200 CYPERACEAE 
or glabrous : achenes ovoid above the hypogynium, obtuse but sometimes pointed, bright 
white, smooth, shining ; hypogynium a narrow obtusely triangular border supporting 8 or 
9 small tubercles under the achene-body. 
In moist soil, near the eoast, Virginia to Florida and Texas. Summer. 
5. Scleria lithospérma (L.) Sw. Perennial. Stems slender, 3-6 dm. long, smooth: 
leaves quite numerous ; blades narrowly linear, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, with scabrous-ciliate 
margins and keel; sheaths ciliate at the throat: spikelets in 2-4 distant interrupted 
spikes, the lower with leaf-like bracts, the upper with bristle-like bracts: scales lanceo- 
late, acuminate, rough at the apex: achenes jobovoid or oblong, about 1.5 mm. long, 
smooth and glossy, without pores; hypogynium wanting. [S. fihformis Sw.) 
In low pine lands, southern peninsular Florida. Also in nearly all tropical regions. 
6. Scleria reticulàris Michx. Perennial. Stems slender, erect, 3-6 dm. tall : leaves 
few ; blades narrowly linear, glabrous or nearly so, 2-3 mm. wide, not overtopping the 
stem : spikelets in a terminal cluster and 1-3 remote axillary sessile or nearly sessile clus- 
ters: bracts glabrous: achenes globose, dull white when mature, reticulated, 1 mm. in 
diameter, glabrous ; hypogynium 3-lobed, its lobes appressed to the base of the achene. 
In moist meadows, Massachusetts to Missouri and Florida. Alsoin Cuba. Summer and fall. 
7. Scleria trichópoda C. Wright. Perennial. Stems tufted, often spreading, 2-7 
mm. long, smooth : leaves often quite numerous in the tufts ; blades linear, 2-4.5 mm. wide, 
usually with cartilaginous marginal ribs, rather abruptly pointed: clusters of spikelets 1— 
3 cm. long, the axillary ones filiform-peduncled : bracts glabrous: stigmas 3 : achenes glo- 
bose or slightly depressed above the 3-lobed appressed hypogynium, 2-2.5 mm. in diameter, 
regularly reticulated, somewhat pubescent. 
In low grounds and pine lands, New Jersey to Missouri, Florida, Texas and Mexico. Also in the 
West Indies. Spring to fall. 
8. Scleria Torreyana Walp. Perennial. Stems weak, spreading or diffuse, nearly or 
quite smooth, 3-6 dm. long, relatively stout : leaves often few ; blades linear, nearly flat, 
glabrous, 3-8 mm. wide, not exceeding the stem : spikelets in a loose terminal cluster, and 
1-3 filiform-stalked drooping axillary ones : bracts glabrous: achenes globose above the 3- 
lobed appressed hypogynium, somewhat pointed, 2-2.5 mm. in diameter, irregularly ru- 
gose-reticulated with low ridges, the ridges pubescent, and connected by shorter ones. 
In moist soil, southern New Jersey to Florida and Texas. Summer. 
9. Scleria hemitáphra Steud. Perennial. Stems slender, 1.5-8 dm. long, more or 
less tufted, glabrous or nearly so: leaves shorter than the stem ; blades flat, 1-4 mm. broad, 
attenuate : clusters of spikelets 2-4 em. long or rarely smaller, rigid, or mostly erect, the 
bracts and scales conspicuous : stigmas 3: achenes globular above the 3-lobed appressed 
hypogynium, 1.5-2 mm. in diameter, irregularly rugose-reticulated, abruptly pointed, 
minutely pubescent. 
In wet places or sandy swamps, Florida to Mississippi. Also in the West Indies, Mexico and Cen- 
tral America. Summer and fall. 
10. Scleria Curtissii Britton. Perennial. Stems relatively slender, 1.5-4.5 dm. 
long, weak, glabrous or nearly so, loosely tufted on stout roostocks: leaves quite numer- 
ous in the tufts ; blades very narrowly linear, 1-2 mm. wide, smooth, attenuate, often not 
much thicker than the stem: clusters of spikelets few-flowered, the axillary ones, when 
present, slender-peduncled : scales scarious-margined : bracts ciliate: stigmas 3: achenes 
globular or slightly depressed above the hypogynium, reticulated, 1.5-2 mm. in diameter, 
glabrous, shining, abruptly pointed ; hypogynium supporting 6 tubercles arranged in pairs. 
In pine lands, near Jacksonville, Florida. Summer and fall. 
11. Scleria ciliata Michx. Perennial. Stems slender or relatively stout, 3-6 dm. 
tall, pubescent especially on the angles above: leaves few or sometimes numerous at the 
base of the stem; blades narrowly linear, very variable in width, sometimes pubescent, 
often glabrous; sheaths pubescent : spikelets generally in clusters with conspicuously cil- 
iate bracts : achenes subglobose or globose-ovoid, 3 mm. long, acute, roughened by unequal 
projections or short ridges, those near the base longer and deflected ; hypogynium a narrow 
obtusely 3-angled border supporting 3 entire or 2-lobed tubercles. [S. Elliottii Chapm. ] 
In pine lands, Virginia to Missouri, Florida and Texas. Also in the West Indies. Spring and 
summer. 
12. Scleria glabra (Chapm.) Britton. Perennial. Stems, like the rest of the foliage, 
glabrous, relatively slender, 2.5-9 dm. long, loosely tufted from horizontal rootstocks : 
leaves few ; blades often about as thick as the stem, sometimes 2-3 mm. wide : clusters of 
spikelets small and few-flowered : bracts and scales glabrous: stigmas 3: achenes globular, 
or globose-ovoid above the hypogynium, about 2 mm. long, papillose : hypogynium sup- 
porting 3 entire or 2-lobed tubercles. [S. pauciflora var. glabra Chapm.] 
In pine lands, North Carolina to Florida and Alabama. Also in the West Indies. Spring to fall, 
