HO TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



IV. 



ON CAREX SPIRALIS, A SPECIES NEW TO 



SCIENCE. 



BY PETER EWING. 



TRead 20th March, 1887.] 



Carex spiralis, sp. nov. 



Stems often solitary, 10 to 15 inches high, describing one turn 

 of a spiral ivhen growing, acutely triquetrous, rough from a 

 little way below the lower spike. Leaves narrowly linear, very 

 slightly recurved on the edge. Spikes erect, male 1, fusiform 

 or cylindrical ; females 2 5, 5-I inch long, exserted on short 

 stalks, cylindrical, narrowed and laxly flowered towards the 

 subfusiform base. Bracts strict without sheaths, but having 

 dark purple auricles; lower bract leaf -like, overtopping the stern. 

 Glumes dark brown with a light brown midrib ; those at base 

 of male spike spathulate, but ovate-lanceolate towards its apex; 

 those of female spikes ovate • lanceolate. Stigmas 2. Fruit 

 obovate, planoconvex, without veins. 



Hob. — Alpine rills. 



Loc— Near the ridge between Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire 

 {Eiving, 1881). 



I have found it a matter of considerable difficulty 

 to determine the precise position of this plant. Its 

 affinities seem to be partly with C. rigida and partly 

 with C. aquatilis ; but the constant exsertion of the 

 spikes, and the conspicuous leafy bracts, distinguish 

 it from the former species, while its triquetrous 

 stem shows it to be distinct from the latter. As it 

 seems to possess characteristics of both plants, I 

 consider its place to be between them ; and its 

 remarkable habit of growth is in my opinion a 

 sufficient warrant for its description as a new 

 specios. This view is supported by the fact that 

 the plant seems unknown to some of the best 

 authorities on Carices in Britain and on the Con- 

 tinent. A plant identical with the one now exhibited 

 has been sent to Kew, and these may be regarded 

 as illustrating the typical form of the species. 



