North American Cyperacea. 395 



at the base of the spikes ; a character which we fear cannot be 

 implicitly trusted in this group of Carices, since we observe 

 considerable diversity in this respect. We have at pres^ent no 

 specimens of C. mirahilis from the author, and therefore are 

 unable to decide whethc-r it be entitled to rank as a species. 

 We have, however, several specimens which correspond with 

 Prof. Dewey's description ; but they appear to connect C. 

 festucacea with the succeeding species. 



37. C. CRiSTATA, Schw.! (Dial. tab. I. c. Schiv. ^ Torr.! 

 car. I. c. p. 315. t. 25. f. 1. 



Hab. Northern and INIiddle States, and British America ! 



38. C. STRAMiNEA, SchkuJir, car. 1. p. 49, f. 34. & 

 157 ; Dewey, car. I. c. 11. p. 157. 



^. minor ; slender ; spikes smaller ; fruit with an ovate cir- 

 cumscription, narrowly winged. 



C. straminea /?. minor, Dewey ! I. c. 



C. tenera, Dewey! car. I. c. 8. p. 97 ; & 9, t. C. f. 9. 



y.foenea; spikes more or less approximate (green); fruit 

 broadly ovate, with a somewhat narrower wing. 



C. foenea, Muhl.! gram. p. 227; Schiv. ^ Torr.! car. I. c. p. 318; 

 Deivcy ! car. I. c. 36, p. 142. 



Hab. United States and British America. ^. Northern 

 States and British America ! 7. New Jersey ! Pennsylvania 

 and Southern States ! — We are not wholly satisfied with 

 the present arrangement of the perplexing group which 

 comprises this and the 3 preceding species. The number 

 should, perhaps, be still further diminished, since, notwith- 

 standing, the apparent distinctness of these several forms, a 

 suite of intermediate specimens may readily be collected so as 

 to exhibit a regular gradation from the narrow fruit of C. sco- 

 paria to the almost orbicular and broadly-winged fruit of C. 

 straminea. No dependence can be placed on the presence or 



