588 CYPERACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



Synopsis of Sections and Groups. 



1. CAREX proper. Stamiuate flowers forming one or more terminal linear or club-shaped 

 spikes (often pistillate at base or apex). Pistillate flowers usually in distinct and sim- 

 ple mostly peduncled spikes. Cross-section of perigynium circular, obtusely angled, or 

 prominently triangular iu outline. (Style mostly 3 parted and achene triangular or 

 triquetrous. 



* 1. Physocarpae. Perigynium mostly straw-colored at maturity, papery in texture, usu- 



ally more or less inflated, smooth (sometimes hairy in n. 6), nerved, tapering into a beak 

 as long as or longer than the body ; spikes few to many, distinct, compactly flowered ; 

 stigmas 3 (2 in n. 10). 



*- 1. Paiicijiorix. Perigynium greenish, linear-lanceolate or almost needle shaped, not in- 

 flated, strongly deflexed at maturity, several times longer than the inconspicuous scale ; 

 spike androgynous, the pistillate flowers at base, few. Sp. 1. 



i- 2. Lupuiinfc. Perigynium green or greenish-tawny or sometimes yellow, more or less 

 inflated (except in n. -2-4), long, usually very turgid at base, mostly erect or nearly so, 

 very gradually attenuate to a long slenderly toothed beak exceeding the scale ; spikes 3 

 or more, the staminate mostly 1 and stalked, the pistillate often sessile, usually short 

 and thick, often becoming dark colored iu drying. iSp. 2-8. 



*- 3. Vesicarice. Perigynium smooth and shiniug, much inflated, at maturity straw-colored 

 or sometimes purple, beaked and conspicuously short-toothed (entire in n. 10), usually 

 prominently few-nerved, much shorter than in -i- 2 ; staminate spikes commonly 2 or 

 more ; pistillate spikes as a rule long and densely cylindrical. Sp. 9 - 16. 



*- 4. PseudocypercK. Perigynium less inflated, more conspicuously nerved or even costate, 

 and with more or less setaceous or awned teeth ; scale usually awned ; spikes mostly 

 nodding or spreading, coinose in appearance, greenish, greenish-yellow, or ochroleucous. 



Sp. 17-19. 



-i- 5. Squarrosce. Perigynium obconic or obovoid, squarrose in exceedingly dense short 

 spikes. Sp. 20, 21. 



* 2. Trachychlaeiiae. Perigynium mostly thick and hard in texture, often scabrous or 



hirsute, straight-beaked ; pistillate spikes compactly flowered, mostly large, erect or 

 nearly so ; staminate spikes 1 or more ; stigmas 3. Generally large and coarse. 



*- 1. Shortianre. Terminal spike androgynous, staminate below ; perigynium small, sca- 

 brous, nearly beakles-, entire. Sp. 22. 



i- 2. Anomalce. Terminal spike all staminate ; pistillate spikes long and cylindrical, mostly 

 dense ; perigynium broad and short, short-beaked, the orifice very slightly notched or 

 entire, mostly granulate. Sp. 23. 



t- 3. Hirtce. A heterogeneous group, distinguished from -- 2 by the longer and more deeply 

 cut beak (slightly toothed in n. 24), and by the hairy perigynium (smooth in n. 25). 

 Sp. 24-27. 



t- 4. Paludosre. Staminate spikes 2 or more, long-stalked ; the pistillate 2- several, usually 

 all peduncled, long and heavy, loose-flowered, erect or nodding ; perigynium large, thick 

 in texture, strongly nerved, mostly smooth, usually conspicuously beaked. Coarse 

 species. Sp. 28, 29. 



* 3. Microrhynchae. Parallel with * 2 ; distinguished in general by the much smaller 



and nearly or entirely beakless and mostly entire-mouthed perigynium, which is much 

 thinner in texture ; stigmas 2 or 3. Paludose and alpine species, of various habit, mostly 

 with colored spikes, often in dense tufts or tussocks. 



+- 1. Atratce. Terminal spike club-shaped and androgynous with the staminate flowers be- 

 low (very rarely all staminate in n. 32); pistillate spikes mostly short and dark-colored, 

 erect or drooping ; stigmas 3. Sp. 30 - 32. 



4- 2. Rigidfe.. Mostly stiff, with short erect closely flowered spikes, an entirely staminate 

 terminal spike, dark colored scales, and bracts with purple or black auricles at base ; 

 stigmas 2 or 3. Sp. 33. 



i- 3. Acutcc. Mostly larger and more slender, usually paludose, with green or light-colored 

 large and long spikes ; stigmas 2 (3 in u. 39). Distinguished from -i- 2 mainly by habit. 



Sp. 34-39. 



