on the Britifh Species of Carex. 165 
Habitat in paluftribus putridis & aquofis, Junio. 
Virginia Water. 
Radix fibrofa, perennis. Folia viridia, ad oras carinafque valdè 
afpera, culmo longiora, fub-angufta, canaliculata, exteriora brevi- 
ora. Culmus pedalis, 2-pedalis & ultra, inferné foliis obfitus, erec- 
tus, ftrictus, triqueter, angulis acutioribus afperis. Spica fupra-de- 
compofita, paniculato-ramofa, androgyna. Ad bafin cujufque ra- 
muli, bractea ovata in mucronem elongatum nonnunquam in fetam 
definens, fulva, membranacea, margine albo. Ad omnem etiam 
fpiculam unica ejufdem forme. Spicule infere remote, fuperæ 
congeftæ, ovate, omnes fefhles, floribus inferioribus, circiter qua- 
tuor fœmineis, fuperioribus pluribus maículis— Squamz ovatæ, 
concave, acute, membranaceæ, fuíce, margine albz, carinatæ, ca- 
rinà ciliato-hifpidà, nervo dorfali viridi, capfularum fere longitudine. 
Capfule ovatæ, acute, laxe, patentes, hinc planz, illinc convexz, 
ad margines ferrulatæ, acuminatæ, ore bifido.. Filamenta tria, an- 
theris linearibus flavis. S/ylus brevis, ftigmatibus duobus. 
The lax branchy difpofition of the fpike is a fufficient mark of 
difcrimination in this fpecies. As the term racemus compofitus, 
though fcientifically exact, and applicable to this fpecies, feldom 
occurs in the Linnean defcription, I have changed it for one of a 
more general and popular nature, /pica paniculato-ramofa. 
The branches are alternate, and fomewhat diftant from each 
other.—The capfules in this fpecies are fometimes fomewhat di- 
verging, and of the fame length as the iquama which guards them, 
—The whole {pike is triquetrous, oblong, and acute at its firft 
opening. 
. This Carex is admirably well qualified for planting in loofe 
boggy 
