EEPOBT OF THE STATE BOTANIST. 55 



each with a scale like or bristle-form bract ; fertile spikes 3-6, 

 subdensely flowered, 2-4' long tapering at the base, usually one 

 or more sterile at the apex, all short-peduncled and recurved or 

 drooping, the lower subtended by foliaoeous bracts longer than the 

 culm, the upper bracts filiform or setaceous and shorter than the 

 stem ; perigynia oblong-ovate, subinflated, nerveless or obscurely 

 nerved, with a distinct entire point ; scale oblong, obtuse or 

 lanceolate, with a long rough awn, twice or thrice the length of 

 the perigynium. 



Separated from the last, to which it is closely related, by its 

 hispid sheaths, soft fertile spikes, and by its ovate or oblong- 

 ovate perigynia. Both species often grow together and in both 

 the staminate spike often bears a few perigynia. 



Stigmas 3 ; achenium triangular. 

 Staminate spike single (sometimes 2 or 3 in •i!^) ; fertile spikes 

 1-t, on slender drooping stalks; perigynia compressed-triangular 

 with a few indistinct nerves ; scales dark purple or brown. 



Perigynia oval or oblong-ovate, scale ovate, blunt or 



acute littoralis. 



Perigynia ovate, scale ovate-mucrouate limosa. 



Perigynia orbicular-ovate or obovate, scale slender 



pointed Migellanica. 



49. Carex littoralis Schw. 



Stem 15-24' high, slender, erect, acutely angled, smooth; 

 leaves much shorter than the culm, 1"-!^" wide, stiff and erect, 

 smooth ; staminate spike (rarely 2 or 3) subclavate, 6"-15" long, 

 short-stalked, scales brown or blackish-purple ; pistillate spikes 

 2-4, densely flowered, cylindrical, all usually staminate at the 

 apex, subapproximate, the uppermost short-peduncled and sub- 

 erect, the others on filiform drooping stalks 4"-9" long ; bracts 

 sheathless, the upper setaceous or scale-like, the lower leaf-like, 

 shorter than the culm; perigynia compressed-oval, or oblong- 

 ovate, lightly few-nerved, with a minute entire orifice, about the 

 length of the obtuse or acute dark purple scale. 



Wet j^laces. Suffolk county. May. 



This species has not before been credited to our State. In the 

 Manual, New Jersey is given as its northern limit. It is doubt- 



