Variability of perigynium morphology of Central European members of Carex sect. Phaestoglochin (Cyperaceae) from variable plant communities

The number and range of taxa belonging to the Central European section Phaestoglochin (Carex L.) differ significantly among systematic classifications. Our study revealed that all of the quantitative morphological features of perigynia of Carex spicata Huds., Carex muricata subsp. muricata L., Carex muricata subsp. lamprocarpa ?elak., Carex divulsa subsp. divulsa Stokes, and Carex divulsa subsp. leersii Koch., had statistically significant differences among taxa. However, this differentiation did not reflect the known taxonomic divisions of the group and therefore, it did not represent a determining criterion for distinguishing the particular taxa. It also did not confirm the close and significant connections between subspecies within the species studied. Based on morphological features of perigynia, we showed that C. divulsa is a well-distinguished taxon, while the other taxa form a complex group. Analysis of the differentiation of perigynium features among the taxa studied against the background of the plant communities where the plants were grown indicated a distinct effect of the habitat conditions on the morphological features of perigynia.