1038 



denhall, in Suffolk. The long, creeping rhizome, when chewed or 

 bruised, imparts a certain weak spicy taste and smell, like camphor 

 and ginger combined, and has been used in Germany as a substitute 

 for Sarsaparilla. 



Carex vulpina. In boggy or marshy places, sides of rivers, ditches, 

 &c. (even salt or brackish), also in wet woods and hedges ; one of the 

 commonest species of the genus in Hants, abounding over most parts 

 of the Isle of Wight and mainland pretty equally. About Quarr 

 Abbey and elsewhere near Ryde, &c, frequent. Rachis of the spike 

 very suddenly contracted at the top of the culm, which last, in damp 

 thickets, is often four or five feet long, and reclining or even trailing. 

 Very closely allied to our plant is C. stipata, Muhlenb., C. vulpi- 

 noidea, Mx., which I remarked to be frequent in North America, but 

 abundantly distinguished from C. vulpina, by its much softer stems, 

 so deeply and acutely triquetrous as scarcely to present any central 

 core or cavity, at the juncture of the three flat thin wings or angles ; 

 in its perigynes, which are more convex at the back, very abrupt and 

 fiat at the base, which is usually depressed in the centre, and on a 

 slender stipes ; in the much longer beak, and, lastly, according to 

 Schkuhr, in having the sheaths of the lower leaves transversely stri- 

 ated. The seed (nut) in both species is very similar. The ripe peri- 

 gynes of C. vulpina are usually deep rusty red, but I find them in 

 some parts of the county of a dark brown, nearly black colour. 



Carex muricata. In moist gravelly pastures, on banks and under 

 hedges, by road sides, &c. In several parts of the Isle of Wight, but 

 not common. Quarr Copse, May, 1840. By the road-side close to 

 Gurnet farm, by Gurnet Bay, in plenty, June, 1838. In the planta- 

 tions under the cliff betwixt Shanklin and Cook's Castle, 1840. 

 Along the top of the Parsonage Lynch, Newchurch, 1841. Abundant 

 along the road-side between Bowbridge and Godshill, June, 1843. 

 Betwixt Alverston and the Grove, by the road-side. Possibly not 

 uncommon on mainland Hants, but at present I have only the follow- 

 ing station to record. Alverstoke, June, 1849. Ripe perigynes of the 

 closely approximated spikelets more widely spreading, and the edges 

 of the beak much rougher than in the following species. Similar as 

 are this and the next species, there appear to be sufficient grounds 

 for holding them distinct. Dr. Boott, than whom no one has studied 

 the Carices more assiduously and profoundly, writes to me thus on the 

 subject : " I think the habit of C. divulsa is different from C. muricata, 

 and it is found in countries in which C. muricata is not a native." 



Carex divulsa. In damp hedge bottoms, on banks, in woods, and 



