A taxonomic study on sect. Rhomboidales Kuk. and sect. Digitatae Fr. of genus Carex L. subgen. Eucarex Cross & Germ. ( Cyperaceae ) in Korea

Abstract

Morphological characters of sections Rhomboidales (four taxa) and Digitatae (seven taxa) of the subgen. Eucarex (genus Carex, Cyperaceae) were reexamined. The epidermal patterns of perigynium, achene and leaf were investigated by SEM and LM. Morphological characters such as length and width of stem, leaf, bract, spike, scale, perigynium and achene, and shape of cross-sectioned stem, spike, scale, apex of scale, perigynium, beak and base of perigynium, achene, hair present or absent in perigynium, number of involucre and epidermal pattern of perigynium, achene and leaf(shape of fundamental epidermal cell and cell wall, type of silica body, shape of beak epidermal cell and cell wall in perigynium, subsidiary cell shape, size and frequency of stomatal complex of leaf) were useful for the identification of the observed 11 taxa. According to the current study, examined 11 taxa of sections Rhomboidales and Digitatae were distinct from each other regarding by length of leaf, stem, pistillate scale and perigynium, shape and epidermal cell of perigynium beak. C. lanceolata and C. humilis have been confused due to similar morphological characters. C. lanceolata and C. humilis were distinct, however with respect to from length of stem, leaf ligule present or absent, shape of cross-sectioned stem, epidermal patterns of perigynium, achene and leaf. And C. lanceolata could be distinguished from C. pediformis by shape of perigynium and achene, shape of cross-sectioned of stem, epidermal pattern of perigynium, achene and leaf.