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; Host

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

Description

"Caricetum firmae" community in the Austrian Allgäuer Alpen, including species such as *Carex firma*, *Chamorchis alpina*, *Dryas octopetala*, *Gentiana clusii* and *Primula auricula*

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

^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Nicolaus Thomas Host (1797). "Carex". Synopsis Plantarum in Austria provinciisque adjacentibus sponte crescentium. Vienna, Austria: Christian Friedrich Wappler. pp. 502–512.

External links

Media related to Carex firma at Wikimedia Commons

[FischAdler-1] 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.

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