MONOECIA-.TRIANDRIA. Carex. 83 



touch, larger than in tlie foregoing, each accompanied at the 

 base with an ovate scale, half its own length ; the lower one 

 generally with a bristle-shaped bractea, not rising so high as 

 the common spike. Florets most of them fertile j a few of the 

 lower ones, in each spikelet, barren, /ScaZes lanceolate, or some- 

 what ovate, acute, about the length of the corolla, which is 

 rough-edged, scarcely cloven at the summit, its surface becom- 

 ing striated as the seed ripens. 

 The real C. leporina, certainly, by an original specimen, n. 322 of 

 the Linneean Fl. Lapponica, is an alpine species, but half the 

 size of this, with 3 or 4 nearly globular spikelets, and an ovate 

 smooth-edged corolla, longer than the scales. It is C. Lache- 

 nalii of Schkuhr, t. Y.f. 79. Linnaeus undoubtedly confounded 

 both together under n. 837, of Fl. Suec. ed. 2, where the de- 

 scription answers to the alpine plant; which therefore I cannot 

 but consider as C. leporina, though very sorry to differ from 

 Dr. Wahlenberg, who zealously contends for a contrary opinion^ 

 and calls my leporina by the name of lagopina. Willdenow, 

 Schkuhr, and Fl. Dan. t. 294, agree with me ; as did the late 

 Mr, Davall, from a comparison of Swiss specimens with the 

 Linnaean characters. The question is indeed a matter of fact 

 rather than of opinion. 



9. C. tenella. Slender-headed Carex. 



Spikelets three, bracteated, distant, minute, of about three 

 florets. Fruit elliptical, convex at each side, very smooth 

 and even, with a blunt, entire beak. Stamens two. 



C, tenella. 8c\ik. Car. 23, t. P, p,/, 104, exclusive of i, k, I. 



C. straminea. Don, Cant. ed. 5. 220. 



In moist shady places, in Scotland. 



In a wood by the river Esk, Angusshire, very rare, Mr. G. Don. 



Root creeping, very slender, like the whole of the herbage, which 

 is smooth, of a pale green. Stems a span high, erect, almost 

 capillary. Leaves several, acute, sheathing the lower part of 

 the stem, rather above half its height, and about twice its dia- 

 meter in breadth. Spike erect, weak, of usually 3 rather distant, 

 alternate, sessile, very small, round spikelets, each of 1 or 2 

 fertile^ore/5, with ovate, membranous, pale scales, and 2 stig- 

 mas ; and one terminal, barren^^oret, with a lanceolate scale, 

 and only 2 stamens. Fruit elliptic-oblong, compressed, beaked, 

 perfectly smooth all over, without any ribs or furrows, and 

 equally convex at both sides ; the beak nearly half as long as 

 the seed, somewhat pyramidal, obtuse, entire. Stigmas 2. 



Willdenow and Wahlenberg refer this plant of Schkuhr to C. lo- 

 liacea, which differs essentially in having many-flowered spike- 

 lets, without bracteas, nbhed fritit, flat on one side, and I be- 

 lieve 3 stamens. It is Schkuhr's gracilis, 48. t. E. /. 24. That 

 author appears to have drawn the ripe fruit of his C. tenella, 

 G 2 



