87. CYPERACE^E. 175 



SPECIES OF CYPERACE/E. 



1. SCHCE NUS. Bog -rush. 



S. NIGRICANS, L. Black Bog-rush. Stems tufted, wiry, 10 12 

 in. high. Le. setaceous, stiff, with shining dark brown sheaths 

 at the base. Bracts of 2 3 brown scales, the outer one with a 

 setaceous leafy point. Spikelets collected into a head, shorter 

 than the bracts. Gl. dark brown, with a prominent rough keel. 



Common. On wet moors, from Gourock all round the Firth. (B) P. 6 7. 



2. RHYNCHOSPORA. Beak-rush. 



R. ALBA, Vahl. White Beak-rush. Stems slender, forming 

 dense grassy tufts, 6 12 in. high. Le. narrow, short and subu- 

 late. Spikelets whitish, in a compact corymb, with 2 or 3 

 smaller ones on long ped. from the axils of leafy bracts. Bristles 

 with declining teeth. Stamens 2, filaments slender. 



Not common. (B) P. 08. "Lochrigg Shotts," Pair. Above Rashfield, 

 Kihnun; hills above Gareloch ; bogs on the hills above Gourock ; Arran. 



3. BLITSMUS. Blysmus. 



1. B. COMPRESSTJS, Panz. Broad-leaved Blysmus. Stems 

 4- 1 8 in. high. Le. linear, narrow, flat, rough on the edges and 

 keel. .Spike terminal, consisting of 10 12 shining brown spike- 

 lets, with a long leafy bract at the base. Gl. reddish brown, 

 striate. Nut orbicular, flat, with a long persistent style, shining. 



Frequent. Marshy sea shores of the Firth. (E) P. 67. Below Greenock; 

 near Largs and Fairlie. 



2. B. RU.FUS, Link. Narrow-leaved Blysmus. Stems slender, 

 rigid, 6 10 in. high. Le. short, very narrow, grooved, not keeled, 

 smooth. Spike terminal, of about 8 spikelets. Bracts mem- 

 branous, dark shining brown, outer one not so long as the spike. 

 Gl. dark brown, not striate. Nut ovate, larger than in the last, 

 opaque. 



Frequent. Marshy sea shores of the Firth. (S) P. 7. Boggy place on the banks 

 of the Clyde at Kilpatrick and Bowling bay ; marshy shore above Kilmun, 



4. ELEOCHARIS. Spike-rush. 



1. H. PALUSTRIS, Br. Creeping Spike-rush. Rhizome creeping. 

 Stems erect, nearly round, 6 12 in. high, with short sheathing 

 scales at the base, leafless. Spikelets terminal, solitary. Gl. 

 brown, with scarious edges, green on the midrib, outer one 

 largest. Nut crowned with the ovate, persistent base of the style, 

 appearing as a small tubercle on the top. Bristles usually 4. 



Very common. Banks of rivers, lakes, and ditches. (B) P. 67. Banks of 

 Clyde at Dalmarnock bridge; Cart; Kelvin, &c. 



