524 ryrr.RACF.vK. (SKDGK FAMILY.) 



nenvs. Copses and hill-sides, New England to W. Now York and Pennsyl- 

 vania. Wry closely approaching the next ; perhaps only a variety cf it. 



78. C. digitalis, Willd. /</?// N////VS lini-ar-ubloii;/, A.r.W// 6 - 1) Jhuvred, 

 On long stalks, the lowest sometimes drooping; Ictircs and bract* narruir, dark 

 green; perigynia. smaller than in the last. (C. oligocarpa, Sc/ur. <\- Torr., not of 

 Schk. C. Vanvleekii, Sc/iw.) Copses and hill-sides, New England to Michi- 

 gan, and southward. A low species', (>' - 12' high, growing in tufts, with numer- 

 ous culms and long grassy leaves. 



* * * Sterile spike short, linear ; fertile s/iikcs 2-4, (-reel; the 1 -2 uppermost 

 commonly near the base of the sterile, on an included stalk; the rest on ex- 

 serted stalks, with lout/ sheathing bracts resembling t/ie leaves ; the uppermost 

 exceeding the erect culm : perigynia with obtuse angles, about the length of the 

 scale. OLIGOCARPA\ 



79. C. Inxitlora, Lam. Fertile spikes slender, loos&ly JlowerecL on a zigzag 

 rhachis ; perigynia ovoid, narrowed at each end. (C. anceps, Willd. <j- ed. 1.) 

 Var. STRIATULA has the SJH'/CCS oblotiy, more densely flowered, and the periyynia 

 obovoid with a shorter point. (C. striatula, AJiclix. C. conoidea, 3r<ild., not of 

 Schk. C. blanda, Dew.) Var. J'ATULIF^LIA, Dew., has the radical It-aces very 

 Iroiul (I'- I;}'), many-nerved, with a rather longer point. (C. planta-inea, Schk., 

 not of Lam.) Open woods arid copses; common. A very variable species, 

 as to the breadth of the leaves and length of the spikes ; the culms are usually 

 flattened or 2-edged above. An intermediate form occurs, with the broad leaves 

 and slender spikes of var. patulifolia, but having the obovoid shortly pointed 

 fruit of var. striatula, differing in the latter respect from the plant figured as C. 

 plantaginea by Schkuhr. 



80. C. OligOCiirpa, Schk. Fertile spikes small, 3 - 8-jlowercd ; tie point 

 of the per igy nium slightly oblique, not recurved ; style very short, thickened towards 

 the base ; leaves rough only on the edge, sheaths smooth. (C. Sartwelliana, Gay.) 

 Woods, W. New York to Illinois and Kentucky. Culm slender, 8' -12 

 long; the fertile spikes ,j'-|' in length. 



81. C. MitcllCOCkiaiia, Dew. Fertile spikes very loosely 3 -^-/lowered; 

 sheaths and upper side of the leaves roughly pubescent. Woods, New England to 

 Illinois and Kentucky. Culm l-2 high, stouter than the last, with very 

 scabrous sheaths. The fruit is also larger (2^" long) ; but in other respects the 

 plants arc similar. 



5. Perigynia without a beak, smooth or downy, not injlatcd, obovoid-triquetrous, 

 with a minute obliquely bent white and membranaccous point, reddish-brown 

 or olii-e-colored at maturity : bracts reduced to colored sheaths, or iritli a short green 

 prolongation: leaves all radical, narrow or bristle-shaped. DIGITATE. 



82. C. Cburiica, Boott. Sterile spike solitary; the fertile 3-4, erect, 

 about 5-Jlowered, ajtpro.L-inia.tnl and elevated on Ion;/ slut/.-* <i/;ore tin stumi/iate spike : 

 the lowest sometimes a little remote ; perigynia obscurely nerved, smooth and 

 shining, rather longer than the broad and obtuse membranaceons whitish scale. 

 (C. alba, var. setifolia, Dew.) Limestone rocks, N. New England t<; Kentucky, 

 and northward. A delicate species, 4' -10' high, with bristle-shaped leaves, 



