338 ENDOGENOUS PLANTS 



(Mm 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, spreading almost horizontally . 

 Spikes I to 1% inches in length ; spikelets % of an inch long, alternate, on a com- 

 mon peduncle which is about as long as the internodes of the culm, and twice as 

 long as the sheaths. Bristles about 6, longer than the akene. 

 Hah. Swamps, and margins of ponds : common. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



TRIBE 2. SCIR'PEAE. 



Flowers perfect; spikelets mostly many-flowered, with the bracts (or scales) imbri- 

 cated on all sides ; perigynium consisting of rigid bristles, or long soft and flexuose 

 hairs, or sometimes wholly wanting; style often dilated or bulbous at base, form- 

 ing a tubercle which is articulated with the apex of the akene. 



DIVISION I. Perigynium of hypogynous bristles, or slender wavy hairs. 



46O. EUEO'CHARIS, R. Brown. 



Gr. Eleos, a marsh, and chairo, to delight in; alluding to their place of growth.] 

 Spikelets single, terminating the naked culm. Perigynium of 3 to 6 

 retrorsely hispid or rough rigid bristles. Style 2- or 3-cleft, dilated 

 at base. Akene crowned with the persistent bulbous base of the 

 style. Chiefly perennials : rhizomas matted, or creeping ; culms 

 cespitose, leafless, sheathed at base, sometimes sterile. 



f Akene lenticular, shorter than the bristles. 



1. E. Obtiisa, Schultes. Culm sulcate; spikelet roundish-OToid, 

 or oblong, obtuse; akene smooth and shining ; bristles 6. 

 Scirpus obtusus. Willd. $ Fi: Cestr. ed. 2. p. 19. 



OBTUSE ELEOCHARIS. Club-rush. 



Culms 4 to 18 inches high, subterete, somewhat attenuated below the spikelet, 

 with about 2 mucronate sheaths at base. Scales of the spikelets ovate, very obtuse, 

 dark brown. Akene brown, compressed, with a marginal ridge on each side ; 

 tubercle broad at base, acute. 

 Hob. Swamps, and margins of ponds : frequent. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



2. E. pallistris, R- Brown. Culm evenly smooth, striate; spike- 

 let oblong-lanceolate, acute ; akene somewhat punctate-rugose ; 

 bristles 3 or 4. 



Scirpus palustris. L. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 19. 



MARSH ELEOCHARIS. 



Culms 1 to 3 feet high, subterete, not sulcate, embraced by along sheath near the 

 base. Scales ovate-oblong, reddish-brown. Akene yellowish ; tubercle conical. 

 Hab. Swampy meadows ; near Pughtown : rare. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



f f Akene more or less triquetrous, mostly longer than the bristles. 



3. E. tnilis. Schultes. Culm slender, 4-angled with the sides 

 grooved; spikelet elliptic; akene transversely rugose-dotted; bris- 

 tles mostly 2 or 3, sometimes wanting. 



Scirpus tenuis. Willd. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 20. 

 SLENDER ELEOCHARIS. 



Culms 10 to 20 inches high, with a long purple truncate sheath at base. Fpikelets 

 at first rather obtuse, finally acute at each end; scales ovate, obtuse, dark-brown. 

 Akene light brown, rough-dotted ; tubercle depressed-triangular. 

 Hab. Swamps, and margins of ponds : frequent. -Fl. June. Fr. July. 



