OP ARTS AND SCIENCES. 65 



14. Carex Raeana, Boott, Rich. Arc. Exped. ii. 344. 



Differs from C. oligosperma chiefly as follows : Pistillate spikes 

 cylindrical, long {\ in. to 1^ in.), the lower loosely flowered at the 

 base and peduncled ; perigynium long-beaked, conspicuously toothed, 

 the teeth scabrous ; pistillate scales narrow and acuminate. — Methye 

 Portage, British America, long, about 110°, lat. about 57°, Richard- 

 son. Some of the perplexing and immature specimens from N. Maine, 

 collected by G. E. Smith (Gray, Manual, 602), and from New Bruns- 

 wick, collected by /. Fowler, are evidently to be referred here. The 

 specimens vary in the shape of the orifice of the perigynium. Abun- 

 dant and mature specimens from these regions are needed for the 

 full determination of this species, and likewise of C. rotundata and 

 O. saxatilis, var. miliaris. G. Raeana evidently occurs in Montana 

 also. The species was named for Capt. John Rae, of Richardson's 

 Arctic expedition. 



15. Carex physocarpa, Presl, Reliq. Ha;nk. i. 205. 



The only typical specimens which exist in this country, so far as 

 I know, I have from Professor Macoun. The species is allied to 

 G. monile on one side and G. saxatilis on the other. Its distinguishing 

 marks are the long peduncles (1 to 4 in.) of the oblong spikes, the 

 two or more elevated staminate spikes, and a very slightly toothed or 

 obliquely cut nearly nerveless perigynium, which is about equalled 

 by the somewhat obtuse scale. G. saxatilis, var. Grahami, is appar- 

 ently its nearest ally, but that variety has shorter and thicker pistillate 

 spikes which are short-peduncled, one or two short-stalked staminate 

 spikes and a sharply cut, strongly nerved perigynium which is twice 

 longer than the scale. The merits of G. physocarpa and G. saxatilis, 

 var. Grahami, cannot be determined until more material accumulates. 

 My present impression is that expressed by Dr. Boott (Linn. Trans. 

 xix. 220), thai the plants of our Rocky Mountains, which have been 

 referred to the var. Grahami, belong rather to G. physocarpa. The 

 plants vary widely from the type of G. physocarpa, but fully as widely 

 from var. Grahami. It may be that the two species are not distinct. 

 Var. Grahami is founded upon a plant of Scotland. — Nootka Sound, 

 Vancouver's I., Haenke ; Rocky Mountains of British America, Drum- 

 mond, named by Dr. Boott ; Bow River at Morley, Rocky Mountains 

 of British America, Macoun. 



* * Plants mostly loiv, with short and more or less purple spikes. 

 Perigynia erect or ascending. 



16. Carex saxatilis, Linn. Fl. Lapp. 259. 



G. pulla, Gooden. Linn. Trans, iii. 78. 



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