A Numerical Taxonomic Study of the Carex Section Racemosae (Cyperaceae) in China

Based on 38 morphological characteristics，a numerical analysis on 20 species and 3 varieties of Sections Racemosae and Frigidae of the genus Carex in China is presented on this paper.Cluster analysis results revealed that Section Racemosae is a natural group，which supports the opinion in Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae that Carex meyerinan，Carex hongyuanensis，Carex lehmanii，and Carex montiswutaii are distinct species.The principal component analysis suggested that the characteristics used for the taxonomy of Section Racemosae are stable and concentrative.Both cluster analysis and principal component analysis offer the same classification result for Section Racemosae.The principal component analysis indicated that characteristics such as nutlet，utricle，maximum leaf on fruiting culm，pistillate glumes，and bract are more significant for the taxonomy of this section.