524 CYPERACE^. (sedge FAMILY.) 



of the style (tubercled). Perennials, with jointed and leafy culms. Spikes 

 small, disposed in axillary and terminal corymbs or clusters. 



§ 1. ERIOCH^TE. Bristles of the perianth 6, plumose. 



1. R. plumosa, Ell. Culms (6' -12' hifj^h) and leaves filiform; spikes 

 fjw, in about three small clusters at the summit of the culm ; nut nearly globu- 

 lar, strongly wrinkled, pointed with the short ovate smooth tubercle ; bristles 

 rather longer than the nut, plumose throughout or nearly to the summit. — Low 

 ]jine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. June and Juh'. 



Var intermedia. Culms taller (l°-2° high); leaves narrowly linear; 

 clusters 4-6, forming an interrupted spike at the summit of the culm ; nut olio- 

 vate, pointed with the conical-beaked pubescent tubercle ; bristles plumose only 

 at the base, or below the middle. — Sandy pine ban-ens, often dry places, Florida. 



2. R. semiplumosa, Gray. Culms erect, rigid (l°-2° high); leaves 

 naiTowly linear ; spikes oblong-ovate, dark brown, crowded in a terminal head, 

 or rarely in a remote axillary one ; nut globose-obovate, faintly wrinkled, pointed 

 Avith the short broadly conical smooth tubercle ; bristles exceeding the tul)ercle, 

 plumose below the middle. — Dry sandy ridges, near the coast, West Florida. 

 July and Aug. — The leaves, like those of the preceding species, have a joint- 

 like contraction near the middle. 



3. R. oligantha, Gray. Culms (6'- 12' high) and smooth leaves bristle- 

 like, reclining ; corymb terminal, of 3 - 6 large (4" long) ovate-lanceolate whitish 

 stalked spikes ; nut oval, lenticular, faintly wrinkled ; tubercle dilated at the base, 

 conical, flat ; bristles longer or shorter than the nut, plumose below the middle. 



— Low open pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. June and July. 



§ 2. RHYNCHOSPORA Pboper. Bristles of the perianth 3-20, smooth, 



scabrous, or hispid. 



* Nut transversely wrinkled or uneven : liristles denticulate or hispid upward. 



•1- Bristles shorter than the nut. 



4. R. rariflora, Ell. Culms and leaves bristle-form; corj-mbs 2-3, re- 

 mote, spreading ; spikes few and scattered, ovate ; nut broadly obovate, bicon- 

 vex, strongly wrinkled, twice as long as the 6 fragile bristles ; tubercle flat, 

 broadly conical, J as long as the nut. — Low grassy pine barrens, Florida to 

 North Carolina. June and July. — Culms 1°-1^° long, commonly reclining. 

 Spikes pedicelled. 



5. R. Torreyana, Gray. Culms erect, slender, nearly terete ; leaves nar- 

 rowly linear or bristle-form ; corymbs 1-3, remote, erect ; nut obovate, flat, about 

 twice as long as the 6 bristles ; tubercle compressed-conical, dilated at the base, 

 J the length of the nut. — Wet ground, South Carolina, and northward. July. 



— Culm 1°- 3° high. Corymbs many-flowered and somewhat spreading, or 

 few-flowered and capitate. 



6. R. cymosa, Nutt. Culms (2° -3° high) 3-angled ; leaves naiTowly 

 linear ; corymbs mostly 3, distant, open or contracted ; spikes ovate, clustered, 

 light brown ; scales mucronate ; nut broadly obovate, biconvex, faintly wrinkled, 

 twice as long as the 3-6 bristles; tubercle broadly conical, compressed, j as 



