Carex glaucispicata D. C. Meng & X. F. Jin 2026, sp. nov.

2.Carex glaucispicataD. C. Meng & X. F. Jin sp. nov. Figs 2 G – J, 3 A – E Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Carex cheniana Tang & F. T. Wang ex S. Yun Liang in having central culms and glaucous leaves and spikes, but can be distinguished by shorter pistillate spikes, 1–2 cm long, leaves 1.5–2 mm wide, plant dwarf. Type. China • Sichuan: Jiuzhaigou Xian, Nanping Town, near Gangyan Tunnel; 33.282460, 104.220800; alt. 1,580 m; in roadside grass; 18 April 2023; D. C. Meng 189408 (holotype: ZJFC; isotype: ZM). Description. Herbs perennial. Rhizomes short, woody, stiff. Culms central, loosely caespitose, 16–30 cm tall, obtusely trigonous, slightly scabrous, base with dark brown fibrous sheath. Leaves longer than culms; blades flat, nearly leathery, (1 –) 1.5–2 mm wide, apex long-acuminate, scabrous on lower surface and margins. Bracts shortly leaf-like, lowers longer than spikes, uppers nearly equal to spikes, base sheathing; sheaths 4–12 mm long. Spikes three or four, racemose, remote; terminal spike staminate, short-clavate, 1–2 cm long, 2.5–3 mm wide, densely flowered, base pedunculate; lateral spikes pistillate, short-cylindrical, 1–2 cm long, 4.5–6 mm wide, densely flowered, sometimes apex with a few staminate flowers, base with peduncles enclosed in sheaths. Staminate glumes obovate-lanceolate, glaucous or white-green, 4.5–5 mm long, apex acute, with 3 - veined green costa dorsally. Pistillate glumes obovate, glaucous or white-green, 4–4.5 mm long, apex acuminate, with 3 - veined green costa dorsally excurrent into a 0.7–1 mm long scabrous awn. Utricles pale yellow, obovoid (beak excluded), obtusely trigonous, 5–5.5 mm long, longer than pistillate glumes, distinctly thinly veined, pubescent, base attenuate, apex gradually contracted into a ca. 1.5 mm long beak, margin pubescent, orifice 2 - lobed with short teeth. Nutlets tightly enveloped, pale yellow, rhombic-ovoid, trigonous, 2.5–2.8 mm long, with three angles constricted at middle, sides concave above and below, base with a short and curved stipe, apex abruptly contracted into a short, coiled beak; style base thickened; stigmas three. Etymology. The specific epithet “ glaucispicata ” refers to the staminate and pistillate spikes of this new species, which are pale green or glaucous when dried. Phenology. Flowering and fruiting occur in mid-April. Conservation status. Carex glaucispicata is currently known only from the type locality. In the absence of comprehensive field surveys, its geographic range, population size and trends, and potential threats remain poorly known. The available information is therefore insufficient to determine whether the species meets any of the IUCN criteria for a threatened category. The species is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD) following the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN 2024). Notes. Based on dried herbarium specimens, the leaves and spikes of the new species are pale green, rendering it superficially similar to Carex cheniana Tang & F. T. Wang ex S. Yun Liang. However, these two species differ markedly in plant size, leaf width, and spike length. A detailed morphological comparison between them is presented in Table 1.