Carex brevicaulis Thouars

A taxonomic clarification of Carex brevicaulis Thouars, a sedge endemic to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (Gough and Inaccessible Islands), reveals its nomenclatural history and morphological distinctiveness. The study designates lectotypes for both C. brevicaulis and Uncinia brevicaulis var. gracilior, resolving ambiguities in prior classifications. Key findings include detailed descriptions of the plant's inflorescence, utricles, and achenes, highlighting unique traits such as adpressed hairs on utricle sides and a deltoid beak. The research also addresses etymological confusion surrounding the species name, which was coined to describe short-stemmed plants despite reaching up to 61 cm in height. This work contributes to the clarification of sedge taxonomy in the South Atlantic, with implications for conservation efforts at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

García-Moro, P., Lois, R., Ford, K. A., Larridon, I., Rouhan, G., Roalson, E. H., & Jiménez-Mejías, P. (2026). Carex brevicaulis Thouars. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.21478684