NPSpecies

see comments; Data Source: Lea, 2000; NCRN Graminoid Inventory - Engelhardt et al., 2008

Park Species Detail: Lea, 2000: Carex albicans Willdenow w Sprengel var. australis (Bailey) Rettig (Bellows-beak Sedge)The possible occurrence of this taxon, frequently treated as Carex physorhyncha Liebman. For this area is problematic. It is a southern Coastal Plain taxon, s aid to range north to southeastern virg&ia (Fernald,1950). Plants appearing much as C. albicans var. albicans, but being more robust, having short rhizomes and loosely, rather than densely, cespitose, habit and wider leaves have been found in the Gorge. A specimen collected by Ward in 1880 from Great Falls, Maryland had been annotated by K. K. Mackenzie as C physorhyncha, [apparently] subsequently annotated by Mackenzie as C. varia Muhlenberg (a synonym for C albicans var. albicans or, possibly, C. albicans sensu lato). We have since found similar specimens in the Gorge that compare well with syntypes of C varia var. australis (= C. albicans var.australis) at US (examined in person) and at NY (as a photograph at the CASSIA web site) (Tracy s.n.). These are fairly restricted to rather xeric oak-pine forests consistent with that published for C. physorhyncha (Fernald, 1950, Mohleubrock, 1999); though they are sympatric with var. albicans, the typical variety tends to occur in adjacent, more mesic forests. A. A. Reznicek (pers. Comm) has examined these questionable specimens and indicated that similar-appearing plants occur in the Midwest, north of the published range of var. austraiis. He bas concluded that, using a narrow circumscription of C. albicans var. australis (perhaps necessary to give the taxon validity), such plants would most likely be considered var. albicans. He acknowledges that the Potomac Gorge plants are clearly atypical for var. albicans and that the situation may merit taxonomic review. Specimens in question include Ward s.n. (US), Lea 981 (Tawes), Lea 1331 (GMUF, US), and Lea 1332 (MICH). [Bartonia, 2002: Included in a list of Hypothetical Occurrences-HH]., Park Species Data Source: Lea, 2000;