CYPERACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 533 



* * Spikea 4-7; the terminal one entirely staminate, small and linear,* or with 

 some fertile flowers at the apex : the rest all pistillate : bracts very long, 

 sheathing. 



122. C. Steil6IepiS, Torr. Fertile spikes cylindrical, obtuse, the upper 

 approximated, nearly sessile on the zigzag stem, the lower remote on exserted 

 stalks, all ei-ect, very densely flowered ; perigynia shorter than the long a\vn-like 

 scales. (C. Frankii, Kunth. C. Shortii, Steitd., not of Torr.) Marshes, W. 

 Penn. ? and Virginia to Illinois, and southwcstward. Somewhat resembling 

 the last ; but the spikes are narrower and more numerous, and of a still more 

 bristly appearance from the projecting points of the scales : occasionally all are 

 fertile, the uppermost having no staminate flowers. 



{ 14. Perigynia much inflated, nerved (nerveless in No. 132)^ smooth and shining, 

 becoming straw-colored at maturity, with a tapering more or less elongated 2-toothed 

 beak: bracts leaf-like, with very short or obsolete sheaths (conspicuously 

 sheathing in No. 123), much exceeding the culm (except in No. 132) : scales 

 brown or tawny : staminate spikes 2-5 rarely 1, stalked. VESIC\RIJB. 



123. C. retrdrsa, Schw. Sterile spikes 1-3, the uppermost occasionally 

 with a few fertile flower?, the rest more or less pistillate at the base ; fertile spikes 

 4-5, oblong-cylindrical, erect, the upper approximate and clustered on short or in- 

 cluded stalks, the lowest remote on a long exserted stalk, and (with one or more of 

 the others) often bearing 1-2 short branches at the base; perigynia crowded, 

 spreading and at length reflexed, strongly (few-) nerved, tapering from an ovoid 

 contracted base into a conspicuously toothed beak much longer than the lanceolate 

 scale. (C. reversa, Spreng.) Marshy borders of streams, New England to 

 Penn., Wisconsin, and northwestward. Culm nearly smooth : leaves and 

 bracts 3" -4" wide, much exceeding the spikes, which are !'-!' long. 



124. C. gigHlltca, Rudge. Sterile spikes several (3-5); perigynia hori- 

 zontally spreading and less tumid than in No. 120 : otherwise very like it, but a 

 still larger plant. Swamps, along rivers, from the Ohio (near Louisville, Ken- 

 tucky, Short) southward. 



125. C. Scliweinitzii, Dew. Sterile spikes commonly 2, the lower 

 often pistillate at the base ; fertile spikes 3-4, cylindrical, somewhat drooping, 

 densely Jlowered, often staminate at the apex, and occasionally the lower rather 

 compound at the base, on smooth nearly included stalks ; perigynia e/ect, oblong- 

 ovoid, few-nerved, tapering into a long and smooth short-toothed beak, a little longer 

 than the. lanceolate long-awned scale. Wet swamps, New England, New Jersey, 

 W. New York, and northward; not common. Culm 10' -15' high, smooth: 

 bracts and leaves 2" -3" wide, smooth except the margins, much exceeding 

 the culm : fertile spikes (1^' to 2^' long, rather narrow) and the whole plant 

 turning straw-color. 



126. C. VCSlCaria, L. Sterile spikes 2-3; fertile spikes mostly 2, rarely 

 3 or solitary, oblong or cylindrical, stout, approximate, the upper sessile, the lower 

 on a short rough stalk ; perigynia oMong-ovoid, 17 -nerved at base, 10-nerved above, 

 with a short tapering beak longer and broader than the pointed or long-tapering 

 awnless scale ; culm sharply angled and rough ; leaves and bracts green, equal- 

 ling or rathr longer than the culm. N. New England ^ and northward. 



