BBPOBT OF THK STATE BOTANIST. 53 



^'-1' iu length, the others smaller and sessile, usually with a scale- 

 like or short setaceous bract ; pistillate spikes '2-5, ^'-2' long, the 

 upper approximate, sessile, the lower subdistant or remote, short 

 peduncletl, erect or spreading, cylindrical or clavate, densely 

 flowered above the middle, more loosely at the usually tapering 

 base, often barren at the summit ; bracts of the upper spikes short 

 setaceous, of the lower ones leafy, and mostly shorter than the 

 culm; perigynia ovate or elliptical, usually with two or three 

 short nerves at the base, minutely pointed, of a creamy white 

 color, often dashed with dark purple or sometimes wholly blackish 

 purple ; scale narrowly oblong, obtuse, reddish or dark brown, 

 about the length of the perigynium, or sometimes longer. 



A common species in wet places. May, June. It almost 

 always grows in tufts. It is quite variable. 



Var. strictior Caret/. Pistillate spikes 2-3, approximate, or the 

 lowest subdistant, densely flowered ; perigynia ovate, bright 

 green, about the length of the acute rusty -brown scale. 



Yar. xerocarpa S. II. Wriyld. Slender; pistillate spikes 2-3, 

 linear, more narrow than in the type, on liliform erect spreading 

 or drooping peduncles A'-l' long; perigynia lenticular; scales 

 mostly green with rusty brown points. A graceful variety about 

 one half smaller than the type. 



Var. angustata Bailey. Pistillate spikes cylindrical, strict, 

 2'-3' long, densely flowered ; scales more acute, dark-brown or 

 rust colored, often exceeding the perigynium. 



Var. curtissima Peclc n. var. Stems lS'-2-i' high, very slender, 

 erect, rough, exceeding the narrow (^' wide) rough leaves; 

 staminate spike with a minute one at its base, linear-clavate, 

 8"-10" long, short-stalked ; pistillate spikes 2, ovoid or oblong, 

 densely flowered, sterile at the a])ex, 3"-6" long, 8'-10' apart, 

 sessile ; the lowest bract leaf -like, I'-U' in length, the uppermost 

 setaceous; perigynia oval with a minute orifice, longer than the 

 blunt brown scale. 



46. Carex torta Booit. 

 Stems 15'-30' high, erect or spreading, acutely angled, mostly 

 smooth; basal sheaths short, brown, fibrillose, leaves l^'-6' or 

 more long, l^"-2" wide ; staminate spikes 1-2, cylindrical, 

 ■J'-l^' long, the terminal one short or long-stalked, the lowest 

 sessile ; pistillate spikes 2-5, f '-2^' long, cylindrical, densely flow- 



