MACKENZIE: NOTES ON CAREX 549 
obtuse or acute, reddish brown with lighter midvein and hyaline 
margins; pistillate spike usually present at base of staminate, 
sessile or short-peduncled, globose-oblong, 3.5 mm. wide, 4-7 mm. 
long, its bract squamiform, reddish-brown tinged and exceeded 
by culm, the basal spikes 2 or 3, subglobose, 4-6 mm. long, 3.5- 
4.5 mm. wide; scales broadly ovate acute or short-cuspidate, 
about length of but wider than perigynia and largely concealing 
them, strongly several-nerved, greenish or hyaline; perigynia 
2.25-3.25 mm. long, the body short-oval, triangular-orbicular in 
cross-section, 1.25 mm. wide, short-pubescent, 2-ribbed, otherwise 
nerveless, tapering or contracted into a short stipitate base 0.5 
mm. long, abruptly contracted into the short (0.5 mm. long) beak, 
less than half length of body, the beak 2-edged, hyaline-tipped, 
at most obscurely bidentate; achenes triangular, oblong-obovoid, 
filling perigynia, minutely stipitate, dull or silvery blackish, the 
superficial cells conspicuous, the sides convex and angles blunt 
and prominent; style slender; stigmas three. 
This species bears such a strong superficial resemblance to 
Carex abdita Bicknell that it was not until I came to examine 
the achenes that I found out that the plants were distinct. 
The achenes in fact much more resemble those of true Carex 
umbellata Schk., as described by Mr. Bicknell (Bull. Torrey Club 
35: 491), and as the perigynia are those of Carex abdita, I began to 
doubt the excellent achene characters brought out by him. 
However, still further study brought out the differences shown in 
the key in the manner of growth and in the sterile shoots as com- 
pared both with C. abdita and C. umbellata. The perigynia, too, 
are much more concealed by the scales than in either of these 
species. 
SPECIMENS EXAMINED: / 
Missouri: Dodson, Jackson County, Mackenzie, May 10, 
1896, and May 14, 1899, type (K. M.); St. Louis, Riehl, 1838 (C); 
St. Louis County, Eggert, April-May, 1887 (H). 
INDIAN TERRITORY: Limestone Gap, Butler (H). 
Texas: Blanco River (Dew. Herb., H); “‘Texas,’”’ Leavenworth 
(C); Dallas, Reverchon, March 1877 (C). 
12. Carex Appita Bicknell, Bull. Torrey Club 35: 492. 1908 
Carex umbellata var. brevirostris Boott, Ill. Car. 2:99. pl. 294. 1860. 
‘Very densely cespitose, culms from very short to 15 cm, high, 
