272 North American Cyperacea. 



umbel crowded, usually 1 — 2 inches long; secondary rays half an inch 

 long. Involucre somewhat erect ; one of the leaves longer than the 

 umbel, the others equalling it ; the involucels are mere short lanceolate 

 bracts. Ochreee obliquely truncate. Spikelets 3 — 7 lines long, varying 

 from ovate to oblong, rather obtuse. Scales closely imbricated, but 

 spreading at the points, giving the edge of the spikelets a finely serrated 

 appearance ; the side of a bright reddish colour, the keel and part of the 

 back green. Stameyis 3. Style 3-cleft. Nut whitish, very obtuse, 

 minute. 



Hab. Sandy swamps, and in wet places on the banks of 

 rivers, Massachusetts! to Florida! near Boston, and Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina, B. D. Greene, Esq. !; Litchfield, Con- 

 necticut, Mr. Brace ! ; New Jersey, from S. Amboy to Cape 

 May! ; Pennsylvania, Muhlenberg! ^ Schweinitz ! — September, 



Obs. This beautiful species, though resembling C. com- 

 pressus in many respects, can easily be distinguished by the 

 characters above enumerated. It appears to have been over- 

 looked by Elliott, although inhabiting the Southern States. 

 I have found it near South Amboy, in one or two instances 

 growing two feet high, with the umbel decompound, and the 

 involucels very distinct : but it was evidently in a diseased or 

 unnatural state. It very frequently occurs with the scales and 

 ochreae foliaceous, giving the spikelets and axils a viviparous 

 appearance. The whole plant, except the spikelets, is of a 

 yellowish green colour. 



13? multiradiatus : umbel many-rayed, the rays elongated; 

 scales oblong, scarcely acute, 3-nerved. 



Rhizoma creeping. Culm 2 feet high. Umbel 10 — 12-rayed ; the 

 primary rays 4 — 6 inches long; secondary 1 — 2 inches long, erect. 

 Ochreee cuspidate. Involucre about 6-leaved. Spikelets 14 — 24-flowered, 

 obtuse, much compressed, 5 — 8 lines long, 2 lines broad. Rachis naked. 

 Scales rather obtuse than acute, greenish, shaded with yellow and brown, 

 closely imbricated, their tips scarcely distinct. 



Hab. East Florida, Le Conte! ; New Orleans, Dr.Ingalls! 



Obs. This may prove to be a distinct species from C. 



dentatusy but I have concluded to let it remain as a variety till 



