508 CITERACE^E. (gEDUE FAMILY.) 



in dense tufts. Culms triangular, bcaiing the spikes in the axils of green and 

 leaf-like or scale-like bracts ; commonly with thin mem bran aceous sheaths at 

 the base which enclose more or less of the stalks of the spikes. Leaves grassy, 

 usually rough on the margins and keel. (A classical name, of obscure signifi- 

 cation ; derived by some from carco, to want, the upper spikes being mostly 

 sterile; and by others from Kelpa, to cut, on account of the sharp leaves.) 



ABRIDGED SYNOPSIS OF THE SECTIONS. 



A. Spike solitary, simple, dioecious or anirogynous : bracts small, colored and scale-like 



(This division, retained for the convenience of .students, is merely artificial, and combines 

 species having uo real natural affinity.) PSYLLOTIIOIUE, Loisel. 

 $ 1. Spike dioecious, or with a few staminatc flowers at its base. No. 1-3. 

 2. Spike androgynous, stain inate at the summit. No 4-7 



B. Spike solitary, single, androgynous, staminate at the summit : bracts and scales of the fer- 



tile flowers green and leaf-like. Stigmas 3. - PIIYLLOsJTACH Yd, Torr. & Gr. No. 8 10. 



C. Spikes several or numerous, androgynous (occasionally dioecious in Xo. 11 and 33), sessile, 



forming compact, or more or less interrupted, sometimes paniculate, compound or do- 

 compound spikes. Stigmas 2 VIGNEA,'Beauv. 

 1. Spikes approximate, with staminate and pistillate flowers variously situated. No. 11 13. 



2 Spikes pistillate below, staminate at the summit. No 14 28. 



3 Spikes pistillate above, staminate at he base No. 29 41. 



I) Staminate and pistillate flowers borne in separate (commonly more or less stalked) simple 

 spikes on the same culm ; the one or more staminate (sterile) spikes constantly upper- 

 most, having occasionally more or less fertile flowers intermixed ; the lower spikes all 

 pistillate (fertile) or sometimes with staminate (lowers at the base or apex. Stigmas 3 (or 

 only 2 in No. 42-49 and 58). CAREX PIIOPKR. 



* I'erigynia with merely a minute or short point, not prolonged into a beak. 

 f 1. Perigyuia not inflated (slightly so in No. 51), smooth, nerved or nerveless, with a minute 

 straight point ; glaucous-green, becoming whitish, or more or less spotted or tinged with 

 purple. Scales blackish-purple or brown. Staminate spikes 1 3, or the terminal spike 

 androgynous and staminate at the base, the rest all fertile. No 42-57. 



2. Pcrigynia slightly inflated, smooth, nerved, obtuse and pointless or with a straight or 

 oblique point. Scales brown, becoming tawny or white. Staminate spike solitary {ex- 

 cept sometimes in No. 62) or androgynous and pistillate above, the rest all fertile. No. 

 68 71. 



3. Pcrigynia slightly inflated, hairy (in No. 70 smooth at maturity), nerved, with a minute 

 straight point. Terminal spike androg} nous, pistillate at the- apex, the rest all fertile. 

 No 72, 73. 



4. Perig.\ nia not inflated, smooth, regularly seriate, with a short, entire, obliquely bent or 

 recurved point, remaining green at maturity. Staminate spike solitary. Bmcts green 

 and leaf-liko (,-xivpt in No 74). No 74 - 81 



f. Perigynia not inflated, smooth or downy, not stria te, with a minute, obliquely bent, white 

 and mcnibraii.'icovuis point, reddish-brown or olive-colord at maturity. Terminal spike 

 all staminatc, or with 2-3 fertile flowers at the base ; the rest all fertile, or with a few 

 sterile flowers at the apex. Bracts reduced to colored sheaths, or with a short green pro- 

 longation. No. 82, 83. 

 * * Perigynia with a distinct beak, either short and abrupt, or mom or less pro^nged. 



6 Perigynia not inflated, hairy, with a rather abrupt beak, terminating in a membrano- 

 ceous notched or 2-toothcd orifice Bracts short : culms mostly low and slender ; leaves 

 all radical, long and narrow. Staminate spike sohwiry. No Hi 90. 



7. Perigynia slightly inflated, hairy or smooth, with a short beak terminating in an enUre 

 or slightly notched ori5ee Bracts Ion? and leaf-like: culms tall and leafy. Staminattt 

 spike solitary (in No 91 pistillate tit the summit) : fertile .-pikes erect (except in No 91), 

 No 91-93. 



