Kobresia humilis

Tufted perennial, 5-16 cm. Rhizome short. Stem 1-1.5 mm diam., trigonous above, terete below, grooved, smooth or scabrous along edges, grey green, base slightly tuberous. Leaves ¼-1/2 of stem length; sheaths 10-20 mm, brown, disintegrating with age into fibres, mouth margin slightly concave; blades 2-9 cm x 1-2 mm, flat or folded, slightly falcate, grey green, smooth or margins and apex scabrous; ligule c. 0.2 mm, slightly arched. Inflorescence a compact spike, 7-12 x 3-4 mm, by 4-14 partial inflorescences; bracts 2.8-4.1 mm, lowest clasping, acute to obtuse, scarious, brown, margins widely scarious; partial inflorescence 30-60 x c. 1.4 mm, formed by utricle, one or occasionally several pistillate flowers and rachilla branch with 2-6 male glumes and staminate flowers; utricle glume-like, 2.4- 3.4 mm, with 2 scabrous veins, open nearly to base, brown, margins widely scarious; stigmas 2-3; lowest male glume 4 mm, light brown. Nut 2.8-3.7 x 1.1-1.3 mm, incl. up to 0.4 mm style base and up to 0.5 mm stipe, obovoid or ellipsoid, trigonous, greenish yellow, glossy, finely reticulate.

Distribution: From Iraq, Turkey and Caucasus to Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Tadjikistan and Pakistan, along Himalayas to Sikkim.

Fl. Per.: June - August.

Alpine and subalpine meadows from 3000-4600 m.

Elyna humilis C.A.Mey. ex Trautv., Acta Horti Petrop. 1: 21. 1871. Kobresia royleana (Nees) Boeck. var. humilis (C.A. Mey.) Kük., in Engler, Pflanzenr. IV.20, 38: 46. 1909. K. royleana var. parvinux T. Koyama, Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 16: 168. 1956. Kobresia persica Kük. & Bornm., Österr. Bot. Zeitschr. 47: 133. 1897; K. karakorumensis Dickoré in Stapfia 39: 77. 1995.