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