SEDGE TRIBE 51 
cylindrical. Damp woods and banks of canals, extending as far north as 
Elgin and Lanark. A tall plant 3—5 feet high, with a stem rough at the 
angles above, well distinguished by its very long pendulous spikelets, which 
often exceed 3 or 4 inches. It flowers in May and June. . 
53. False Cyperus (C. pseudocypérus).—Bracts leaf-like, much over- 
topping the stem; fertile spikelets cylindrical, on long stalks, somewhat 
crowded towards the top of the stem ; glumes bristly ; fruit terminating in a 
very long, spreading, deeply 2-cleft beak. Damp woods, rare. A very hand- 
some and perfectly distinct species, from 2—3 feet high, with rough stems 
and leaves, and 5 or 6 fertile spikelets about 2 inches long, the fruit of which 
is so rigid as to be almost prickly. The terminal barren spike is occasionally 
fertile above. It flowers in June. 
54. Glaucous Heath Sedge (C. glaica).—Bracts leafy, scarcely sheath- 
ing; fertile spikelets 2 or 3, cylindrical, slightly drooping when in flower ; 
stalks long, slender, and finally recurved; fruit broadly obovate, blunt, 
slightly downy at the point. Distinguished by its glaucous leaves (which 
somewhat resemble those of C. pantcea), smooth triangular stem, densely 
flowered spikelets, and blunt fruit. There are often two barren spikelets. 
It grows, about a foot high, in damp meadows, and flowers in June ; common. 
#*e*** * Stigmas 3; fruit downy ; fertile spikelets without stalks. 
55. Vernal Sedge (C. precox).—Fertile spikelets 1—3, crowded, sessile ; 
lower bract leafy, with very short sheaths; glumes broadly ovate, pointed ; 
fruit ovate, obscurely triangular, acute. A humble plant from 3—8 inches 
high, common in dry pastures, where it makes itself conspicuous among the 
grass in early spring by its rather broad foliage and numerous yellow anthers. 
56. Mountain Sedge (C. collina).—Fertile spikelets 1—3, crowded, 
ovate, sessile ; bracts short and narrow, with short membranaceous sheaths ; 
fruit oblong, very downy. Rare, or local in Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, 
Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Devon, Hants, and Sussex. It flowers in 
April and May, and grows from 4—7 inches high. Also known as 
C. montana. 
57. Heath, Sedge (C. ericetérum).—Spikelets small, few, capitate ; fertile 
6 to 10-flowered, barren solitary ; glumes pale brown, with broad scarious 
margins; bracts glume-like, and scarcely sheathing. This is a small species 
that grows on banks in chalk districts. Its creeping rootstock branches into 
tufts of 3-sided, stiff, smooth stems, which are from 2—6 inches high. The 
leaves are keeled, and have their margins rolled back. The fruit is downy, 
egg-shaped, with an entire beak, and the nut is pale and stalkless. It flowers 
in May and June, and is found in Cambridge, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Also 
known as C. ciliata. 
58. Round Headed Sedge (C. pilulifera).—Fertile spikelets, 2—4, 
crowded, roundish, sessile ; bracts short and narrow, without sheaths ; leaves 
short and broad ; glumes rigid and pointed ; fruit nearly globose, acute. A 
common species with a very slender rough stem, bearing near the summit 
several short spikelets of few flowers; growing in wet moors, where it 
attains a height of 6—18 inches ; flowering in June. 
4 7—2 
