220 Dr. BooTT on a Species of Caves, allied to C. saxatilis, Linn. 



bus, et acutis ea swperantibus, stigmatibus 2 et 3. Stylus modo rectus, modo 

 basijlexuosus." 



In the absence of precise information respecting the perigynium of the 

 larger Greenland specimens, I am inclined to refer them and the specimens 

 from the Rocky Mountains, collected by Mr. Drummond, which I inserted in 

 Hooker's ' Flora Boreali-Americana,' under the name of C. saxatilis, to C.phy- 

 socarpa, Presl, a species native of Nootka Sound, of which I have no know- 

 ledge beyond that afforded by M. Kunth (Cyper. 420), where I find the follow- 

 ing characters, differing from those of C Grahami: ^' spicis masculis 2-3; 

 femineis erectis, glumis perigynio cequilongis, cidmofoliis breviore." 



In general habit the Rocky Mountain specimens are closely allied to C. Gra- 

 hami, but they differ in more elongated male spikes with looser imbricate 

 scales ; narrower, subacute, more elongated and laxer female spikes ; the peri- 

 gynium less distinctly nerved and eraarginate, scarcely longer than the scales. 



Future observation must determine the value of the specific character which 

 I have given to C. Grahami : whether it is to be considered a variety of C. sax- 

 atilis, Linn., as it has hitherto been looked upon, or referred to C. physocarpa, 

 Presl, when that species shall be better known : but in the present state of our 

 knowledge, I cannot but consider it, with Mr. Wilson, entitled to be received 

 as a species. Those who have patiently studied the genus Carex^ the largest 

 perhaps in the vegetable kingdom, from an extensive suite of specimens col- 

 lected from different countries, will frankly admit the difficulty of arriving 

 always at satisfactory conclusions respecting the character and limits of 

 species, even in the case of some of those the longest and most familiarly 

 known. 



December 15, 184.3. 



