184 COLONSAY 



Cladium, P. Br. 



C. Mariscus, Br. Great Twig-rush. Colgroc, I. Grow- 

 ing at the edges of the lochs. August. 



Carex, L. 



A large genus constituting an important part of the 

 herbage of the meadows and hilly pastures of the island. 

 With careful drainage they are displaced by the more 

 nutritious grasses. 



C. dioica, L. Ill-drained, spongy ground. May. 



C. pulicaris, L. Flea Sedge. Wet situation, Baile 

 Mhaide; not uncommon. June. 



G. arenaria, L. Sea Sedge ; Sea Matgrass. Taithean. A 

 common plant of the blown sands, and one that greatly 

 assists in binding them. The long, creeping roots were made 

 into cattle-ties. In former times, when cattle were ferried 

 across to the mainland on their way to the markets of the 

 south, it was part of every cattleman's duty to have a certain 

 number of these ties prepared beforehand. June. 



C. vulpina, L. Fox Sedge. At the seaside, Port Mor 

 and other places. June. 



C, echinata, Murr. Little Prickly Sedge. Interstices in 

 rocks, Port Olmsa, and shore turf, Port-an-Obain, Balana- 

 hard, etc. June. 



C. remota, L. Damp gully near shore, south of Kudha 

 Gheadha; rare. June. 



C. leporina, L. Oval-spiked Sedge. Rather common in 

 moist situations in pastures. June. (C. ovalis, Good. 

 A. B.) 



C. Goodenowii, Gay. In one or other of its forms the 

 commonest sedge in the island. Frequently found growing 

 in comparatively dry situations on the hill-sides as well as in 

 thoroughly marshy low-lying situations. The most variable 

 of local species, it is also one of the earliest to start into 



