CYPERACE^. 319 



f sheathing, the sh 

 ones often sessile, 

 empty. 



Leaves sheathing, the sheath entire, sometimes cleft in age : the 

 floral ones often sessile. Glumes spicate, the lower sometimes 



1. RHYNCHOSPORA. Vahl. Beak-rush. 



Spikelets few-flowered, the glumes of one valve, imbricated on 

 all sides, the lower one smaller, empty. Bristles several, 

 included, inversely toothed. Style subulate, bifid, spreading 

 at the base. Nut crowned with the persistent more or less 

 articulated style. Name from pv^Kos, a beak, and aTropa, a 

 seed. (Very different in habit from Eleocharis, but too near 

 in generic character.) (Hook.) 



Triandria. Monogynia. 



1. R. alba, Vahl. White Peak-rush. Spikelets in a com- 

 pact corymb, as long as the outer bracteas ; leaves narrow, 

 linear. Br. Fl. 1. p. 20. E. Fl. v. i. p. 52. (Schcenus albus, 

 Linn.) E. Bot. t. 985. 



Turfy bogs in the southern, western, and northern counties. Fl. 

 June Aug. 1 Whole plant smooth and slender, from six to twelve 

 inches high. Spikelets of flowers white or whitish, collected so as to 

 form a level surface at the top. 



2. R. fusca, Sm. Brown Beak-rush. Spikelets in an oval 

 head, much shorter than the outer bracteas ; leaves almost fili- 

 form. Br. Fl. 1. p. 20. E. Fl. v. i. p. 52. ( Schcenus fuscus, 

 Linn.) E. Bot. t. 1575. 



Bogs near the upper lake of Killarney, and in Cunnamara. Fl. July, 

 Aug. 1(1. Heads of Jlowers oval, rich brown ; spikelets larger than 

 in the last, and the stigmas more protruded. 



2. BLYSMUS. Panz. Blysmus. 



Spikelets bracteated, arranged on a zigzag rachis into a disti- 

 chous compressed spike. Glumes of one valve, imbricated 

 on all sides, the outermost gradually the largest, empty. 

 Bristles several or none. Fruit compressed, oval, gradually 

 tapering into the persistent style. Name from fiXvefios, 

 source or spring, near which the species usually grow. 



Triandria. Monogynia. 



1. B. rufus, Link. Narroiv-leaved Blysmus. Bracteas all 

 equal, membranaceous ; bristles none ; leaves very narrow, 

 grooved. Br. Fl. 1. p. 22. Schcenus rufus, E. Bot. t. 1010. 

 Scirpus rufus, Schrad. E. Fl. v. i. p. 59. 



Marshes near the sea. Plentiful between Baldoyle and Howth. 

 Near Donaghadee ; Mr. Templeton. By the side of the Foyle, near 

 Derry j Mr. D. Moore. FL July. !. Root creeping, with downy 

 fibres. Stem four to six inches high, round, quite smooth and even. 



