Carex melanostachya, Bieb. ex Willd.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 304

52. C. melanostachya Bieb. ex Willd. , Sp. Pl. 4: 299 (1805)

( C. nutans Host , non J. F. Gmelin).

Like 51 but stems (15—)30— 50(-100) cm, slender, scarcely scabrid above; basal sheaths more or less fibrous; leaves usually shorter than stems, 2-4(-5) mm wide, greyish-green, with inrolled margins; male spikes l-2(-3), with acute glumes; female spikes (1—)2—3(—4), 10-35 x 5-10 mm; lowest bract equalling or slightly exceeding inflorescence; female glumes c. | as long as utricles; utricles 3'5-5'5mm, biconvex, greenish-brown, not papillose, with sunken veins, gradually narrowed into a smooth, 2-fid beak c. 0-75 mm. Wet grassland. C. & S.E. Europe, extending westwards to W.C. France and north-eastwards to c. 54° 30' E. in E.C. Russia. Au Bu Cz Ga Ge?Gr Hu It Ju Rm Rs (C, W, K, E).