Variation in Carex hostiana (Cyperaceae)

Carex hostiana DC. is a variable, amphi-Atlantic calciphile. Multivariate statistical analyses have been used to examine the patterns of morphological variation found within the species. Although several infraspecific taxa have been described, the results of this investigation indicate that there are no discontinuities in the morphological variation which can be clearly correlated with geography. Large plants tend to be most frequent on the North American side of the Atlantic Ocean and in Scandinavia, but large and small plants can be found scattered throughout the entire range of the species. No infraspecific taxa are worthy of recognition.