled, margins open nearly to base. Achenes brown or pale brown, oblong, flattened, small, ca. 2 mm (excluding beak and stalk), stipitate, stalk ca. 0.5 mm, beaked. Stigmas 2. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
Alpine areas; (3100--)3800--5000 m. Xinjiang [India, Kashmir (Karakoram), Pakistan].
赤箭嵩草 chi jian song cao
Elyna schoenoides C. A. Meyer, Fl. Altaic. 4: 235. 1833; Kobresia deasyi C. B. Clarke; K. glaucifolia F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex P. C. Li; K. lacustris P. C. Li; K. maquensis Y. C. Yang; K. pamiroalaica Ivanova; K. septatonodosa T. Koyama; K. smirnovii Ivanova.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent, yellowish brown to reddish brown, occasionally dark brown, shiny, leathery, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, subterete or upper part triquetrous, 3--60(--70) cm tall, stout, 1--2.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, erect or sometimes curved, longer or shorter than culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 1--2 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, sometimes branched at base, consisting densely arranged spikelets, brown or yellowish brown, oblong to clavate, occasionally ovate or narrowly ovate, 1--4 cm X 2--10 mm. Terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones bisexual, lowest ones sometimes branched; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate or not. Lateral spikelets usually androgynous, with a basal pistillate flower and 1--6 distal staminate flowers; glumes brown, with yellowish green midvein, oblong to narrowly ovate or sometimes broadly ovate, 3--6 X 1.2--3 mm, midvein broad, margins broadly to narrowly hyaline, obtuse or mucronate. Prophylls yellowish brown to brown, oblong, narrowly elliptic, or lanceolate, (3--)3.5--7 X (0.9--)1.4--2.5 mm, papery to membranous, 2-keeled or obscurely keeled and sometimes many veined, keels smooth, margins free. Achenes pale yellow to grayish brown, obovate or oblong-obovate, trigonous, 1.7--3.5 X 1--1.5 mm, 1/2--2/3 as long as prophyll, very shortly stipitate, slightly beaked. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Bogs, boggy places among shrubs, sedge moors, watersides, shaded places; 2500--5800 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [??Afghanistan, ??Bhutan, ??Nepal, ??Russia; from Caucasus to Himalayas - ??list of adjacent countries].
西藏嵩草 xi zang song cao
Kobresia capillifolia var. tibetica (Maximowicz) Kükenthal.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent, brown to dark brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, rigid and erect, subterete or upper part triquetrous, 10--40 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, erect, shorter than culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 0.5--1 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, consisting of densely arranged spikelets, brown or dark brown, oblong to narrowly oblong, 1--2.5 cm X 3--4 mm; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones bisexual; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate or not. Lateral spikelets usually androgynous, with a basal pistillate flower and 1--4 distal staminate flowers. Glumes brown or dark brown, with pale midvein, oblong to ovate-oblong, 3.5--4.5 X 1.5--2.5 mm, obtuse, midvein narrow, margins very narrowly hyaline or not hyaline. Prophylls pale colored to yellowish brown or occasionally brown, oblong or ovate, sometimes with narrower apex, 2.2--3 X 1--1.4 mm, hyaline to very thinly membranous, usually without keels and veins, rarely obscurely keeled, margins free. Achenes brown or dark brown, oblong or narrowly ovate-oblong, flattened-trigonous, slightly shorter than prophylls, 1.5--2.5(--3) X 1--1.4 mm, very shortly stipitate, slightly beaked. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Aug.
* Alpine swampy meadows, weedy plains, marshes, riversides; 2500--4600 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, ??Xinjiang, Xizang.
普兰嵩草 pu lan song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent, yellowish brown to pale brown, shiny, upper part fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, rigid and erect, subterete, 8--12 cm tall, 1--1.2 cm in diam. Leaves basal, erect, longer than or +/- equalling culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 0.5--0.8 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, consisting of densely arranged spikelets, yellowish brown, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 1.8--2(--2.5) cm X 2--3 mm; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones bisexual; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex obtuse or rounded. Lateral spikelets androgynous, with a basal pistillate flower and 2 or 3 distal staminate flowers. Glumes yellowish brown, with pale green or yellowish green midvein, ovate-oblong or oblong, 5--7 X 2.5--3 mm, obtuse and rounded, midvein broad, margins broadly hyaline. Prophylls lower part pale yellow, upper part brown, obovate-oblong, 3.5--4 X ca. 1.2 mm, membranous, apex truncate and hyaline, 2-keeled, keels slightly scabrid, margins free from apex to halfway. Immature achenes elliptic, obscurely trigonous. Stigmas 3. Fl. Jul, fr.??.
* Grassy slopes; ca. 5000 m. Xizang (Burang Xian).
粗壮嵩草 cu zhuang song cao
Kobresia robusta var. sargentiana (Hemsley) Kükenthal; K. sargentiana Hemsley.
Rhizomes short or obliquely elongated and rarely stoloniferous, thick, woody. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, yellow to yellowish brown, shiny, to 5 cm, without dried leaf blades. Culms tufted, erect or curved, rigid, obtusely triquetrous or subterete, 5--60 cm tall, stout, 1.2--3 mm in diam. Leaves basal, longer or shorter than culms; blade filiform, rigid, erect or curved, margins involute, 0.7--1.7(--2) mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, consisting of ca. 10 densely arranged spikelets, sometimes lower spikelets distant, yellow or yellowish brown, oblong or cylindrical, 2--5 cm X 4--8 mm; terminal spikelets staminate, lateral bisexual; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex rounded. Lateral spikelets bisexual, with 1 basal pistillate flower and 1--3 distal staminate flowers. Glumes yellowish brown laterally, with pale yellow to yellow midvein, broadly ovate, (7.4--)7.8--10 X 5.5--6.5 mm, margins very broadly hyaline, apex obtuse. Prophylls yellowish brown, utricle-like, broadly elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 6.5--10 X 2.5--3.5 mm, membranous, obscurely 2-keeled, keels smooth, margins free in upper 1/3. Achenes grayish brown, oblong or broadly elliptic, trigonous, concave, 4--5 X ca. 2 mm, stipitate, stipe ca. 1 mm, slightly beaked. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Sandy soils; 2900--5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [??Mongolia; E Himalayas - ??list of adjacent countries].
玉龙嵩草 yu long song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown, not shiny, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and rigid, triquetrous, 20--25 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, longer than culms; blade flat or folded, 1.5--3 mm wide. Inflorescence paniculate, consisting of slightly loosely arranged inflorescence branches, brown, lanceolate, ca. 5 cm X 7 mm; lowest bract glume-like, blunt; inflorescence branches linear, androgynous, terminal spikelets staminate, lateral ones pistillate. Pistillate glumes brown, with green midvein, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 5--5.5 X 1.5--2 mm, midvein narrow, margins hyaline, apex subacute or obtuse. Prophylls pale brown, linear-lanceolate, 5.5--6 X ca. 1 mm, papery, apex hyaline, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins free to base, overlapping. Immature achenes narrowly elliptic, obscurely trigonous, stipitate and beaked, ca. 4 mm (including stipe), 0.8 mm wide, beak ca. 1 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas flat, ca. 2 mm, sometimes with vestigial glumes at apex. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Grasslands, alpine meadows; 3300--4800 m. Yunnan (Lijiang).
禾叶嵩草 he ye song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, upper parts pale brown or yellowish brown, dull or slightly shiny, margins and apices fibriform, without or with a few dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and rigid, triquetrous, 20--45 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter to longer than culms; blade flat or folded, semicircular or V-shaped in transverse section, 0.5--1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, consisting of slightly densely arranged spikelets, usually unisexual, staminate and pistillate flowers on same plant, occasionally staminate inflorescence with pistillate spikelets at base or apex. Staminate inflorescence linear-cylindric, 3--5 cm X ca. 3 mm; staminate glumes narrowly oblong, 6--8(--10) X 1--2 mm, margins narrowly hyaline, apex rounded. Pistillate inflorescence brown, linear, 2.5--7.5 cm X 3--6 mm, lower spikelets distant; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex acute or shortly aristate; pistillate glumes brown, with pale brown midvein, oblong-ovate or narrowly triangular-ovate, 5--6 X 1.5--2 mm, midvein narrow, margins very narrowly hyaline, apex acute or obtuse. Prophylls lower part pale green, apex brown, narrowly elliptic, 5--6 X 1--1.8 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels minutely scabrid, margins free to base, not overlapping, apex truncate. Achenes narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, trigonous, very shortly stipitate and slightly beaked, 3.5--5.5 mm (including stipe and beak), 0.8--1.5 mm wide. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
* Grassy slopes, among shrubs, on mossy rocks, alpine meadows; 3100--4700 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
阔鳞嵩草 kuo lin song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, upper parts straw-colored, lower parts chocolate-brown with darker margins, slightly shiny, not fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and rigid, subterete, 24--28 cm tall, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, slightly longer than culms; blade filiform, folded, semicircular or V-shaped in transverse section, ca. 1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence unisexual, staminate and pistillate flowers on same plant, spicate. Staminate inflorescence ca. 4 X 0.3 cm; staminate glumes oblong-oblanceolate, ca. 8 X 2.5 mm, margins narrowly hyaline, apex rounded. Pistillate inflorescence consisting of densely arranged spikelets, sometimes lower spikelets distant, brown, cylindrical, ca. 6 X 0.6 cm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate, arista ca. 5 mm; pistillate glumes brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong-ovate, 6.2--8 X 2.5--3.9 mm, midvein broad, margins very narrowly hyaline or not hyaline, apex obtuse. Prophylls lower part pale brown, apex brown, linear-oblong, 7--10 X 1--1.5 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels minutely scabrid, margins free to base, overlapping. Achenes linear, obscurely trigonous, stipitate and beaked, ca. 5 mm (including stipe and beak), ca. 0.8 mm wide. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Grasslands, alpine meadows; 3300--4800 m. Xizang [Bhutan].
尾穗嵩草 wei sui song cao
Carex cerostachys Franchet, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, sér. 8, 7: 27. 1895; Kobresia stiebritziana Handel-Mazzetti.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown or pale brown, dull, margins and top fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect or sometimes curved, rigid, obtusely triquetrous, 5--35 cm tall, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or equalling culms; blade filiform, folded or involute, 1--2 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, consisting of slightly densely arranged spikelets, usually androgynous, brown, linear, 1.7--7 cm X 3--6 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex obtuse, acute, or shortly aristate; upper spikelets staminate. Staminate glumes brown, oblong-lanceolate, 4--6 mm, membranous, upper part broadly hyaline; lower spikelets usually pistillate, rarely androgynous at lowest part of inflorescence. Pistillate glumes brown, with pale brown or pale green midvein, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 4--6(--7.5) X 1.5--2 mm, midvein narrow or broad, margins hyaline, apex acute or obtuse, occasionally aristate. Prophylls narrowly oblong or lanceolate, 4.5--7 X 0.8--1 mm, papery, lower part pale green, apex brown, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins free to base, overlapping, apex truncate, hyaline. Achenes narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, trigonous, shortly stipitate and beaked, 3.5--4 mm (excluding beak), 0.6--1.2 mm wide, beak 0.5--1 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas to 1/2 as long as achenes, sometimes with vestigial glume(s) at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct.
Scree slopes, grassy slopes among shrubs, on rocks, alpine meadows; 3600--5000 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].
发秆嵩草 fa gan song cao
Kobresia cerostachys (Franchet) C. B. Clarke var. capillacea P. C. Li.
Rhizomes short, or shortly and obliquely elongated. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown or pale brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect or curved, subterete, 3.5--10 cm tall, slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, equalling or exceeding culms; blade filiform, flaccid, margins involute, ca. 0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, linear, usually unisexual, occasionally gynecandrous or androgynous, sometimes dioecious, sometimes staminate and pistillate inflorescences on same individuals; all spikelets solitary flowered, loosely arranged. Staminate spikes 1.5--3 cm X ca. 2 mm; staminate glumes oblong-lanceolate, 6--8 X 1.2--2 mm. Pistillate spikes 2--3.5 cm X ca. 2 mm, lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex acute or shortly aristate; pistillate glumes brown, with pale brown or pale green midvein, lanceolate, 5--6.2 X 1.7--2 mm, midvein narrow, margins broadly hyaline, apex subacute or obtuse. Prophylls lower part yellow, upper part and margins brown, linear, 4.7--5.7 X ca. 0.7 mm, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins free to base, apex truncate, hyaline. Achenes narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, trigonous, shortly stipitate and beaked, 3.5--4 (excluding beak) X 0.6--1.2 mm, beak 0.5--1 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas to 1/2 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
Dry slopes, on rocks in alpine meadows; 4000--4800 m. Xizang, Yunnan [Sikkim].
尼泊尔嵩草 ni po er song cao
Uncinia nepalensis Nees, Contr. Bot. India 129. 1834; Carex linearis Boott; C. linearis var. elachista C. B. Clarke.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown or pale brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect and rigid, occasionally filiform, obtusely triquetrous, (2--)10--44 cm tall, 0.7--1.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, +/- equalling culms; blade filiform, margins involute, 0.3--1.1 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, androgynous, linear, 1.5--8 cm X 1--4 mm, dense above, looser below; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex long aristate. Spikelets all solitary flowered. Staminate glumes yellowish brown, narrowly oblong, ca. 7.5 X 1.5 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse. Pistillate glumes brown laterally, with green midvein, ovate to lanceolate, 3.3--5 X 2--2.4 mm, midvein broad, margins hyaline, apex mucronate, acute, or obtuse. Prophylls lower part pale green, apex brown, utriculiform, linear-oblong, 4--7.5 X 0.8--1.7 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins open only below apex or occasionally to base. Achenes narrowly oblong or oblanceolate, trigonous, stipitate and beaked, 3.5--6.5 (including beak and stipe) X 0.7--1 mm, beak 1.5--2.2 mm, stipe ca. 0.5 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas green, linear, 1/4--2/3 as long as achenes, margin ciliate. Fl. and fr. Jun-Oct.
Scree slopes, dry grassy slopes, on rocks, alpine shrubby meadows, damp rocky cliffs; 3600--4600 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim].
蕨状嵩草 jue zhuang song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths persistent, brown, reddish brown, or yellowish brown, dull, not fibriform, with a few dried leaf blades. Culms tufted, flaccid or slightly stiff, erect, obtusely triquetrous, 8--35 cm tall, slender, 0.1--0.8 mm in diam. Leaves basal, slightly shorter than to exceeding culms; blade flat or partly folding, 0.6--3 mm wide, flaccid. Inflorescence spicate, yellowish green or partly brown, linear or linear-oblong, 10--50 X 1--3 mm; a few terminal spikelets staminate, lateral androgynous, upper part slightly densely arranged, basal spikelets distant and occasionally branched; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate, arista to 8 mm. Androgynous spikelets usually 2-flowered, basal ones pistillate, distal ones staminate, staminate flowers with 1 or 2 anthers. Glumes yellowish brown laterally, with green midvein, ovate-oblong, 2--3 (excluding arista) X 0.5--1 mm, midvein broad, sides hyaline, apex aristate or acute, arista to 2 mm. Prophylls yellowish green or yellowish brown with ferruginous spots and lines, oblong or linear-oblong, 2--2.5 X 0.5--0.7 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, or keels obscure, margins open to middle parts or below, apex rounded. Achenes narrowly oblong, trigonous, 1.9--2.4 mm (excluding beak), beak ca. 0.5 mm, exserted from prophylls when mature, shortly stipitate, stipe ca. 0.2 mm. Style ca. 1.5 mm, stigmas 3, short. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.
* Forest understories, dry river beds, on rocks; 2900--4000 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.
1a. Leaf blade flat or partly folding, 0.6--2 mm wide ........................................... 36a. var. filicina
1b. Leaf blade flat, 2--3 mm wide .......................................................... 36b. var. subfilicinoides
Hemicarex filicina C. B. Clarke, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 384. 1883.
Culms flaccid or slightly stiff, 0.1--0.5 mm in diam. Leaf blade flat or partly folding, 0.6--2 mm wide. Inflorescence 10--40 X 1--3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.
Forest understories, dry river beds, on rocks; 2900--4000 m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Himalayas - ??list of adjacent countries].
近蕨嵩草 jin jue song cao
Culms slightly stiff, ca. 0.8 mm in diam. Leaf blade flat, 2--3 mm wide. Inflorescence 30--50 X 2--3 mm.
* On rocks in forest understories; ca. 3400 m. SW Yunnan (Zhenkang).
线形嵩草 xian xing song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths persistent, brown, reddish brown, or yellowish brown, dull, not fibrillose, with leaf blades or not. Culms densely tufted, stiffly erect, subterete, (0.5--)4--40 cm tall, slender, 6--10 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1.4--2.3 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, greenish or pale brown, linear or linear-oblong, 1--5 X 0.2--0.4 cm; all spikelets androgynous, occasionally staminate flowers reduced, densely arranged; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate. Spikelets usually 2-flowered, basal ones pistillate, distal ones staminate. Glumes pale brown laterally, with green midvein, ovate, 2--4.5 (excluding arista) X 1.6--2.6 mm, midvein broad, two sides hyaline, apex aristate, acute or obtuse, arista scabrid. Prophylls pale green or yellowish brown with ferruginous spots and lines, oblong or linear-oblong, 2.2--4.5 X 0.7--1 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins free to above middle, apex obtuse. Achenes pale brown, narrowly oblong, trigonous, 2.1--2.8 mm (excluding beak), 0.6--0.9 mm in diam., beak ca. 1.5 mm, exserted from prophylls when mature, shortly stipitate. Stigmas 3. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
Bare mossy peats, wet and open marshes, exposed and dry rocky ridges, grassy slopes; 3900--4600 m. Sichuan, Xizang [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim].
柄果嵩草 bing guo song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, triquetrous or obtusely triquetrous, 6--14 cm tall, slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than culms; blade flat, 1.5--2 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual, spikes dioecious, dense above, looser below; all spikelets solitary flowered. Pistillate spike linear, 2.2--4 cm X 2--3 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex obtuse. Staminate spikes linear, ca. 1.5 X 0.3 mm; staminate glumes reddish brown, oblong, 6--7 X ca. 2 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse. Pistillate glumes brown or reddish brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong or narrowly ovate, 3.5--5 X 1--1.5 mm, midvein narrow, margins of upper parts or apical portion hyaline, apex rounded or obtuse. Prophylls pale brown or brown, oblong or elliptic-oblong, 2--3 X 0.5--0.9 mm, membranous, not keeled, margins open to base even in juvenile stage, apex rounded. Achenes narrowly oblong, trigonous, stipitate and beaked, 2--3.5 mm (excluding beak), 0.5--0.9 mm in diam., beak 1--1.5 mm, stipe 0.6--0.7 mm. Style ca. 2.5 mm; stigmas 3, curved, slender. Sterile rachillas linear, minute. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.
Grassy slopes, on rocks and cliff ledges; 3200--4300 m. Xizang, Yunnan [India, Nepal].
三脉嵩草 san mai song cao
Carex esenbeckii Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 522. 1837; C. mutans Franchet (1895), non Boott ex C. B. Clarke (1883); C. trinervis Nees; Hemicarex trinervis (Nees) C. B. Clarke; Kobresia angusta C. B. Clarke; K. foliosa C. B. Clarke; K. hookeri Boeckeler; K. hookeri var. dioica C. B. Clarke; K. seticulmis Boeckeler; K. trinervis (Nees) Boeckeler.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown or dark brown, shiny, sometimes fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, triquetrous or obtusely triquetrous, 8--32 cm tall, slender, 0.5--1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, +/- equalling culms; blade flat, 1.5--5 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual or androgynous, sometimes staminate and pistillate inflorescence on same plant; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes compact, 3.5--5 X ca. 0.4 mm; staminate glumes yellowish brown, narrowly oblong, 7--8.5 X 1.5--2 mm, 1-veined, margins broadly hyaline, apex obtuse. Pistillate and androgynous spikes linear, 1.7--6.5 cm X 1.5--4 mm, spikelets usually loosely arranged; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate. Pistillate glumes brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong or ovate, 2.2--4 X 1--2 mm, midvein narrow, margins narrowly hyaline, apex mucronate, acute, or obtuse. Prophylls utriculiform when young, splitting to base when mature, pale brown, linear-oblong, 2--3.5 X 0.4--0.7 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, apex truncate and rounded. Achenes narrowly oblong or elliptic, compressed-trigonous, curved or not, very shortly stipitate and beaked, 2.5--3.4 mm (excluding beak), 0.7--1 mm in diam., beak 1.5--2 mm, stipe ca. 0.5 mm. Stigmas 3, twisted, white in field, thick. Sterile rachillas linear, minute, to 1/4 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. May-Oct.
Wet rocks, in crevices of cliffs, grassy slopes, lakeshores, on trees; 2800--4300(--4900) m. Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [??Nepal, ??Sikkim; Himalayas - ??list of adjacent countries].
镰叶嵩草 lian ye song cao
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, dark brown, dull, not fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, triquetrous, 12--15 cm tall, slender, ca. 1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, slightly shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blade flat, slightly curved and falcate, 2--3.7 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, androgynous, oblong, 1.5--2 X 3--4 mm; all spikelets solitary flowered, slightly densely arranged, terminal 3 or 4 staminate, other ones pistillate; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate, arista to 9 mm. Staminate glumes brown, lanceolate, 5--6 mm, membranous. Pistillate glumes brown laterally, with yellowish brown midvein, narrowly oblong, 6--6.5 (excluding arista) X ca. 2 mm, papery, margins of upper parts very narrowly hyaline, apex rounded and aristate, arista 1--1.5 mm. Prophylls lower parts yellow, upper parts and margins brown, linear-oblong, 5--5.5 X 0.5--0.7 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels scabrid, margins open to base even in juvenile stage, apex rounded. Achenes narrowly oblong, trigonous, 4.8--5.2 mm (including beak), beak ca. 2 mm, included in prophylls when mature. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas linear, minute, ca. 1/5 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.
* In rock crevices; 2800--4000 m. Gansu, Sichuan.
康藏嵩草 kang zang song cao
Kobresia tibetica subsp. littledalei (C. B. Clarke) P. C. Li.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, pale brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, rigid, erect, subterete, 10--25 cm tall, 1--2 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than or +/- equalling culms; blade filiform, stiffly erect, ca. 1 mm wide, margins involute. Inflorescence spicate, usually unisexual; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes linear or linear-oblong, 1.7--3 X 0.4--0.5 mm, occasionally with a few pistillate spikelets at base; staminate glumes yellowish brown to brown, with pale green midvein, lanceolate, margins broadly hyaline, apex obtuse. Pistillate spike slightly lax, pale brown, linear, 1.5--4 cm X 2--3 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex aristate or not; pistillate glumes brown or yellowish brown laterally, with pale green midvein, ovate to lanceolate, 4--6 X 1.5--2 mm, margins narrowly hyaline, apex acute. Prophylls pale brown or brown, utriculiform, oblong or lanceolate, 3.5--5 X 1.2--1.3 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, margins fused to middle part or to apex, apex rounded. Achenes oblong, trigonous, not stipitate, not rostrate, 2--2.5 X ca. 1 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas linear, flat, ca. 1/2 as long as achenes or slightly longer. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
* Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, alpine shrubby meadows, rocky and sandy grassy slopes; 4300--5300 m. ??Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang.
不丹嵩草 bu dan song cao
Kobresia prainii var. elliptica Y. C. Yang; K. utriculata C. B. Clarke.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, pale brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, rigid, subterete, 3--10(--25) cm tall, slender, 0.5--1 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter to longer than culms; blade erect, filiform, margins involute, less than 0.5 mm wide. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes white to pale brown, narrowly elliptic, 6--13 X 2--5 mm; staminate glumes white or pale brown, linear-lanceolate, 5.5--7.5 X 0.8--1 mm, membranous, apex obtuse. Pistillate spike slightly loose, pale brown, linear-elliptic or narrowly oblong, 1--2 cm X 2--3 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, blunt; pistillate glumes brown or yellowish brown laterally, with pale colored midvein, ovate to lanceolate, 3.5--6 X 1--1.5 mm, midvein narrow, margins narrowly hyaline, apex acute or obtuse. Prophylls lower parts yellowish green, upper parts brown, utriculiform, elliptic, 2.5--3 X 0.8--1 mm, membranous, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, margins fused to apex, apex rounded. Achenes brown, oblong or elliptic, trigonous, not stipitate, not rostrate, or apiculate, 2--2.4 X 0.7--0.8 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas linear, minute, less than 1/2 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, rocky and grassy slopes; 3300--5600 m. Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].
短轴嵩草 duan zhou song cao
Carex vidua Boott ex C. B. Clarke in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 6: 713. 1894; Kobresia harrysmithii Kükenthal; K. prattii C. B. Clarke.
Rhizomes short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown to dark brown, shiny, not fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, stiffly erect, subterete, (1.5--)3--40 cm tall, slender, 1--2 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter to longer than culms; blade erect, filiform, 0.5--1.1 mm wide, margins involute. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes pale brown, narrowly elliptic, (0.7--)1--2.5 X 0.2--0.5 mm; staminate glumes pale brown laterally, with yellow midvein, linear-oblong, 4.5--7 X 1--3 mm, apex obtuse. Pistillate spike compact or slightly loose, brown and partly green, linear or cylindrical, 1.3--3.5 cm X 2--4 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like. Pistillate glumes brown or chestnut-brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong-ovate, 2--5 X 1.3--2.4 mm, papery, midvein very broad (ca. 1/3 width of glume), margins narrowly hyaline, apex rounded or mucronate. Prophylls lower parts pale green, upper parts brown or chestnut-brown, utriculiform, elliptic or oblong, 2.2--4 X 0.6--1.5 mm, papery, 2-keeled, keels ciliate or smooth, margins fused to apex. Achenes pale brown, oblong or elliptic, trigonous, very shortly stipitate, shortly beaked, 1.6--3.5 X 0.9--1.3 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas minute, less than 1/2 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.
Grassy slopes, alpine meadows, on rocks, among shrubs; 3000--5100 m. Gansu, Qinghai, ??Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].
纤细嵩草 xian xi song cao
Kobresia gracilis Y. C. Yang (1984), non Meinshausen (1901).
Rhizomes very short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, subtriquetrous, 8--23 cm tall, slender, less than 0.5 mm in diam. Leaves basal, shorter than to +/- equalling culms; blade filiform, thinner than culms, flabby, margins involute. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes pale brown, linear, occasionally with 1 or 2 pistillate spikelets at base; staminate glumes pale brown, oblong, ca. 4 mm, membranous, apex acute or rounded. Pistillate spike compact, brown or pale brown, linear or cylindrical, (0.5--)1--2 cm X 1--2 mm; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like, apex rounded; pistillate glumes brown or chestnut-brown laterally, with green midvein, oblong-ovate, 3--3.5 mm, membranous, midvein broad, margins narrowly hyaline, apex rounded. Prophylls yellowish green, utriculiform, elliptic, 2--3 X 0.7--1 mm, membranous, apex brown, 2-keeled, keels smooth, margins fused to apex. Achenes pale brown, oblong, trigonous or compressed-trigonous, very shortly stipitate, shortly beaked, 1.5--2.5 mm. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas narrowly lanceolate, ca. 1/2 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. Aug.
* Grassy slopes, grasslands among Quercus; 3600--4400 m. Sichuan.
亚东嵩草 ya dong song cao
Rhizomes very short. Basal sheaths prominent and persistent, brown, dull, fibriform, without dried leaf blades. Culms densely tufted, erect, subterete, dwarf, 2--4 cm tall, slender. Leaves basal, usually longer than culms; blade stiffly erect, filiform, margins involute. Inflorescence spicate, unisexual; all spikelets solitary flowered. Staminate spikes not seen. Pistillate spike pale brown, ovate or ovate-oblong, ca. 1 cm, spikelets fewer; lowest bract (glume of lowest spikelet) glume-like; pistillate glumes brown at middle part, ovate, ovate-triangular, or triangular-lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, 1-veined, margins broadly hyaline, apex acute. Prophylls dark brown, utriculiform, triangular-ovoid, inflated, bluntly trigonous, ca. 5 X 4 mm, thickly papery or leathery, veins obscure, base truncate, hyaline, margins fused above the middle, apex acute. Achenes triangular-ovoid, trigonous, concave, ca. 2.5 mm, shortly beaked. Stigmas 3. Sterile rachillas flat, minute, ca. 1/3 as long as achenes. Fl. and fr. Sep.
* Alpine meadows; ca. 4800 m. Xizang (Yadong).