CYPERACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 561 



*- - Involucre a short awl-shaped bract: culms tufted (3' -12' high), filiform. 



2. S. csespitbsus, L. Culms terete, wiry, densely sheathed at the base, in 

 compact turfy tufts ; the upper sheath bearing a very short awl-shaped leaf; spike 

 ovoid, rusty -color ; involucral bract a rigid-pointed scale, resembling the lowest 

 proper scale of the spike and scarcely surpassing it ; bristles 6, smooth, longer 

 than the abruptly short-pointed achenium. Alpine tops of the mountains of 

 Maine, New Hampshire, and N. New York. On Roan Mountain, N. Carolina. 

 Also, away from mountains, Bergen Swamp, Genesee Co., New York, G. W. 

 Clinton, J. A. Paine. N. Illinois, Dr. Vasey. (Eu.) 



3. S. Clint6nii, Gray. Culms acutely triangular, almost bristle-like; 

 sheaths at the base bearing a very slender almost bristle-shaped leaf shorter (usu- 

 ally very much shorter) than the culm ; involucral bract awl-shaped, mostly 

 shorter than the chestnut-colored ovate spike, which has pointless scales : other- 

 wise as the next. (S. planifolius, var. brevifolius, Torr.) Rather dry plains, 

 New York, Jefferson Co., Dr. Crawe; near Buifalo, G. W. Clinton. June. 



4. S. planif61ius, Muhl. Culms triangular, leafy at the base ; the leaves 

 linear, fiat, as long as the culm, and like it rough-edged ; involucral bract a bristle- 

 tipped scale usually overtopping the ovate or oblong chestnut-colored spike, the 

 green midrib of the scales extended into sharp points ; bristles of the perianth up- 

 wardly hairy, as long as the pointless achenium. Dry or moist ground, New 

 England to W. New York (G. W. Clinton), Penn., and Delaware. June. 



-i- *- H- One-leaved involucre more conspicuous, and as if continuing the culm. 



5. S. SUbterminlis, Torr. Aquatic: culms (l-3 long, thickish-fili- 

 form) partly and the shorter filiform leaves wholly submersed, cellular ; the 

 filiform green bract 6"- 12" long, much surpassing the oblong spike; scales some- 

 what pointed ; bristles 6, bearded downwards, rather shorter than the abruptly- 

 pointed achenium. Slow streams and ponds, New Jersey and New England 

 to Michigan and westward. Var. TERRESTRIS, Paine, Cat. Less tall ; stem 

 and leaves firmer ; fully-fruiting spike more turgid : growing chiefly emersed, in 

 a quaking morass, Litchfield, Herkimer Co., New York, J. A. Paine. 



* * Spikes clustered (rarely only one), appearing lateral from the one-leaved involucre, 

 which resembles the naked culm, seeming to be a continuation of it. 



* Culm sharply triangular, stout, chiefly from running rootstocks: spikes many-fiow- 

 ered, rusty brown, closely sessile in one duster : sheaths at base more or less leaf- 

 bearing. ( Very rarely a second and smaller involucral leaf.) 



6. S. plingens, Vahl. Running rootstocks long and stout; culm sharply 

 3-angled throughout (l-4 high) with concave sides; leaves 1-3, elongated 

 (4' -10' long), keeled and channelled; spikes 1-6, capitate, ovoid, usually long 

 overtopped by the pointed involucral leaf; scales ovate, sparingly ciliate, 2-cleft 

 at the apex and awl-pointed from between the acute lobes ; anthers tipped with an 

 awl-shaped minutely fringed appendage; style 2-cleft (rarely 3-cleft) ; bristles 2-6, 

 shorter than the obovate plano-cotivex and mucronate smooth achenium. (S. 

 triqueter, Michx., not of L. S. Americanus, Pers.) Borders of salt and fresh 

 ponds and streams : very common. (Eu.) 



7. S. Olneyi, Gray. Calm 3-wing-angled, with deeply excavated sides, stout 

 (2 - 7 high), the upper sheath be/jring a short triangular leaf or none; spikes 6-12, 



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