303 



Geography. Found in marshes, ditches, and running streams, in meadows 

 and on heaths, in groves and forests, on the blowing sands of the sea-shore, on 

 the tops of mountains, from the arctic to the antarctic circle, wherever Phreno- 

 gamous vegetation can exist. Humboldt remarks, that in Lapland Cyperacees 

 are equal to Gramineoe, but that thence, from the temperate zone to the equa- 

 tor, in the northern hemisphere, the proportion of Cyperaceae to Gramineae very 

 much diminishes. As we approach the line, the character of the order also 

 changes : Carex, Scirpus, Schcenus, and their allies, cease to form the principal 

 mass of the order, the room of which is usurped by Cyperus, Kyllinga, Ma- 

 riscus, and the like, genera comparatively unknown in northern regions, or at 

 least not forming any marked feature in the vegetation. A few species are com- 

 mon to very different parts of the world, as Scirpus triqueter and capitatus, 

 and Fuirena umbellata, to New Holland and South America, and several Scir- 

 puses to Europe and the southern hemisphere. 



Properties. While Grasses are celebrated for their nutritive qualities, and 

 for the abundance of feecula and sugar they contain, Sedges are little less re- 

 markable for the frequent absence of those principles : hence they are scarcely 

 eaten by cattle. The roots of Carex arenaria, disticha, and hirta, have dia- 

 phoretic and demulcent properties, on which account they are called German 

 Sarsaparilla. Those of Cyperuses are succulent, and filled with a nutritive 

 and agreeable mucilage. In Cyperus longus a bitter principle is superadded, 

 which gives its roots a tonic and stomachic quality. Dec. The tubers of Cy- 

 perus rotundus are said by General Hardwicke to be administered successfully 

 in cases of cholera by Hindoo practitioners, who call the plant Mootha. Those 

 of C. perennis, or Nagur-Mootha, are, when dried and pulverized, used by 

 Indian ladies for scouring and perfuming their hair. Trans. M. and P. Soc. 

 Calc. 2. 400. The root of Cyperus odoratus has a warm aromatic taste, and 

 is given in India, in infusion, as a stomachic. Ainslie, 2. 58. Cyperus Hydra 

 is said by Dr. Hamilton to be a pest to the sugar-cane plantations of the 

 West India Islands, overrunning them and rendering them barren. The 

 planters call it Nut Grass. Prodr. Fl. Jnd. p. 13. The root of Scleria litho- 

 sperma is supposed, upon the Malabar coast, to have antinephritic virtues. 

 Ainslie, 2. 121. The papyrus of the Egyptians was obtained from a plant of 

 this order, Cyperus Papyrus. Various Scirpuses and similar plants are ap- 

 plied to domestic purposes, such as making the bottoms of chairs, the wicks of 

 candles, the stuffing of cushions, &c. 



Examples. M. Lestiboudois divides Cyperaceee thus : 



§ 1. Scirpeae. (Scirpus, Eriophorum.) 



§ 2. Kobresie83. (Elyna, Kobresia.) 



§ 3. Cypereae. (Cyperus, Kyllinga.) 



§ 4. Chrysitriceae. (Chorizandra, Chrysitrix.) 

 But this arrangement has little merit. M. Kunth uses the following : 



§ 1. True Cyperaces?. (Cyperus, Kyllinga.) 



§ 2. Scirpeae. (Scirpus, Schcenus.) 



§ 3. Sclerinae. (Scleria.) 



§ 4. Caricinae. (Carex, Uncinia.) 



