516 CYi'KRAci^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



38. C. adtista, Boott. Spikes 4 -10, approximate or ntthcr distant, of ate 

 or at length club-shaped (straw-color or pale chestnut) ; perigynia ovate ui'h a 

 tapering beak, slightly-winged, rather ol>scurely nerved, especially on' the upper side, 

 equalling the scale in length and breadth. Rhode Island (Olney), New York 

 (S. T. Caiey, frc.), Lake Superior (C. G. Loring, Jr., with the smaller form), 

 nnd northward. Much like some forms of the next, but the spikes more chaffy, 

 the perigynia tapering into a longer beak. 



39. C. fcstlflcacea, Schk. Spikes 6-8, obovoid or club-shaped, the lower 

 distinct; perigynia orate, narroivly winged, with a short beak; longer than the ocatfr 

 lanceolate scale; achcnium sessile, broadly oval. Var. TENERA has (3 -5' 

 smaller spikes, which are more distant on the slender, flcxuose, sometimes nod 

 ding stem. (C. tenera, Dew.) Var. MIRABILIS has (6-8) rounder approx 

 imatc spikes, with fewer staminate flowers, and the perigynia somewhat spread 

 ing. (C. mirabilis, Dew.) About fields and fences ; rather common, especially 

 northward. A stiff and rigid species, often of a pale-green appearance, except 

 the first variety, which has commonly brownish heads, and a weak stem. 



40. C. ftemca, Muhl. Spikes 4-10, ovoid, approximate, the lower rarely 

 compound, of a gla neons-green color; perigynia ovate, winged, with a short beak, 

 scarcely longer than the oblong and blunt ish white, scale,- achcnium on a short 

 stalk, oval. Salt or brackish marshes, on the sea-coast, Rhode Island (Ohny) 

 to Virginia, and southward. Much like the last, from which it diiVers princi- 

 pally in the color of the spikes, and in the constantly erect and more broadly- 

 margined perigynia. The culm is smooth and stout. 



41. C. Straillilica, Schk. Spikes (about 6), roundish-ovoid, approximate ; 

 perigynia orbicular-ovate, much compressed, broadly and niembranaccously winged, 

 with a short abrupt beak a little longer than the lanceolate scale; achcnium 

 nearly sessile, oval Borders of woods and in fields; rather commor The 

 larger forms have a remarkably wide wing, often brown on the margin, giving a 

 variegated appearance to the soft and flaccid spikes. In the smaller forms iho 

 heads are fewer (3-4) and more rigid, owing to the narrower wings of the 

 perigynia. 



D Staminate and pistillate flowers borne in separate (commonly nw-'e or less 

 etaffo-d) simp/e, spiki* on (lie same culm ; the one or more staminate (sterile) spikes 

 constantly uppermost, having occasionally more or less feriile flowers intermixed : 

 the lower spikes all pistillate (fertile), or sometimes with staminate flowers at the 

 base or apex: stigmas 3: acheninm sharply triangular (only '2 stigmas and the 

 achenium lenticular in No. 42-51 and 58). CAKKX Proper. 



1. Pt-rigijiiia without, a beak, smooth, not inflat(d (slightly in No 51), terminating 

 in a minute, straight, entire or notched point, ghuicous-green when young, In- 

 coming whitish, often spotted or tinged with purple, or occasionally nearly 

 Mack at maturity : pistillate scales blackish-purple (brown in No. 51 and 57), 

 giring a dark aji/ienrance to the sjiikes. 



* Sit rile spikt-s 1-3, stalked, often with more or less fertile flowers: pistillate 

 spikes 3-5, fr<-ijnently irith sterile flowers at the aj>e.r : bract of the lowest spike 

 leaf-like, with dark-colored expansions (auricles) at the base, and very minute 

 sheaths, or none. ( Cidni and leaves more or less glaucous. ) 



