FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Carex myosuroides, Mouse-tail Bog Sedge, Þursskegg

Carex myosuroides; the Mouse-tail Bog Sedge is a densely tufted grass-like sedge that can grow up to about 30cm.
   The leaves are very narrow, just a little shorter than the inflorecense leafless stem.
   The spike is about 2½ to 3cm long. Their structure is for a Carex species quite peculiar: above a brown bract two flowers appear, one male and one female. The female pistil hat 3 stigma's. Quite characteristic is a broad membranous top of the scales.
   It is common everywhere on Iceland and grows on dry gravel-rich or rocky grounds
   This species was known in the past under the name Kobresia myosuroides and in English the Bellard's Kobresia. The whole Kobresia genus though has been transferred to Carex. It is the only "Kobresia"-relative of Europe. It is a member of the Sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Þursskegg.