498 cyperace^e. (sedge family.) 



* Achenium obscurely triangular, many-ribbed on the sides. 



14. E. acicalai'is, R. Brown. Culms finely capillary (2' -8' long), 

 more or less 4-angular; spike 3-9-flo(vered ; scales ovate-oblong, rather obtuse 

 (greenish with purple sides) ; achenium obovate-oblong, tumid, with 3 ribbed 

 angles and 2-3 times as many smaller intermediate ribs, also transversely stri- 

 ate, longer than the 3-4 very fugacious bristles; tubercle conical-triangular. 

 (S. trichodes, Muhl., &c.) — Muddy places, and margins of brooks; common. 



(Eu.) 



* # Achenium triangular, with smooth and even sides. 



15. E. pygma?a, Torr. Culms bristle-like, flattened and grooved (1'- 

 2' high) ; spike ovate, 3 - Q-Jloivered ; scales ovate (greenish), the upper rather 

 acute ; achenium ovoid, acutely triangular, smooth and shining, tipped with a 

 minute tubercle; bristles mostly longer than the fruit, sometimes wanting. (S. 

 pusillus, Vald.? Chajtocyperus polymorphus, Nees?) — Brackish marshes and 

 river-banks, as far as salt water reaches. 



16. E. microcafl'pa, var. 1 fiSictfalBlliS, Torr. " Culms capillary or 

 thread-like, wiry, 4-angular (3' -4' high) ; spikes oblong, often proliferous, 15-25- 

 flowered; bristles nearly as long as the obovate-oblong (obtusely triangular) nut 

 without the tubercle; scales dark chestnut-color." — Wet places, in the p>ine 

 barrens of New Jersey, Torrey. 



6. SCIBPUS, L. Bulrush. Club-Rush. 



Spikes many - several-flowered, terete, single or mostly clustered, and sub- 

 tended by one or more involucral leaves, often appearing lateral from the exten- 

 sion of an involucral leaf like a continuation of the culm. Scales regularly 

 imbricated all round in several ranks. Perianth of 3-6 bristles. Stamens 

 mostly 3. Style 2-3-cleft, simple, not bulbous at the base, wholly deciduous, 

 or leaving a persistent jointless base as a tip or point to the lenticular or trian- 

 gular achenium. — Culms sheathed at the base ; the sheaths usually leaf-bearing. 

 Perennials, except No. 8. (The Latin name of the Bulrush.) See Addend. 



§ 1. SCIRPUS Peoper. — Bristles rigid, not exserted, mostly barbed downwards. 



# Spike single, terminal, with an empty scale or bract at its base equalling or overtop- 

 ping it, few-flowered: culms slender, jointless, leaf bearing only at the base (style 

 3-clefl: achenium triangular, smooth). 



1. S. CSESpitoSMS, L. Culms terete, wiry, densely sheathed at the base, 

 incompact turfy tufts (3' -10' high) ; the upper sheath prolonged into a short 

 awl-shaped leaf; spike ovoid, rusty-color ; the 2 lower scales bract-like, callous- 

 pointed, and as long as the spike ; bristles 6, smooth, longer than the abruptly 

 short-pointed achenium. —Alpine tops of the mountains of Maine, New Hamp- 

 shire, and N. New York. Also high mountains of Virginia ? (Eu.) 



2. S. plaafiifoliUS, Muhl. Culms triangular, loosely tufted (5' - 10' high), 

 leafy at the base ; leaves linear, flat, as long as the culm, rough on the edges and 

 keel, as is the culm ; spike ovate or oblong, rusty-color ; scales ovate, with a 

 strong green keel prolonged into an awned tip, the lowest about as long as the 

 spike; bristles 4 -6, upwardly hairy, as long as the blunt achenium.— Dry or 

 moist woods, Delaware to New England June. 



