SEDGE FAMILY 



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across; spikelets 1 — 10, in a dense terminal cluster, the outer 

 ones generally stalked, red-brown, about J in. long ; bracts several, 

 leaf-like ; glumes acutely 2-lobed with an awn between the lobes ; 

 perianth of i — 6 bristles ; style usually 3-cleft. — Salt marshes ; 

 common. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



14. S. sylvdticus (Wood Club-rush). — Stem 2 — 3 feet high, stout, 

 leafy ; leaves long, keeled, | — J in. across ; spikelets small, ovoid, 

 dark shining green, very numerous, in a terminal, much-branched, 

 compact panicle; bracts several, leaf like; glumes ribbed, obtuse, 

 apiculate ; perianth of 6 bristles ; style 3-cleft. — Moist woods ; 

 frequent. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



4. Blysmus. — -Aquatic plants with creeping rhizomes ; stem 

 triangular ; spikelets small, alternate, in a close distichous com- 

 pound terminal bracteate spike ; glumes few ; perianth of 3 — 6 

 included bristles. (Name from the Greek bljsfnos, a spring, from 

 the wet places where these plants grow.) 



1. B. compressus (Sedge-like Club-rush). — Rhizome creeping; 

 stem 6 — 8 in. high, triangular, sheathed at the base ; leaves linear, 

 flat, rough; spike about an inch long, of 10 — 12 oblong, 6 — 8- 

 flowered, pale brown spikelets, each about \ in. long; stamens 

 usually 3 ; style 2-cleft ; nut tapering. — Boggy places ; not un- 

 common. — Fl. June — July. Perennial. 



2. B. rufus, a plant of about the same size, with tufted, round 

 stems; few, narrower, channelled, smooth leaves ;. spike ^ — | in. 

 long, of about 6 spikelets, each 2 — 4-flowered, with shining, dark 

 brown outer bracts, as long as the spikelets. — Wet pastures, chiefly 

 in the north ; uncommon. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



5. Eriophorum (Cotton-grass). — Tufted, herbaceous plants 

 with terminal spikelets; numerous imbricate glumes; perfect 

 flowers ; perianth of hair-like bristles, forming long, cottony tufts. 

 (Name from the Greek erion, w^ool, phero, I bear.) 



1. E. alpinum (Alpine Cotton-grass). — A plant resembling 

 Scirpus ccespitosus in every respect but the long perianth-bristles. 

 — Forfar ; now extinct. — Fl. June. Perennial. 



2. E. vagindtum (Hare's-tail Cotton-grass). — Stems many, tufted, 

 not a foot high, but lengthening in fruit, round below, triangular 

 above, with 1 or 2 inflated sheaths: leaves linear; spikelets solitary, 

 terminal, ovoid, deep green, | — | in., many-flowered : perianth of 

 very many bristles, forming together a thick, nearly globular, 

 cottony tuft, about an inch across. — Boggy moors ; common. — 

 Fl. April, May. Perennial. 



3. E. angustij olium (Common Cotton-grass). — About a foot 

 high, with solid, solitary stems ; leaves channelled near the base; 



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