I wonder if anyone could enlighten me - variegated palm sedge(Carex muskingumensis) 'Oehme' and cultivars named 'Variegata' or 'Aureovariagata' - are they the same plant? Or are there _any_ separate variegated cultivars of this sedge other than 'Oehme'? (I have googled, BTW, and 'Variegata' comes up in a handful of Swedish, German, Russian, Belgian and lots of Polish pages. Nowhere else - so I think the name might not be correct). And another question - can you recommend some reference book on grasses, sedges and the like? I have Darke's Encyclopedia and it is excellent - but perhaps you have come across something more comprehensive yet? R.
I've tried to find the ICRA (International Cultivar Registration Authority for Carex, Cyperaceae or sedges - none seem to exist, which is where I'd point you to if one did. As you've rightly figured, 'Variegata' and 'Aureovariegata' are generally unreliable as cultivar names - they are too easily misapplied or more properly applied to a whole group. I can't offer any clarity for your question. As for grass and sedge books, hmm... what are you primarily looking for in a book? ID? Cultivation and cultural requirements? Listings of cultivars? Species?
Thanks for replying! I had no idea that there is no "official" registry for Carex cultivars, it would seem worthwhile, there are so many beautiful plants worth cultivating. As for books - I am looking mostly for both ID pointers for the species and cultivar descriptions. I have heard that a new edition of Darke's Encyclopedia is forthcoming in 2007, and I intend to get it, but still - more books the better. R.
Ornamental Grasses by Roger Grounds is probably worth having, as it lists both species and cultivars. It is definitely geared toward gardening. I would, however, say that the definitive book has not yet been written (that I'm aware of). For a more scientific treatment, you need to delve into regional floras and the like.
