212 



ORDER CXXXIX. CYPERACE^. 



10. C. scoparia. 



Brown Sedge. 



Spikes 5 10, somewhat clavate when young, at length ovate, approximate, 

 sometimes aggregated in a dense head ; perigynia narrow-lanceolate, nerved, 

 margined, longer than the lanceolate, acuminate glume. A common species in 

 low grounds and meadows, with brownish or yellowish spikes when mature 

 Culm 12 ft high. 



11. C. lagopodioides. Harems-foot Sedge. 



Spikes 815, approximate, at length ovate; perigynia ovate-lanceolate, 

 nerved, margined, about twice as long as the oblong-ovate, obtusish glume. A 

 very common species much resembling the last, but distinguished by its more 

 numerous spikes, and broader and more unequal perigynia and glumes. Culini 

 12 ft high. It sometimes occurs with the spikes aggregated in a head. 



12. C. festucacea. 



Nodding Sedge. 



Spikes 4 8, obovate and somewhat clavate, alternate, upper approximate, 

 lower distinct; perigynia ovate, compressed, with a narrow margin, and a 

 short, bifld beak, shorter than the ovate-lanceolate glume. A common species 

 In fields. There are two principal forms. The first has 5 S roundish, approxi- 

 mate spikes, and a stout, rigid stem ; the other has 3 5 smaller spikes, which 

 are more or less distant The stem is slender, flexuous above, with the upper 

 spike frequently nodding. Culms 10' 20' high. 



13. C. straminea. 



Winged Sedge. 



Spikes 3 6, roundish-ovoid, alternate, approximate; perigynia roundish- 

 ovate, much compressed, broadly winged, with a short, abrupt, bifid beak, 

 somewhat longer than the lanceolate glume. A common species in fields along 

 woods, distinguished by its broad, broadly-winged perigynia. It varies in size 

 and form. In the large specimens the spikes are somewhat flaccid, and the 

 broad wings of the perigynia often brownish on the edge, while in the smaller 

 forms the spikes are more rigid, and the wings of the perigynia narrower. 

 Culms 8' 20' high. 



B. Stamens and pistils in entirely separate spikes on the same plant. 



14. C. stricta. Rigid Sedge. 



Staminate spikes 13, cylindric ; fertile 2 4, long-cylindric, usually bar- 

 ren above, sessile ; lower one often on a short peduncle ; bracts rarely longer 

 than the culm, anricled at base ; perigynia ovate-acuminate, or elliptical, nerve- 

 less, not beaked, entire or very slightly emarginate, usually shorter than the 

 narrower brownish scales. A common species growing in tufts in wet grounds. 

 Culm 23 ft. high, rough on the angles, leafy ; leaves glaucous, rotigh on the 

 margin. 



15. C. crinita. 



Drooping Sedge. 



Culm acutely angled, rough, leafy below ; staminato spikes 12, loose, cy- 

 lindrical, often with a few perfect flowers intermixed, on long peduncles ; fer- 

 tile spikes 8 6, cylindric, long, densely flowered, oft long, nodding, filiform 

 peduncles ; bracts long, leafy, much exceeding the culm ; perigynia roundish, 

 tapering at base, somewhat inflated, with a short, entire beak, smooth, much 

 shorter than the narrow-oblong, rongh-awned glume. A common and variable 

 species, distinguished by its long, drooping, pedunculate spikes, and leafy 

 bracts. Meadows and ditches. Culms 23 ft high. 



2. Stigmas 8. 

 C. Spike single, androgynous. 



16. C. polytrichioides. 



Dwarf Sedge. 



Culms very low, setaceous ; spike linear, staminate above ; perigynia few, 

 alternate, oblong, somewhat triangular, obtuse, smooth, emarginate, twice as 

 long as the ovate, mostly obtuse glume. A very slender species, common in 

 cold swamps and bogs. Culms 2' 4' high. 



D. Spikes several ; terminal one staminate, pistillate above. 



17. C. virescens. Light-green Sedge. 



Spikes 2 4, oblong, alternate, erect, on short peduncles; perigynia pubes- 

 cent, not beaked, longer than the ovate, pubescent, mucronate glume. A com- 

 mon species in woods and hill-sides. Culm and foliage light green, pubescent 

 Plant 10' 18' high. 



18. C. Buxbaumii. Sea-green Sedge. 



Spikes 3 4, oblong or obovate, short and thick, uppermost on a short pe- 

 duncle, the rest almost sessile, lower ones somewhat remote, bracteolate ; pe- 

 rigynia elliptic-ovate, somewhat 3-augled, nerved, smooth, entire at apex, 

 scarcely equal to the ovate, acuminate or mucronate glume. A common spe- 



cies in wet grounds, distinguished by its short and thick spikes, .smooth perlgy 

 nia, and light, glaucous-green foliage. Culm 10' 18' high. 



19. C. gracillima. Graceful Sedge. 



Spikes 3 5, long and slender, linear, somewhat loose, remote, on Ions, fili- 

 form, nodding peduncles, drooping at maturity ; bracts as long as the culm, or 

 longer; perigynia oblong, 3-angIed, obtuse, somewhat oblique at the orifice, 

 longer than the oblong, awned glume. A slender, graceful species, readily dis- 

 tinguished by its slender, drooping spikes and pale green foliage. Culm 10' 

 20' high. 



E. Staminate spike single, very rarely pistillate above. 



* fertile spikes small and sessile, or almost sessile, or else radical ; on long 



peduncles. 



20. C. Pennsylvania. Vernal Sedge. 



Staminate spike long, on a short peduncle ; fertile spikes 1 3, approximate, 

 ovoid, sessile, few-flowered, much shorter than the staminate barren spike; 

 lowest with colored, setaceous bracts ; perigynia ovate-globose, pubescent with 

 a short, scarcely toothed beak about as long as the ovate-acuminate, brownish- 

 red glume. An early species, common in the border of woods and on hill-sides. 

 Culms 4' 10' high. 



21. C. Novae Angliae. New England Sedge. 



Sterile spike pedunculate, short and slender; fertile spikes 2 4, ovate, 

 nearly sessile, alternate, more or less remote, few-flowered ; lowest with usually 

 a setaceous bract at base ; perigynia slightly stalked, somewhat pubescent, with 

 a comparatively long, bifld beak, somewhat longer than the ovate, acuminate 

 glume. A slender species, growing in tufts, either erect or decumbent It 

 varies with the fertile spikes more or less aggregated. Culms 4' 16' long. 



22. C. umbellata. 



Urribelled Sedge. 



Staminate spike short, erect; fertile spikes several, ovate ; uppermost ses- 

 sile, close to the sterile ; the rest solitary, on filiform, radical peduncles, equal- 

 ling the others in height, forming apparently a little umbel, the radical pedun- 

 cles being concealed by the leaves; perigynia 3-angled, pubescent, with a long 

 beak, equalling the ovate, acuminate scale. A small species, growing in tufts, 

 with long, glossy leaves, sufficiently distinguished by the filiform radical 

 peduncles. Culms 2' 6' high. 



* * Upper fertile spikes nearly or quite sessile ; lower often on long pedun- 

 cles ; all densely flowered. Perigynia more or less inflated. 



23. C. flava. 



Yellow Sedge. 



Fertile spikes 2 4, ovoid, densely flowered, upper approximate, lower re- 

 mote, on usually exsert peduncles; bracts spreading, or somewhat reflexed, 

 longer than the culrn ; perigynia slightly inflated, nerved, smooth, somewhat 

 3-angled, tapering to a long, curved, bifid beak, longer than the ovate-lanceolate 

 glume, reflexed at maturity. Culm 6' 18' high. 



24. C. tentaculata. 



Burr Sedge. 



Fertile spikes 2 3, ovoid-cylindrical, densely flowered, approximate, upper 

 one sessile, tha others on short, more or less exsert peduncles ; bracts leafy, 

 much longer than the culm ; perigynia much inflated, spreading, smooth, with 

 a long, bifid beak, twice longer than the lanceolate, awned glume. A common 

 species in wet grounds, where its cylindrical, burr-like spikes of perigynia are 

 very conspicuous. Culm 10' 20' high. 



25. C. intumescens. Bladder-fruit Sedge. 



Barren spike pedunculate ; fertile spikes 1 8, few-flowered, closely approxi- 

 mate, sessile, the lowest on a very short peduncle; bracts leafy, much longer 

 than the culm; perigynia large, very much inflated, diverging, very smooth, 

 many-nerved at base, tapering to a long, 2 toothed beak, three times as long as 

 the ovate glume. Culm rigidly erect, leafy, with dark green foliage, 10' 20' 

 high. A common species in low grounds and swamps, distinguished by the 

 large, inflated perigynia, which, often J' long, are in roundish, 4 8-flowered 

 :lusters. 



26. C. folliculata. Tawny Sedge. 



Staminato spike small, short-pedunculate or sessile; fertile spikes 24, 

 ovoid, very distant, lowest on long, exserted peduncles; bracts leafy, much 

 longer than the culm, sheathing at base ; perigynia erect, diverging, very much 

 inflated, large, with a long, 2-toothed beak, somewhat longer than the ovate, 

 whitish, awned glume. A tall, leafy species with broad, flat leaves ; the culm 

 and foliage usually pale yellow, 2 4 ft. high. Common in swamps. 



