| Carex is
one of Tasmania's largest genera, it has 25 native and 12 introduced species. These are
quite varied, but most are species of wet forest, swampy or coastal
areas. The stems are usually triangular in cross section, the leaves
are moderately tough (though rarely as tough as
Lepidosperma)
and often with cutting edges (though not as deadly as
Gahnia
species). However, the fruit is the most distinctive feature - the
fruit is contained in a sheath called a utricle.
Uncinia also
has utricles - but these end in a distinct hook. Carex albula
is called frosted curls. |
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