336 North American Cijpcraccce. 



E. cespitosum, Host. gram. t. 39; Pursh! fl. 1. p. 57. 



Rhizoma creeping. Culms densely cespitose, about a foot Iiigh, the 

 lower part clothed with two or three ventricose sheatlis, which are mu- 

 cronatc, or bear only rudimentary (and often discoloured) leaves. Radical 

 leaves long, often overtopping the culm (especially when the spike 

 is in fruit), very narrow and almost setaceous. Spike about three- 

 fourths of an inch long. Scales ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with a 

 broad white scarious margin of silvcr-grny in the yonng spike, but of a 

 dark livid colour when mature; several of the lower ones empty and at 

 length reflexed. Hairs about 40 to eacli nut, 3 — 4 times the length of 

 the scale, collected at the base in fascicles of 5 — 7 each, white with a 

 tinge of yellow. Stamens 3; anthers yellow. Style 3-cleft. Nut 

 obovate, narrowed below, brown, dull, very obtuse, flattened on the back, 

 convex in front. 



Hab. Deep spliagnous swamps. Near Quebec, Upper 

 Canada, JSLs. Fercival ! ; Arctic America and the Hudson's 

 Bay Country, Dr. RicJiardson ; on the Rocky mountains, T. 

 Briimmond ! ; near Williams College, Massachusetts, FroJ\ 

 Dciocy!; Litchfield, Connecticut, Mr. Brace!; Watertown 

 and Utica, New-York, Dr. Gray ! 



Obs. As the normal number of hypogynous processes in 

 Cyperacece is six, the great number in m^ost of the species of 

 Eriophorum may be accounted for by supposing the spike to 

 be compound, each scale covering a spikelet of several florets, 

 only one of which arrives at perfection, the fascicles of hairs 

 thus belonging to a number of abortive Horets. 



3. Eriophorum capitatujm, Host. 



Culm terete, soft; sheathes a little inflated ; spike almost 

 spherical ; anthers cordate-ovate, short. 



E. capitatum. Host, gram. Ausl. 1. p. 30. t. 36; Rum. ^- Schult. syst. 

 2. p. 157; Smith, Eng.fl. 1. p. 66; Eng. hot. t. 2387; Hook.Ifl. Scot. 

 p. 20, and in app. to Parry's 2nd voy. p. 27; R. Broicn, in app. to 

 Parry's ^st voy. p. 284. 



E. Scheuchzeri, Roth, in Sims Sf Kon. ann. lot. 1. p. 149; Pcrs. 

 syn. 1. p. 70; Vahl, enum. 2. p. 388. 



