FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Carex ramenskii, Ramensk's Sedge, Marstör

Carex ramenskii; The Ramensk's Sedge is a medium sized sedge growing up to 30cm or less. It is a perennial having shoots growing from rootstocks.
  - The leaves are relatively long, usually longer than the culms. They taper into an acutely triangular apex. They are flat or edges rolled up, about 2 to 5mm broad.
  - The inflorescence consists of one or two terminal male spikes and few female spikes below. The culm, male and female spikes are all erect. The female spikes are on short pedicels. The scales of the female spikes are first red turning dark (black) later with a lighter midrib and pointed. The scales of the male spike(s) are black with a light midrib from early on and have obtuse apex's. The female flowers have 2 stigmas. The utricles, much hidden behind the scales, are green and have no or small beaks. They are lens shaped
  - They grow on salt marshes along the coast and along rivers near the coast.
  - It is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). The Icelandic name of this species is Marstör.

The world-wide distribution of the species is peculiar. It is native to North-Eastern Asia (Eastern Siberia, North-Eastern China and Japan) and North-Western America (Alaska, NW Canada). Influential organisations like Kew Science and JSTOR do not mention Iceland. Also, it is believed to be a stable hybrid of Carex subspathacea and Carex lyngbyei. Although both mentioned species are common on Iceland too, it is believed the hybrid originates from the North Pacific region and spread from there to Iceland. It is also quite curious that an ecological similar species: Carex salina that is found both in Eastern Canada as well in North-Western Europe has never been recorded on Iceland.