THE SEDGE TRIBE 309 



Spikeleis many, clustered ; bristles none 



14. S. Holoschcenus (Round-headed Club-Rush). A stiff, rush- 

 like plant ; stems cylindrical, 1-2 feet high or more, with 1 or 2 

 stiff leaves sheathing the base ; spikeleis clustered, in one or more 

 round heads about \ inch across, which form a lateral cluster or 

 umbel ; style usually 2-cleft. Moist places near the sea in North 

 Devon, Somerset, and the Channel Islands ; rare. Fl. September. 

 Perennial. 



4. Blysmus (Blysmus) 



1. B. compressus (Broad-leaved Blysmus). Stems 6-8 inches 

 high, with a creeping rootstock ; leaves shorter than the stems, 

 flat or keeled, rV-$ inch broad ; spike terminal, about 1 inch long, 

 consisting of 10 or 12 oblong chestnut-brown spikelets each about 

 J inch long ; bract glume-like, shorter than the mature spikelets. 

 Boggy pastures ; rather frequent. Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



2. B. rufus (Narrow-leaved Blysmus). Leaves narrower than 

 in the preceding, erect, channelled or rarely cylindrical ; spike 

 rather shorter, consisting of about 6 dark brown spikelets. Marshy 

 places near the sea ; not uncommon, especially in the north. Fl. 

 June, July. Perennial. 



5. Eriophorum (Cotton-Grass) 

 Spikeleis solitary on each stem 



1. E. alpinum (Alpine Cotton-Grass). Stems densely tufted, 

 6-10 inches high, with sheaths at the base bearing very short, leafy 

 tips ; spikelel small, terminal, brown ; bristles about 6 to each flower, 

 growing out after the flowering' stage, and forming a white cotton- 

 like tuft often an inch long. Mountain bogs in Forfar ; now ex- 

 tinct. Fl. June. Perennial. 



2. E. vaginatum (Hare's-tail Cotton-Grass). Stems tufted, 1 foot 

 high or more, some of the sheaths at the base bearing linear leaves 

 about as long as the stems ; spikelet - inch long, the numerous 

 bristles forming a white cotton-like tuft about 1 inch across. Bogs 

 and wet moors ; common. Fl. May. Perennial. 



Spikelets several on each stem 



3. E. polystachion (Common Cotton-Grass). About 1 foot high ; 

 leaves linear, channelled, triangular in the upper half ; stems nearly 

 round ; peduncles smooth ; cotton-like tufts smaller than in the 

 preceding. Bogs and wet moors ; common. Fl. May, June. 

 Perennial. 



4. E. latifolium (Broad-leaved Cotton-Grass). Slender, 12-18 

 inches high ; leaves flattened the greater part of their length, about 



