600 CYPERACE.E. (SEDGK FAMILY.) 



leaves long and narrow, rough on the edges, the loA^est sheaths usually becom- 

 ing prominently fibrillose ; 1 or 2 lowest bracts leafy and equalling the culm ; 

 spikes 3-5, variable in size and shape, scattered, the lowest usually more or 

 less peduncled and clavate and the otliers sessile, erect or spreading, oblong or 

 cylindric (i-2' long and 2-3'' broad), all compactly flowered above but often 

 attenuate at base (or rarely alternate-flowered throughout), the upper mostly 

 staminate at top, all greenish-purple or pallid ; perigynium ovate and small, 

 tawny, mostly lightly few-nerved and somewhat granular, the beak very short 

 and commonly entire ; scale obtuse to nearly acute, about equalling the peri- 

 gynium or a little shorter. — Swales, throughout ; abundant and variable. 



Var. angUStata. Stricter; spikes longer and narrower (3-4' long and 

 about 1|^" broad), never clavate, more approximate and always erect, the stami- 

 nate portion usually much longer (often 1 - 2'), rust-colored ; scales narrower 

 and sharper, mostly longer thaji the perigynium. (C. angustata, Boott, in part.) 

 — Same range as the type, but less common. 



Var. decora, Bailey. Usually smaller ; basal sheaths rarely fibrillose ; 

 spikes shorter (seldom over 1' long), sessile or very nearly so, rarely attenuate 

 at base, spreading, the terminal staminate flowers few, rust-colored; bracts 

 more spreading ; scales very sharp and spreading, longer than the perigynium. 

 (C. aperta, Man.) — X. Eng. to Wise. ; rather rare. 



C. STRiCTA X FiLiFORMis. Lcaves and culms vcry sleuder ; spikes short 

 (1' long or less), sessile and compact, the upper 1 or 2 scarcely bracted, pallid ; 

 perigynium small, smooth. — Keweenaw Co., Mich. [Farwell.) Exactly inter- 

 mediate between the two species. 



35. C. aquatilis, Wahl. Large and stout, glaucous, 2 -4° high; culm 

 very obtuse and smooth ; leaves exceedingly long, broader than in the last, the 

 bracts broad and prolonged far beyond the culm ; spikes 3-5, 1-2' long, very 

 compact or the lowest sometimes attenuate below, erect, thick (3" broad or less) ; 

 perigynium round-ovate or broadly elliptic, nerveless, greenish, imbricated ; 

 scale obtuse and much shorter and narrower than the perigynium. — Swamps 

 and lake-margins, N. Eng. to Minn. ; not common. (En.) 



36. C. lenticularis, Michx. Eather slender but erect, pale throughout, 

 1-2° high ; culm sharp, usually slightly rough above ; leaves very narrow, 

 numerous, much surpassing the culm ; spikes 3-6, more or less aggregated or 

 the lowest remote, the terminal androgynous or staminate, mostly sessile, erect ; 

 perigynium ovate, minutely granular, brown-nerved, tlie tip empty and entire ; 

 scale pale and obtuse, about ^ the length of the perigynium. — Gravelly borders 

 of ponds and lakes, northern N. Eng. to Minn. ; mostly local. 



= = Spikes widely spreading or drooping. 



37. C. torta, Boott. Slender but erect, 1^-2^° tigli, in clumps, with ex- 

 ceedingly tough and cord-like roots ; culm rather sharp, smooth or roughish 

 above ; leaves flat and rather soft, those of the culm very short ; spikes 3-5, 

 mostly somewhat approximate or the lower remote, the upper sessile and ascend- 

 ing but the others drooping, long and slender (often 3' long, 2" broad or less) ; 

 perigynium lance-ovate, thin and green, nerveless, tlie slim upper half empty 

 and more or less tortuous, the beak entire or erose ; scale purple-margined and 

 very obtuse, shorter than the perigynium. — Cold banks and swamps, Vt. to. 

 N. C. ; infrequent. 



