SEDGE. 309 



seed was evidently remaining from the last year, as its time of 

 flowering is August. This is an alpine species, and could only 

 have grown there by means of seeds washed down from the 

 hills. A great quantity of the plant was there at the time I 

 speak of, but a heavy flood occurred soon after, and I have 

 since sought it in vain. It is a slender Grass with a round 

 stem, and a somewhat drooping cluster of small spikes. Ossian 

 speaks of these Cotton-grasses as " Cana-grass," and the Scotch 

 adopt his term, calling it "Canna." He compares the com- 

 plexion of his heroines to the " snow-white Cana." The down 

 of the seed is sometimes collected for stuffing pillows. 



The family of the true Sedges comes next. The stamens and 

 stigmas are in different flowers, often in different spikes, and, 

 in one species, on separate plants. The female flower consists 

 of a capsule and a scale, and the male of a bract and three 

 stamens ; they are arranged in spikes or catkins. 



The species with the male and female flowers on separate 

 plants is called Creeping Sedge (Carex dioica) ; it is less than 

 a span high, and very slender and smooth. The catkin is 

 solitary in this species, as also in the Prickly Flea and Few- 

 flowered Sedges, all of which frequent bogs in hilly country. 



The Prickly Sedge (C. Davalliana), has round catkins, with 

 the male and female flowers mingled ; it grows rather above 

 a span high, and is pretty common. I have found it about 

 fiichmond, and Malcolm has it from Hawkhurst. 



The Oval-spiked Sedge (C. ovalis), is of the same habit, but 

 larger. I found it also near Richmond. 



The Remote Sedge (C. remota), is a very grassy plant, 

 extremely slender, and with small catkins in the distant axils 

 of the leaves. It was one of my prizes during an excursion 

 to Brignall Bank and Eokeby. 



The Sea Sedge (C. arenaria), has half recumbent stems and 

 oval catkins ; the Soft Brown Sedge has dark-coloured catkins, 

 and is tall and graceful ; the Compound Prickly Sedge (C. vul- 

 pina), is a large plant with bright green leaves, and spreading 



