On the occurrence of Carex (Cyperaceae) in the Darjeeling-Sikkim-Himalayan Region
Animesh Maji and Ambarish Mukherjee
UGC CAS Department of Botany, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104(W.B.) (India) E-mail Id- animeshmaji11@gmail.com and amukherjee.bu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The Cyperaceae commonly known as sedge family has the virtues to show unique evolutionary specialization and great ecological variation. In view of this, the interesting genus Carex was selected from this family to trace its existence in the subalpine-alpine realms of Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayan Region. In all thirty species have been documented in this work through studies in the Herbaria(CAL and BSHC) and field during 2012.An artificial key to these species was prepared to facilitate their identification. It was also evident that 4 species(C.ustata, C.rara, C.inanis, C.nubigena) occur in alpine region, 5 species (C.polycephala, C.filicina, C.rara, C.inanis, C.nubigena ) in sub-alpine region, 9 species(C.polycephala, C. filicina, C.rara, C. inanis, C.nubigena, C.myosurus, C.insignis, C. baccans, C. cruciata) in temperate region, 6 species (C. filicina, C. myosurus, C. baccans, C. cruciata, C. decora, C.vesiculosa) in sub-temperate and 7 species (C. filicina, C.myosurus, C. cruciata, C. curticeps, C. vesiculosa, C. stramentitia, C.continua) in tropical region. Occurrence of Carex stramentitia could be recorded at about 4,000’ and Carex ustata from elevations above 12,000.