CLASS UI. ORDER I. J ELEOCHARIS. 53 



round, with scarcely any underground stems, stigmas three, fruit 

 bluntly triangular, longer than the six hristles at its base. 



English Flora, vol. i. p. 64. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 30. 

 Sclr'jnts multicau'lis, English Botany, t. 1187. Helio'charis multi- 

 cau'lis, Lindley, Synopsis, p. 280. 



Roots long, fibrous, tufted, with scarcely any, or very short, under- 

 ground stems. Flowering stems numerous, round, with a central pith, 

 from eight to twelve inches high, contracted at the extremity, termi- 

 nated by a slender oblong ovate spike, and surrounded at the base with 

 close dull reddish-brown membranous sheaths. Glumes keeled, brown, 

 with a membranous edge, outer ones the smallest. Stigmas three. 

 Fruit smaller than the last species, brown, smooth, triangular, one side 

 broader and flatter than the others, crowned by the hard dilated trian- 

 gular base of the style, contracted at the base, and surrounded by six 

 short narrow spiny bristles. This is nearly allied to the last species, 

 for which it is probably frequently passed over, but is constant to the 

 above characters, and the situation of its growth is also different. 



Habitat. On wet heathy places, common probably throughout the 

 kingdom. 



Perennial ; flowering in July. 



3. E.pauciflo'ra, Link. (Fig. 78.) chocolate-headed Spike-rush. Stem 

 round, sheaths at the base close, leafless, spike ovate, few-flowered, 

 outer glumes the largest obtuse, shorter than the spike, stigmas 

 three, style deciduous. 



Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 3Q.Scir'pus pauciflo'rus, English 

 Botany, t. 1122. English Flora, vol. i. p. 56. Helio'charis pauci- 

 flo'ra, Lindley, Synopsis, p. 281. 



Root fibrous, sometimes sending out jointed runners. Flou-er stems 

 erect, slender, simple, smooth, enveloped at the base with tight mem- 

 branous leafless sheaths, and surrounded with a few dark-brown scales ; 

 barren stems more or less numerous. Spike small, ovate, brown, of 

 three or four flowers, the two outer glumes obtuse, half as long as the 

 spike. Fruit triangular, pale, obtuse, terminated by the withered style, 

 and surrounded at the base with about six bristles. 



Habitat.-Bogs, moors, and heaths. Not uncommon in Scotland, 

 less so in England, near Yarmouth, Norfolk; Anglesea, and Bangor, 

 in Wales. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



4. E.cspito'sa,Unn,(Fig.79.) scaly-stalked Spike-rush. Stem round 

 or compressed, striated, leaves sheathed at the base, and invested 

 with numerous scales, outer glumes the largest, as long as tl 

 spike, and terminated by long rigid points, stigmas ree, style 

 deciduous. 



Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. W.-Scir'pu* c*spito'*us, Enghs 



