CYPERACKVE. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 563 



dowmmrdly barbed bristles. (S. aciitus, MitJil. R. laciistris, of Amcr. authors and 

 in former editions.) — C'onimon cverywiierc in still fresh water. — Aeheninm 

 (§" long, half the size of that of the European S. lacustris, also narrower, pale, 

 not shining. — A slender variety with narrower heads, very smooth scales, 

 and shorter or fragile bristles, was sparingly collected by liav. J. W. CItkkerinq 

 at Havan<v, New York. 



11. S. riparius, I'resl., which largely takes the place of the preceding 

 southwestward, probably within our limits, is known by the 2-4 rather shorter 

 imd linear }ili(muse scales, 7-ather than bnslles,of the perianth. 



-^ -^ I- •*- Culms slender from an annual root, terete, plano-convex or obtusely trian- 

 gular, naked; the sheaths at the base rarely extended into a short leaf: s/iikes 

 few or several, sometimes solitary, in a sessile cluster, much overtopped by the 

 involucral leif: bristles of the pmanlh often few or wanting. 



12. S. d6bilis, Pursh. Culms obtusely triangular, with somewhat hol- 

 lowed sides, l°-2° high, yellowish-green; spikes 3-12, capitate, ovate-oblong, 

 obtuse (3" -4" long), chestnut-brown; involucral leaf often horizontal at matu- 

 rity ; scales roundish ; stamens 3 ; style 2-3-cleft ; bristles 6, stout, downwardly 

 barbed, equalling or two surpassing the obovate turgidly plano-convex (or 

 bluntly 3-sided) abruptly mucronate-pointed smoothish achenium. (S. juncoi- 

 des, Roxburgh.) — Swamps, Mass. to Virginia and southward. Aug., Sept. 



13. S. Smithii, n. sp. Culms terete, slender, 3'- 12' high, often leaf-bear- 

 ing from the upper sheath, dull green as arc the 1-3 oblong-ovate acute spikes ; 

 involucral leaf always erect; scales oblong-oval; style 2-cIeft; bristles 1 or 2 

 minute rudiments or none; achenium somewhat lenticular, smooth, deciduous 

 with the scales. (S. debilis, Gray, Gram <f- Cyp. 135.) — Wet shores, Lake On- 

 tario to Illinois and Delaware Bay (in tidal mud). July. — Named for C. E. 

 Smith, who indicated and insisted on its distinctions. 



14. S. SUpinuS, L., var. Hallii. Culms filiform, 5'- 12' high; upper 

 sheath rarely distinctly leaf-bearing ; spikes 1 - 7 in a sessile or sometimes gem- 

 inately proliferous cluster, ovate-oblong becoming cylindrical, greenish ; .scales 

 ovate, strongly keeled, mucronate-pointed; stamens 2; style 2-cleft; brislbs 

 none ; achenium obovate-orbicular, mucronate, plano-convex, strongly wrinkled 

 transversely. (S. Hallii, Gray, addend, ed. 2.) — Wet shores, Illinois, E. Hall, 

 &c., and southwestward. — In Texas occurs the normal S. supinus, with 3-cleft 

 etyle and triangular achenium, as in Europe, where it sometimes has short 

 brisiles, as in No. 13. (Eu.) 



•s * * Spikes clustered in simple or mostly compound umbellate or cymose-panicled 

 clusters, many-floirered, terete : inrnhtrre of mostly severed obvious and fat leaves : 

 culm tall, from tufted or running rootstocks; triangular, lenfy, sedge-like: style 

 mostly 3-cleft. 



•*- Spikes large, G"- 15" loiiq: midrib of tht, scales extended beyond the mostly lacerate 

 or two-cleft apex into a distinct awn. 



15. S. maritimus, L. (Sea Chib-Rusii.) Leaves flat, linear, as long 

 as the stout culm (l°-3° high), those of the involucre 1 -4, very unequal; 

 spikes few- several in a sessile cluster, and often also with 1 -4 unequal nays 

 bearing 1-7 ovate or oblong-cylindrical (rusty-brown) spikes; awns of the 



