Car ex. 



CVl'ERACEyE. 



225 



inflated sac enclosing the ovary, with rarely an liypogynous bristle (racheohi) between 

 them. Style 1 : stigmas 2 or 3. Nntlet lenticular, plano-convex, or triangular. 

 — Perennial herbs, with triangular stems, more or less scabrous on the angles, 

 rarely smooth. Spikelets terminal and solitary or with additional ones borne in the 

 axils of leafy or scale-like often sheathing bracts. Leaves grass-like, commonly rough 

 on the margins and keel. 



The largest genus of the order, incliuling iicmiy 700 species, ubuiiilnut in tlio ti'mjicrate nnd 

 cooler regions ol l)otb lienusi.heres nn.l oeeiuiing more siKuingly in mountainous districts witliiii 

 tlic tropics. About 180 species arc lound in tiie Atlantic States (many ol' tlieni also of the. Old 

 World), and the lloiii of the interior region adds some others. The following key embraces only 

 such as have been detected within the limits of California. The genus is a very intricate cue and 

 the determination of species often diliicult or even impossii)le in the case of imperfect or imma- 

 ture specimens. In collecting, care shouM be taken to secure mature fruit if possible, a.s well us 

 rootstocks and foliage. 



♦ Spike solitary and simple, terminal, androgynous, male at top : stigmas 3. 

 Bracts scale-like, colored. 



I'erigynium spindle-shaped, rcllexed : stigmas rarely 2. 

 Perigyiiium obovoid, hairy at top : scales very broad : le 



form. 



leaves fili- 



Perigynium a large much inflated sac. 



Biacts foliaceous, green. 

 Spike linear : perigyiiium triangular-ellipsoidal, closely applied to 

 the rhachis, 1-iierved on two of its sides. 



» • Spike composed of sessile androgynous or rarely dioecious spike- 

 lets : stigmas 2. 



Spikes diuicious, or the spikelets androgynous with the male and 

 female llowers irregularly situated. 

 Perigynium narrowly lanceolate, sjtongy at base. 

 "NViile creeping : perigyiiium ovate-lanceolate, abruptly long-beaked. 

 Extensively creeping : spikelets numerous : perigynium ovate, less 



tapering, the margins not united to the top. 

 Some of the spikes occasionally wholly female : perigynium ovate, 



stipitate, concealed by the scale, at length nearly black. 

 Nearly dioecious : perigynium coriaceous, chestnut-colored, shining, 

 ovate with short minute beak, gibbous on the outer sides. 

 Dioecious : spikelets crowded, large : bracts and scales largo. 

 Spikelets amlrogynous, aggregated at the top of the stem. 

 Sjiikelets male at top. 



Spikelets ovate, 8 to 10, light chestnut : perigynium ovate, sharply 



bidentate. 

 Spike ca[pitate, roundish, of many crowded dark chestnut spike- 

 lets : i)erigyniuni ovate or elliptical, bidentate, stipitate. 

 Spike oblong or cylindrical, of 4 to 10 spherical spikelets, shorter 



than the awned bracts. 

 Spike elongated, of very many small spikelets or clusters of spike- 

 lets, shorter than the setaceous bracts. 

 Spikelets ferruginous, oblong, crowded, sessile : perigynium ovate 

 or deltoid, coriaceous, spongy at base. 

 Spikelets male at bottom. 



Si)ikelet3 usually 3 : perigynium oval and gradually or obovate 

 and abruptly short-beaked, nerved, coriaceous; margins 



1. C. Pykenaica. 



('. KII.IKOLIA. 

 C. BuiiWEUl. 



4. C. Geyi£ri 



11. C. Iloonii. 



12. C. FiKTIDA. 



13. C. MUlilCATA. 



14. C. GI.O.MICIIATA. 



C. PANICULATA. 



obtuse or slightly serrate above. 16. C. lagopina. 



Leaves and often the Kliform bracts far exceeding the stem : 

 s[)ikelets 3 to 6, lance-ovate : perigynium membranous, 

 gradually beaked, shar])ly maigined, serrate, nerveless. 17. C. I'llVLLO.MANlCA. 



Spikelets 3 to 6, dark brown : perigynium attenuate-lanceolate; 

 margins not winged, smooth or rarely scabrous. 



Spikelets 6 to 12 or more, crowded in a round or oblong ferru- 

 ginous head: perigynium ovate or elliptical, beaked, sei 

 rate on the winged margins, divergent. 



Sjiikc oblong, tawny, of 4 to (i small contiguous spikelets : peri- 

 gynium ovate, abruptly short-beaked, very convex outside, 

 strongly nerved, serrate on the nariow wings, spreading. 20. C. suiikI'sca. 



18. C. BoNri.ANnii. 



IS). V. FliSTIVA. 



