19. Carex baccans Nees CYPERACEAE

Whereas most sedges have green or brown fruits, this species is unusual in having brightly coloured ones. Although the specific name ‘baccans’ means bearing ‘berries’, the fruit walls are not fleshy, merely colourful, so the plant appears to be playing a trick on the animals that are presumably attracted to it and which disperse its seeds. It is a widespread tropical species of South and South-East Asia.

Photograph of Carex baccans in wild in Arunachal Pradesh

     

    RBGE Living Collections Accession Factsheet
    Accession Number:20150033
    Scientific Name:Carex baccans Nees
    Family:Cyperaceae
    Genus:Carex
    Epithet:baccans
    Collector:Hanoi, UBC, Logan, Longwood & Kew. Exped to Vietnam (2014)
    Year:2014
    Origin:Indo-China:Lao Cai:San Sa Ho
    Elevation:1,890m
    Plant:20150033B
    Location:/Living Collections/Logan/Z121
    Plant:20150033A
    Location:/Living Collections/Inverleith/G16/0686
     Location: 23.35425,104.775633