87. CYPERACE^E. 181 



small dark auricle at its base. Gl. elliptical, obtuse, shorter than 

 the fruit, dark purple, with a slender green keel. Fr. elliptic, 

 plano-convex, nerved nearly to the apex; beak short, entire. 

 Common. In wet pastures. (B) P. 5 6. Possil marsh. 



14. C. BIGIDA, Gooden. Rigid Carex. Stems 4 6 in. high, 

 triangular, rough at the top. Le. short, flat, rigid, revolute when 

 dry. Barren spikelets 1, fertile 24, nearly close together, sub- 

 sessile, cylindrical, compact. Bracts small, leafy, with a small 

 black subrotund auricle. Gl. purple, with a green keel. Fr. 

 elliptical, obtuse, plano-convex, without veins. Beak obsolete. 



Frequent. On the tops of our highest mountains. (H) P. 6 8. Ben Lomond; 

 Goat Fell, Arran, &c. 



15. C. ACUTA, L. Slender-spiked Carex. Stems tufted, 2 3 

 ft. high, triquetrous, rough at the top. Le. long, broad, flat, 

 sheathing, becoming revolute on the edge. Barren spikelets 1 3, 

 fertile 3 4, slender, long and acute, sometimes barren at the top, 

 lower one stalked, attenuate at the base. Bracts leafy, lower 

 one often longer than the stem, with long auricles. Gl. narrow- 

 lanceolate, as long as the fr., dark with a green keel. Fruit 

 oblong, lenticular, veined, pale green, with rusty stains. Beak 

 short, entire. 



Frequent. Marshes and borders of rivers. (B) P. 5. Banks of Clyde above 

 Carmyle; Kenmuirbank; Gourock; C umbrae and Arran. 



16. C. AQITATILIS, Wah. Var. Watsoni, Syme. Water Carex. 

 Stems tufted 1| 3 ft. high, trigonous. Le. very long, flat. 

 Bracts leafy, much longer than the stem. Barren spikelets 

 mostly 2, fertile 3 4, densely flowered, lower ones slightly 

 tapering below, pale. Glumes short, with a greenish midrib. 

 Fruit adpressed, broadly oval, lenticular, not ribbed. Nut 

 obovate, with a short beak, narrowed below. 



Banks of Clyde; several stations from Dalmarnock bridge to Hamilton; long 

 known, but considered a state of C. cxspitosa or stricta. 



17. C. SAXATILIS, L. Russet Carex. Rhizome creeping. Stems 

 6 8 in. high. Le. keeled, triangular at the apex. Barren 

 spikelets mostly solitary, fertile ones ovate, lower one stalked. 

 Bracts leafy, sheaths none. Gl. dark purple, tipped with white. 

 Fruit ovate, inflated, obscurely veined, dark purple, longer than 

 the glume. Beak short bifid. 



Frequent. Near springs on our highest mountains. (H) P. 6 7. Ben Lomond. 



E. Terminal spikelets barren, mostly solitary. Stigmas 3. 



(Sometimes 2 in 20 and 21. ) 

 T Fruit hairy, downy, or scabrous. 



18. C. PILULIFERA, L. Round-headed Carex. Stems tufted, 

 slender, 6 12 in. high. Le. short, weak. Barren spikelets 

 solitary, fertile about 3, approximate, subglobose, almost sessile. 



