172 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



5. Holoschcejtus, L. ; spikelets in compact globose cymose 

 heads ; wet places, rare. 



D. Spikelets small, terminal, solitary ; bristles 3-8 : — 

 5. ccBspitosus^ L. ; stems 6-12 in., very caespitose, bristles 

 longer than the fruit ; S.pauciflorus, Lightf. ; resembling 

 the last, but stem leafless ; 5. parvulus, R. and S. ; very 

 dwarf, 1-2 in., spikelets of 3-4 very small flowers; all 

 in wet sandy places, the last very rare. 



E. Spikelets in a distichous spike : — 5. compressuSy 

 Pers. (6*. Caricis, Retz. ; Blysnius compressus^ Panz.); 

 stigmas 2 ; wet meadows. 



4. FlMBRISTYLlS, Vahl. 



Flowers bisexual; style dilated at the base and per- 

 sistent. 



F. laxa, Vahl ; stem leafy, spikelets 3-5 ; very rare ; 

 marshes; Ticino. 



5. Eriophorum, L. 



Flowers bisexual; perianth -bristles very long and 

 slender, cottony. 



A, Spikelets several, drooping, in lateral cymes: — E. 

 polystachioUy L. (including angtistifolium, Roth, and 

 latifolium, Hoppe), Cotton - Grass ; marshy meadows, 

 very common. E. ^niims^ Koch, is a mountain form. 

 E. gracile, Koch ; very similar, but more slender, with 

 narrower leaves ; peat-bogs. 



B. Spikelet solitary, terminal: — E. alpinum, L. (PI. 

 118); stem 6-10 in., very slender, head snow-white, 

 perianth-bristles wavy; moist alpine pastures, frequent. 

 E. vaginatumy L. ; heads snow-white, perianth - bristles 



