The genus Carex of Renfrew County:
A comparative study

By Grant A. Bickel, 2020

Carex foenea Willd., Bronze Sedge (Section OVALES)

Carex foenea is common in the acidic soils in the northwestern portion of Renfrew County. It is quite distinctive from the other common Section OVALES species with its scales nearly covering the perigynia. Older records of C. foenea are usually labelled as C. aenea and the name C. foenea has also been applied recently to C. siccata so tracking and verifying C. foenea records requires some care. Furthermore, C. foenea has frequently been confused with C. argyrantha but the perigynia of C. argyrantha are smaller with prominent veins on both faces and prominent wings with serrulate edges when compared to C. foenea

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Achenes, perigynia and scales of Carex foenea

Figure 1. Achenes, perigynia and scales.
Inflorecences of Carex foenea

Figure 2. Inflorecences.
Inflorecences of Carex foenea

Figure 3. Inflorecences.
Habit of Carex foenea

Figure 4. Habit.
An occurrence map of Carex foenea in Renfrew County

Figure 5. Occurence map for Renfrew County and surrounding area.
Accession records for specimens from Renfrew County
Accession # Collector Date
CAN 551646 A. Vogg 1988-July-31
CAN 547582 S.J. Darbyshire 1988-June-11
CAN 569811 M.I. Moore 1970-August-19
DAO 266096 M.I. Moore 1964-July-14
DAO 266080 M.I. Moore 1964-July-03
CAN 569810 T.C. Brayshaw 1961-September-15
CAN 561076 J.H. Soper & I.M. Soper 1961-July-03
CAN 262148 J.S. Rowe 1958-June-16
DAO 266179 W.J. Cody, W.G. Dore, J.H. Soper & F.H. Montgomery 1956-July-24
CAN 569794 A.W.H. Damman 1954-June-13
DAO 266181 M.I. Moore 1950-May-29
CAN 569793 H.H. MacKay 1921-July