588 CYPERACE.E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



* * * Uppermost spike fertile-flowered at the apex (rarely all staminate) : pistillate 

 spikes 3-5, oblong or cylindrical, loosejy flowered, distant, on exserted JUi- 

 form stalks : bracts equalling or often exceeding the culm : perigynia oblong, 

 with a short and abrupt notched point (obsolete in No. 80), green and inera- 

 branaceous at maturity : pistillate scales tawny or white. GRAC^ LLIMLE. 

 -t- Fertile spikes nodding or pendulous. 



78. C. Davisii, Schw. & Torr. Fertile spikes oblong-cylindrical, rather thick; 

 perigynia somewhat contracted at each end, scarcely longer than the conspicuously 

 owned scale. (C. aristata, Dew., not of R. Br. C. Torreyana, Dew.) Wet 

 meadows, Massachusetts to Wisconsin, and southward. Larger than the next 

 (1- 2 high), and with stouter and longer spikes. 



79. C. formbsa, Dew. Fertile spikes oblong, short, all commonly with 2 or 

 3 barren flowers or empty scales at the base ; perigynia somewhat contracted at 

 each end, nearly twice as long as the pointed or cuspidate .scale. Wet meadows, 

 Massachusetts to W. New York. 



80. C. gracillima, Schw. Fertile spikes linear, slender; perigynia obtuse 

 and slightly oblique at the orifice, longer than the oblong awned or awnless scale. 

 (C. digitalis, Schw. $- Torr., not of Wiild.) Wet meadows, New England to 

 Kentucky, Wisconsin, and northward. When the uppermost spike is alto- 

 gether staminate this resembles C. arctata ; but is distinguished by the obtuse 

 and sessile perigynium. 



*- *- Fertile spikes nearly erect, all but the lowest short-peduncled or nearly sessile. 



81. C. 8BStivalis, M. A. Curtis. Spikes slender, loosely flowered; peri- 

 gynia acutish at both ends, twice the length of the ovate obtuse or mucronate scale; 

 achenium somewhat stipitate ; sheaths of the lower leaves pubescent : otherwise 

 nearly as the last, but smaller (l-l high). Saddle Mountain, W. Massa- 

 chusetts (Dewey), mountains of Penn., Virginia, and southward. 



3. Perigynia without a beak, hairy (in No. 83 becoming smooth at maturity), 

 slightly inflated, bluntly 3-angled, obtuse, conspicuously nerved, with a mi- 

 nute abrupt straight point : bracts narrow, with very short or obsolete 

 sheaths, the lowest exceeding the culm ; pistillate scales tawny or white ; 

 spikes 2 4, erect, the uppermost androgynous, fertile-flowered at the apex and 

 club-shaped: the rest all fertile. VIRESCENTES. 



82. C. Vir6scens, Muhl. Spikes oblong or cylindrical, on short stalks; peri- 

 gynia ovoid, nearly entire at the orifice, rather longer than the ovate awned scale ; 

 leaves and sheaths hairy. (C. costata, Schw.) Rocky woods and hillsides, New 

 England to Michigan, and southward. Culms rough, slender, l-2high: 

 fertile spikes 6" -12" long. 



83. C. triceps, Michx. Spikes ovoid, nearly sessile, closely approximate; 

 perigynia broadly obovoid, entire at the orifice, downy when yOung, smooth at 

 maturity, rather longer than the pointed scale ; sheaths very hairy ; leaves more 

 or less so. (C. hirsuta, Willd. C. viridula, Schw. $ Torr., not of Michx.)-. 

 Varies with the spikes rather longer and on stalks, and leaves nearly smooth. 

 (C. hirsuta, var. pedunculata, Schw. Sf Torr.) Woods and meadows: the 

 smoother form southward. Culm 12' - 18' high. Spikes 6" - 9" long. 



