| Carex subg. Carex | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Carex riparia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Cyperaceae |
| Genus: | Carex |
| Subgenus: | Carex subg. Carex |
| Type species | |
| Carex hirta | |
Carex subg. Carex is a subgenus of the sedge genus Carex . It is the largest of the four traditionally recognised subgenera, containing around 1400 of the 2000 species in the genus. [1] Its members are characterised by the presence of one or more exclusively male (staminate) terminal spikes, quite dissimilar in appearance from the lateral female (pistillate) spikes below. [2] In most species, the female flowers have three stigmas, but a few species, including Carex nigra , have female flowers with only two stigmas. [2]