421 
THE STRAMINEA GROUP: 
‘Willdenow described, in 1809, the plant which has long been 
known as Carex adusta, under the name of C. fenea. The descrip- 
tion was not understood, however, and Torrey, in 1836, applied 
Willdenow’s name to the plant which is now known as C. straminea, 
var. fenea. These two feneas now stand, applied to plants very 
like each other, and the circumstance is confusing. I shall, 
therefore, find some other name for the C. straminea var. fenca 
of Torrey, especially as I believe the plant merits specific distinc- 
tion. It was first described by Schweinitz in 1824, as Carex albo- 
lutescens, and this name I now restore. Unfortunately, Olney 
misunderstood Schweinitz’s plant and thought it to be the C. adusta 
of our manuals. I have seen Schweinitz’s original, and it is clearly 
Torrey’s fwnea. There are forms which are somewhat intermediate 
between Carex straminea and C. albolutescens, but one who is 
familiar with the two species can easily place them. But I separate 
them in order to allow of a philosophical presentation of C. straminea 
and its varieties. This species, as heretofore constituted, includes 
two coérdinate branches or type, the stramineous or straw-colored: 
and the albolutescent or silvery green type. If these types are 
considered to be coérdinate varieties, it is impossible to recognize 
Several minor forms, which appear to be worthy varietial recogni- 
tion, unless resort is taken to the European fashion of sub-varieties. 
By removing the albolutescent type, I am able to separate some 
of the well-marked forms which now confuse C. straminea vat. 
revior into codrdinate varieties. The forms which I desire to 
remove from it are: 
’ Carex straminea, vat. FERRUGINEA (Gray). 
C. fenea, var. 6 Boott. Ill. 118, t. 376 (1862). 
C. fenea, var.? ferruginea, Gray Man. 5th ed. 580 (1867). 
C. tenera, var. suberecta, Olney, Exsicc. fasc. ii. No. 16 (1871). 
Plant very tall and slender, with two or three pointed or long- 
Ovate, rusty-green spikes approximate at the top. The spikes 
are usually prominently tapering below, and the thin, nearly 
nerveless perigynia have loose points. That has somewhat the 
look of some forms of C scoparia, but is always readily distin- 
Suished by its separated spikes and straminca-like perigynia. I 
