386 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



Stamens sometimes 2, or 1. Culms cespitose, triquetrous, leafy at 

 base, and with an unequal foliaceous involucre at summit ; peduncles 

 (or rays) unequal, sheathed at base. 



gl. Spikelets compressed, linear- or lance-oblong, many-flowered. 

 f Style bifid; stamens 2. 



1. C. tliJiiiclrus, Torrey. Spikelets loosely fascicled; scales 

 oblong, rather obtuse, brown-margined ; akene obovate, dusky. 

 DIANDROUS CYPERUS. 



Perennial; culms 6 to 12 inches long, decumbent or reclining. Leaves few, 

 shorter than the culm. Longest leaves of the involucre often 6 or 8 inches in 

 length. Umbel sometimes without rays, generally 1- to 3- and occasionally 5- or 

 6-rayed ; spikelets % to % of an inch long, much compressed, 12- to 24-flowered ; 

 akene minutely rugose. 

 Hab. Moist, low grounds ; along rivulets : common. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



ft Style trifid. * Stamen 1. 



2. C. inflexus, Muhl. Spikelets in 2 or 3 ovoid heads; scales 

 yellowish, ovate, acuminate, with the point recurved. 

 INFLEXED CYPERUS* 



Annual f Culms 2 to 4 inches high, setaceously slender. Leaves as long as the 

 culm. Heads 1 to 3, one sessile, the others pedunculate, each head consisting 

 of 10 to 20 spikelets densely conglomerated. One leaf of the involucre 3 times as 

 long as the umbel ; spikelets 8- to 12-flowered ; akene triquetrous. 

 Hab. Moist places, on Serpentine rock : not common. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This little species gives out an odor, while drying, which 

 has been compared to that of Melilot. 



** Stamens 3. 



3. C. striguSUS, L. Spikelets subulate-linear, spreading all 

 round in loose oblong pedunculate spikes ; sheaths of the peduncles 

 bifid, 2-bristled ; involucre about 6-leaved. 



STRIGOSE CYPERUS. Bristle-spiked Galingale. 



Perennial ; culms 1 to 2 or 3 feet high, rather stout, tuberous at base. Leaves 

 nearly as long as the culm, keeled. Umbel 3- to 6- or 9-rayed; rays unequal, 1 or 2 

 to 4 or 6 inches in length, the central one suppressed (i. e. the spike sessile). 

 Hpikes 1 to 2 inches long, often compound, yellowish ; spikelets numerous (20 to 60 

 or 80), about % of an inch in length, 8- to 10-flowered, spreading on all sides, 

 finally a little reflexed; akene triquetrous, oblong, roughish-dotted. 

 Hab. Wet meadows, and low swampy grounds : common. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



4. C. ripens, Elliott. Rhizomas fibrous, creeping, tuberiferous at 

 the extremities ; spikelets linear, obtuse, rather crowded in some- 

 what distichous spikes ; involucre 3- or i-leaved. 



CREEPING CYPERUS. 



Perennial ; tubers of the rhizoma about the size of a pea. Culms 1 to 2 feet high, 

 glabrous. Leaves 9 to 18 or 24 inches long, keeled. Umbel 4- to 6-rayed ; rays 1 to 

 2 or 3 inches in length. Spikes 1 to 2 inches long ; spikelets % an inch to % in 

 length, 10 to 14 in each spike, somewhat spreading, each 12- to 20-flowered; akene 

 triquetrous, minutely punctate. 

 Hub. Fields, and streets ; West-town ; West Chester : not common. Fl Aug. Fr. Sept 



