448 THE SEDGE FAMILY. 



D. 



Lower heads or clusters of flowers in the axils either of leaves, or of very long and 

 leaf-like bracts ; the uppermost head usually terminating the stem. 



* 

 Heads, or at least the lower ones, all sessile, or nearly so. 

 Heads very small, numerous, in the axils of long and^ 



leaf-like bracts, about two inches asunder. 1 20. Kemote-floweeed 

 Herbage pale, slender, and densely tufted ; [ Caeex. 



stems eighteen inches high j 



Male and female flowers in separate heads, the ter- 

 minal one a catkin, with stamens only ; the 

 lower ones all female. 

 Heads few, roundish, yellowish-green, mostly near 

 the top of the stem. Fruits very spreading. 



Stems three to eight inches high 30. Small Yellow Caeex. 



Heads few, large, oval, the females one or two 

 inches long. Stems two feet high. Fruit 



egg-shaped, inflated 47. Bladdee Sedge. 



• * 

 Lower or axillary heads or catkins on peduncles, which are usually of considerable 

 length, the longest reaching to 3 — 5 inches, and all of them female; the 

 terminal catkin male. 

 Stigmas two. Catkins cyhndiical or oblong, few, dark- 

 brown or blackish. Fruits nearly flat. 

 Scales mostly obtuse; female catkins one or two 



inches long 27. Tufted Bog Sedge. 



Scales mostly narrow and pointed ; female catkins ) 28. SLENDEE-ariKED 



three inches or more in length i Caeex. 



Stigmas three. Bracts, or at least the lower ones, leafy, 

 and with or without sheaths. 

 Fruits downy or hairy, beaked. Female catkins 

 oblong or cylindrical, the lower ones very dis- 

 tant. Rootstock creeping extensively under- 

 ground. Stems 4 — lOin. high. Whole plant 

 more or less covered with fine wliite hairs . . 45. Haiby Sedge. 

 Fruits glabrous. 

 A. One terminal male catkin (rarely with a smaller 

 one close underneath it). Female catkins 

 erect. Bracts leafy, with sheaths. 

 Fruits obtuse, without any beak, or only a very 

 minute one. 

 Female catkins short, oblong, pale-green. 

 Fruits very obtuse. Stems twelve to 



fifteen inches high 32. Pale Carex. 



Female catkins cylindrical. Scales very dark- 

 coloured. Fruit often witli a minute 

 beak. Stems six to twelve inches high. 35. Pink-ij;aved Carex. 



