CYPERACEA:. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 507 



* Spikelets approximate or crowded on all sides of the common rachis, forming oblong 

 or cylindrical spikes. 



I. C. StrigOSUS, L. Umbel large, 4 - 8-rayed, simple or compound, much 

 shorter than the involucre ; involucels bristly, shorter than the dense oblong 

 spikes ; spikelets yellowish, linear, acute, compressed, 6 - 10-flowered ; scales 

 somewhat scattered on the very slender rachis, oblong-lanceolate, acute, closely 

 appressed, much longer than the linear-oblong acute minutely dotted dull nut ; 

 culms (l-3 high) tumid at the base, as long as the broadly linear leaves. 

 Swamps and damp soil, Florida, and northward. July -Sept. Kays 4' -6' 

 long. Spikelets \' - f ' long. Sheath of the rays bristle-pointed. 



8. C. Stenolepis, Torr. Umbel simple or compound, 6 - 9-rayed, shorter 

 than the 3 - 6-leaved involucre ; sheaths of the rays truncate ; involucels bristly, 

 shorter than the ovate compact spikes ; spikelets yellowish, linear, acute, com- 

 pressed, 5-8-flowered; scales linear-lanceolate, acute, involute, spreading, much 

 longer than the oblong-linear acute dull and minutely pitted nut ; culms smooth 

 (2 3 high) ; leaves very rough on the margins, whitish beneath. Swamps 

 and wet places, Florida to North Carolina. Ang. and Sept. Stem rather 

 slender, longer than the leaves. Spikelets 6" - 8" long. 



9. C. Michauxianus, Schultes. Umbel compound, 4-6-rayed; rays 

 short with the sheaths pointed ; spikes loose, mostly shorter than the leafy in- 

 volucels ; spikelets spreading or reflexed, linear-subulate, terete, 10-12-flow- 

 ered ; scales scattered on the short-jointed broadly-winged rachis, oblong, obtuse, 

 faintly nerved, appressed ; nut oblong, compressed-3-angled ; culms slender, 

 obtuse-angled; involucre 4 -6-leaved. (C. speciosus, Vahll) Swamps and 

 ditches, Florida, and northward. Aug. and Sept. Q) Calm 2 - 3 high. 

 Spikelets 6" - 8" long, flcxuous in fruit. 



Var. 1 elongatus, Torr. " Culm tall and slender ; rays elongated ; spike- 

 lets subulate, obtusely quadrangular ; scales lanceolate, acute." Torr. North 

 Carolina, Curtis. Rays 3' - 5' long. Spikelets crowded, 6 - 8-flowered. 



10. C. tetragonus, Ell. Umbel simple or compound, of 6-12 slender 

 rays ; spikes cylindrical, loose ; spikelets horizontal, short (2"-3" long), oblong, 

 4-angled, 4 - 6-flowered ; scales ovate, mucronate, appressed, 9-11 -nerved, twice 

 as long as the oblong dull nut; culms mostly slender, 1 -2 high, acutely 

 rough-angled at the summit, as long as the green rough-edged leaves ; invo- 

 lucre many-leaved. Dry sandy soil, along the coast, Florida to North Caro- 

 lina. Aug. and Sept. U Spikes 1'- l' long, 5" wide, those on the longer 

 rays commonly compound. Rays 3' - 5' long. Joints of the rachis broadly 

 winged. 



II. C. ligularis, L. Umbel compound, of 4-6 rays ; spikes ovate or ob- 

 long, dense ; spikelets spreading (4" long), linear-lanceolate, compressed-4-an- 

 gled, 8 -10-flowered, acute ; scales oblong-ovate, acute, spreading, 9- 11 -nerved, 

 thrice the length of the oblong-obovate pointed blackish nut; culms obtuse- 

 angled, shorter than the (3 -4 long) whitish long-tapering leaves. Sandy 

 shores at Key West. Oct. 1J. Culm 2 - 3 high. Leaves rough-edged. 

 Rays 2' - 3' long. Spikelets light brown. Joints of the rachis broadly winged 



