

The Sedge Family 



smooth, round stems are often seen in shallow brooks and 

 are more noticeable than are the small terminal umbels of 

 u brownish spikelets. 



SS^ Wool-grass {Scirpus cyperi- 



^. nus), common in late summer, 



^N. is a handsome plant of low 



^v*'' meadows, where groups of this 

 rigid, leafy sedge show a rank 

 growth. The stems of Wool- 

 grass are frequently shoulder- 

 high and bear a profusion of 

 rather narrow, long, drooping ,, , 



leaves which are sharp-edged \ lI^a/ 

 with minute saw-teeth. The 

 perianth, which in this genus ^ 

 is present in the form of bris- 

 tles, is in Wool-grass long and 

 downy, clothing the spikelets 

 of the conspicuous terminal 

 umbel in dull gray wool. 



The Club-rushes {Scirpus 

 polyphyllus and S. sylvdticus) 

 are leafy and graceful plants 

 that are frequently noticed in 



Ilow meadows and in swamps. 

 They are usually from two to 

 six feet tall and bear broad 

 leaves and large terminal um- 

 bels of many small spikelets. 

 These flowering-heads are 

 coloured in dull tones of green 

 and brown, and we must 

 push aside the overshadowing 

 leaves and the low masses 

 of surrounding vegetation in 

 order to find the striking 

 tints of deep carmine, corn- 

 colour, and pale rose which 

 are frequently concealed at 

 the base of stem and leaf. 



B 



Slender Cotton-grass 

 Eriop/torum gracile 



Virginian Cotton-grass 

 Ertoplwrum virginicum 



301 



