1903 | Fernald, — New Kobresia in the Aroostook Valley 251: 
spike, subterete (only obscurely flattened) small achene, and in the 
male flowers with only 2 scarcely exserted stamens. 
Differing from most other species in its 2-cleft style and. from them 
all in its subterete achene and apparently in its 2 stamens, Carex 
elachycarpa might seem worthy generic separation from the essen- 
tially Himalayan Aodresia. But in view of the occurrence in Carex 
of either 2 or 3 style-branches and of either trigonous, subterete or 
strongly compressed achenes; in L/eocharis of terete or trigonous 
achenes ; and especially in view of the subspathiform glume of Carex 
elachycarpa the plant is best treated as a unique Kodresia; and its 
discovery in northern New England suggests that further exploration 
may show that this remarkable genus is more generally represented 
in America than has been supposed. 
From our more complete knowledge of the Aroostook River plant 
and its affinities it should be redescribed as 
Kopresia elachycarpa. Densely tufted; the wiry compressed 
culms 2 to 5.5 dm. high, scabrous above; leaves flat (1 to 2 mm. 
wide), rather stiff, ascending, about half as long as the culms; spikes 
1 to 2.5 cm. long, of 2 to 7 mostly remote appressed-ascending spike- 
lets; spikelets either staminate (clavate), androgynous (staminate 
above, with 1 to several pistillate flowers below), or pistillate through- 
out (ovoid); bracteole (corresponding to the “scale” of Carex) 
ovate, concave; glume (corresponding to the “perigynium” of 
Carex) ovate, subspathiform, connate at base, emarginate at tip, more 
or less marked with green and brown: style with 2 long branches, 
the elongate base becoming chartaceous dark brown and subpersistent, 
finally separating from the truncate oblong subterete nerveless pale 
achene (1.2 to 1.5 mm, long): stamens 2, scarcely exserted, the 
anthers much exceeding the filaments.— Carex e/achycarpa, Fernald, 
Proc. Am. Acad. xxxvii. 492, figs. 133, 134 (1902).— MAINE, wet 
sandy banks of Aroostook River, Fort Fairfield, June 29, 1899 (M. 
P. Cook, E. L. Shaw & M. L. Fernald), July 15, 16, 1902 (F. F. 
Collins, E. F. Williams & M. iL. Fernald in Plantae Exsiccatae 
Grayanae no. 115). 
GRAY HERBARIUM. 
