FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Carex panicea, Carnation Sedge, Belgjastör

Carex panicea; The Carnation Sedge is a middle-sized sedge growing up to 45cm tall. It forms ground rosettes from short rootstocks, thus forming lose mats.
  - The leaves are characteristically quite blue-green in color. They are flat and shorter than the culms. Stomata are on the bottom side. The bracts have rather long sheaths (up to 2cm). The leaf-blade of the bracts are rather small (about as long as the spike above). The culms are smooth.
  - The inflorescence consists of one long-stalked male spike on top and one or a few female spikes below sitting on the culm or on short pedicels. The scales have narrow membranous margins and are dark with a light midrib. The scales of the male spike are rounded on top while those of the female spikes have pointed apex's. The top female spike usually sits on the culm where the lowest is on a short upright pedicel and has a bract about the length of this lowest spike but much shorter than whole inflorescence. The female spikes are distantly placed. The female flowers have three stigmas. The utricles are dull green to light brown. The beak is rather inconspicuous.
  - The Carnation Sedge grows on moist soils to soggy. It is quite common in the lower regions of Iceland.
  - The Carnation Sedge (C. panicea) is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Belgjastör.

The Carnation Sedge (Carex panicea) resembles the Sheathed Sedge (Carex vaginata). The latter has much brighter green utricles and bright green leaves. Another much rarer species that resemble both these species is the Livid Sedge (Carex livida) but can be identified by the long lowest bract, longer than the inflorescence. This species grows in very wet bogs.