472 Key to the System of 



2002. Spikelets finally about as long as broad, with upwards 



much attenuated fruit-covers. 



Here alpine only, comparatively dwarf; leaves broadish- 

 linear, the floral leaves undeveloped ; spikelets small, 

 always few only, somewhat distant or irregularly 

 crowded into a single spike, with the staminate flowers 

 at the base of each ; bracts somewhat pointed, pale- 

 greenish or rather brownish ; fruit- covers very spreading, 

 lanceolar-ovate, plan-convex, subtily streaked, the bi- 

 denticular apex rough ; stigmas two ; fruit roundish, 

 compressed. C. e chin at a. 



Spikelets finally about doubly as long as broad, with 

 upwards slightly attenuated fruit-covers. 



Comparatively dwarf, producing offshoots ; leaves broadish- 

 linear, often rather short, the floral leaves seldom well 

 developed ; spikelets small, irregularly crowded into a 

 single spike, with the staminate flowers at the summit of 

 each ; floral bracts oftener partly greenish than brownish, 

 pointed ; fruit-cover much compressed, ovate-lanceolar, 

 hardly pointed, ciliolated ; fruit flat. C. chlorantha. 



2003. Bracts blunt. 



Often comparatively tall, producing offshoots ; stems acutely 

 and roughly angular ; leaves elongated, broadish-linear ; 

 lowest floral leaf rather long ; spikelets few, distinct, erect, 

 sessile unless the lowest, somewhat cylindrical, the termi- 

 nal one and occasionally also the second entirely staminate, 

 the others pistillate or only at the upper end staminate ; 

 floral bracts almost black, often with a green mid-line ; 

 fruit-cover much compressed, nearly ovate, almost or quite 

 blunt, venular-streaked, slightly pointed. 



(C. Gaudichaudiana. ) C caespitosa. 



Bracts much pointed. 



Often quite tall ; stems acutely and roughly angular ; leaves 

 long, broad-linear, conspicuously keeled, lowest floral leaf 

 much elongated ; spikelets several, distinct, somewhat 

 bent over, elongate-cylindrical, the upper two to five en- 

 tirely staminate, the lowest of them occasionally ramified; 

 pistillate spikelets three to five, the lowest of them gene- 

 ally on a long very thin stalk, its lower flowers often remote; 

 floral bracts quite narrow, almost black, pointed ; fruit- 

 cover orbicular- or ellipsoid-ovate, brownish or greenish, 

 slightly compressed, suddenly contracted at the summit, 

 faintly venular-streaked; fruit orbicular-ovate, yellowish, 

 smooth, shining. C. acnta. 



