428 North American Cyperacecs. 



The genus Uncinia differs from Carex only in having a 

 hypogynous seta within the perigynium. The nature of this 

 body seems to be explained by the structure of Schoeno- 

 xyphium, N. ab E. (and the same thing we observe in a single 

 specimen of Carex ijltyllostachys, Meyer) in which the peri- 

 gynium includes the peduncle of a staminate spikelet as well 

 as the nut ; and moreover, in U. Nejjalensis, N. ab E. in 

 Wight's contrih. p. 129, the seta is said to bear on its summit 

 an imperfect rudiment of a flower or spikelet. 



Uncinia breviseta. 



Spike solitary, simple, attenuate above ; scales of the pis- 

 tillate flowers suborbicular, scarious, amplexlcaul, a little 

 shorter than the fruit ; nut ovate, obtusely 3 — (or 4 — ) angled, 

 apiculate ; seta straight, smooth, flattened, mostly shorter than 

 the nut. 



Carex filifolia, R. Brown ! in Rich. app. FranJd. journ. ed. 2. p. 35 ; 

 Schw. 8f Torr. ! car. I. c. p. 298, not of Nutt. 



Kobresia globularis, Dewey I car. I. c. 29, p. 253. 



Cespitose. Culm 6 — 10 inches high, smooth, slender, clothed at the 

 base with numerous brown sheaths. Leaves setaceous, slightly scabrous, 

 nearly as long as the culm. Spike about an inch long, pistilliferous, 

 and rather loosely flowered below, staminiferous, attenuate, and densely 

 flowered above. Scales of the pistillate flowers 6 — 8, ovate-orbicular 

 scarious and silvery, ferruginous in the centre. Perigynium minutely 

 puberulent. scarious, white and somewhat mottled with ferruginous ; 

 orifice entire or slightly lacerate. Nut completely filling the perigy- 

 nium, obtusely tri, or quadrigonous, glabrous, with a short abrupt acu- 

 mination. Style 3-parted. Seta included or exserted (fide Brown), in 

 our specimens shorter than the nut. 



Hab. In the woody country of Arctic America, Dr. Rich- 

 ardson ; also near Carlton House ! 



