44 EIPOKT OF THE STATE BOTANIST. 



acute, whitish or tawny, about the length of the perigynium ; 

 achenium ovate, apiculate. 



A fine species, easih'^ determined by the slender lax stems, and 

 silvery-white, subsquarrose spikelets. 



Woods and cc pses, especially in hilly and mountainous parts of 

 the State. Common. June, July. 



Var. perplexa Bailey. Larger, stouter, erect; the spikelets 

 larger, the staminate portion less conspicuous, approximate, or 

 aggregated into an erect head, the lowest sometimes prominently 

 bracteate, perigynia of a firmer texture. 



A form occurs which ha.3 stiff, subflexuous spikes, silvery green 

 spikelets, ovate above but na-rowed below, and somewhat club- 

 shaped; perigynia thin, spreading, about as long as the pointed 

 scale. 



Dry ground. Washington and Otsego counties. June, July. 



Yar. eparsifiora Olney. Differs from the type in its more slender 

 culms, the spikes mostly nodding, and in its fewer, smaller and 

 fewer-flowered spikelets. 



27. Carex silicea Olney. 



Stems l°-2° high, firm, often recurved at the summit, mo.stly 

 smooth; leaves stiff, erect, flat or involute, rough beneath, as 

 long as the culm ; spikes l|^'-3' long, often flexuous ; spikelets 

 4-8 or more, separate, moniliform, ovate, acute or obtuse, with a 

 club-shaped base, silvery-white or tawny, 3"-5" long, erect or 

 spreading ; bracts scale-like, lanceolate, as long as the stipe-like 

 base ; perigynia broadly ovate, nerved on both sides, wrinkled on 

 the broad wing above, tapering into a short, smooth or rwughish 

 bifid beak, about equal to or a little surpassing the ovate, pointed 

 scale ; the tips of the perigynia mostly appressed. 



Sandy soil. Suffolk county. July. 



This species is abundant near the sea shore. Forms sometimes 

 occur in which the spikelets are contiguous or the upper ones 

 even aggregated. Occasionally the lowest one is borne on a long 

 peduncle or branch, and rarely it is compound. 



28. Cai'ex straminea Willd. 

 Stems 15'-30' high, erect or the summit drooping, smooth ; 

 leaves usually shorter than tlie c dm, 1"-!^]-" wide, smooth or 

 rough-margined, yellowish green; spike I'-l^' long, fiexuous; 



