Monograph of North American Carices. 307 



versely. Spike decompound and somewhat paniculate, formed of nu- 

 merous small spikelets, which are clustered into 8 — 10 — 12 longer spike- 

 lets a little separate from each other, either appressed to the rachis, or 

 somewhat diverging. At the base of each is a long filiform foliaceous 

 bractea rigidly diverging at first, but at length contorted. Sterile glumes 

 lanceolate; with a short point ; fertile ovate, with a longer serrulate 

 point, both carinate. Fruit diverging considerably, distinctly 3 nerved, 

 yellowish when mature. 



Hab. In wet meadows ; common. Flowers in May. 



Obs. A variable species as to size and appearance. When 

 very tall, with flexuous filiform foliaceous bracteae, it is 

 C. bracteosa of the Analytical Table. According to Dr. 

 Torrey, C. polymorpha of the same table is also a variety 

 or diseased state of the plant, in which the culm is simple, 

 or divided into several filiform branches, each bearing* 

 spikes mixed with numerous long infertile scales. 



22. Carex setacea, Dewey. 



C. spica oblong, decomposita, bracteata; spiculis glomeratis, 

 ovatis, obtusis, fructibus ovatis, acuminatis, compressis, 

 bifidis, subdivergentibus, gluma ovato-lanceolata aristata, 

 subsequalibus. 



C. setacea, Dewey car. 1. c. ix. p. 61. t. 2. f. 5. mala. 



Culm 18 — 30 inches high, acutely triangular, very scabrous above, furrow- 

 ed and striate on the sides, leafy. Leaves linear, 3 lines broad, canal- 

 iculate, striate, nearly as long as the culm ; exterior ones shorter ; 

 sheaths smooth, striate, white and membranaceous on the side of the sti- 

 pule; stipule ovate, acute. Spike decompound, 2 inches long; often 

 dioecious or polygamous) spikelets numerous, aggregated into several 

 approximate spikes, ovate-cylindric, obtuse, becoming tawny, all brac- 

 teate. Bracteae rather long and narrow, scabrous under the spikelets, 

 and giving to the whole spike a bristly appearance. Glumes tawny, 

 green on the keel, with the awn about the length of the fruit. Fruit 

 slightly plano-convex, often indistinctly 3 — 5 nerved, scabrous on the 

 margin, growing yellow, rather loose and somewhat diverging. 



