CYPERACEAB 343 



t Akene tranvertely rugose ; bristles antrorsely hispid. 



1. R. cym 6sJl, Nutt. Leaves flat and grass-like ; spikelets brown, 

 clustered in corymbose cymes; akene twice the length of the 

 bristles. 



CTMOSE RHYNCHOSPORA. Bog-rush. 



Culms 12 to 18 inches high, acutely triangular. Radical leaves somewhat crowd 

 ed; upper cauline ones often overtopping the culm. Spikelets aggregated in 

 cymose clusters of 3 to 5, at the ends of the peduncles. Akerw pale brown ; tuber- 

 cle depressed-conic, whitish, about % the length of the akene. 

 Hob. Moist grounds ; clearings : not very common. FL July. Fr. Aug. 



f f Akene smooth ; bristles retrorsely hispid. 



2. R. ill Im, Vahl. Leaves setaceous ; spikelets whitish, corym- 

 bose-clustered ; bristles about 10, as long as the akene and tubercle. 

 WHITE RHYNCHOSPORA. White Bog-rush. 



Culms 1 to 2 feet high, triangular above. Leaves shorter than the culm. Fasci- 

 cles of spikelets terminal and axillary. Scales white, finally brownish. Stamens 

 I to 3 usually 2. Tubercle compressed, half as long as the akene. 

 Hob. Swamps, among the slaty hills : not common. FL July. Fr. Sept. 



3* R. ft lonicriita, Vahl. Leaves linear, flat, somewhat keeled ; 



spikelets dark brown, in small distant clusters, which are often in 



pairs. 



CLUSTERED RHYNCHOSPORA. Brown Bog-rush. 



Culms about 2 feet high, obtusely triangular. Leaves shorter than the culm. 

 f^]rik"lets in corymbose or subcapitate fascicles, on included or somewhat exserted 

 peduncles, terminal and lateral, often 2, or more, from the same sheath. Akene 

 brownish, shining; tubercle compressed, subulate, as long as the akene; bristles 

 nearly as long as both. 

 Jfab. Swamps, and bog meadows: common. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



TRIBE 4. SCLERIE^AE. 



Flowers monoicous; perigynium a lobed or ring-like disk, often obscure; pistil- 

 late spHcelets 1-flowered, staminate several-flowered ; akene with a bony shell. 



465. SCL.ETRIA, L. 



[Gr. Skleria, hardness ; from its bony or crustaceous fruit. 

 Staminate and pistillate spikelets in the same clusters ; scales loosely 

 imbricated, the lower ones empty. Stamens 1 to 3. Style 3-cleft. 

 Akene globular, white, bony or enamel-like, seated in a ring-like, or 

 shallow saucer-shaped disk. Perennials: culms triangular, nodose 

 and leafy. 



1. S. triglomer Ata, MX. Leaves broadly-linear ; fascicles of 

 spikelets few, in triple clusters, terminal and axillary, the lower 

 one pedunculate ; akene smooth and shining. 

 THREE-CLUSTERED SCLERIA. Whip-grass. 



Culm 2 to 3 or 4 feet long, nearly erect, acutely triquetrous, with the angles 

 almost winged. Leaves 6 to 12 or 15 inches in length, 2 to 4 lines wide. Termina' 

 fascicle consisting of 3 distinct clusters of spikelets, each with a foliaceous bract at 

 base. Perigynium, annular, or obtusely triangular. Akene bluish when young. 

 Jfnlt. Moist ravines, on Serpentine ridge : not common. Fl. June. Fr. July. 



