516 CYPKiiAcr^E. (SI.DGE FAMILY.) 



38. C. adicsta, Boott. Spikes 4- 10, approximate or rather distant, uvate 

 or at length club-shaped (straw-color or pale chestnut) ; perigynia ovate urith a 

 tapering beak, slightly ivinged, rather olmcurely nerved, esp< dally on tlie upper side, 

 equalling the scale in length and breadth. Rhode Inland (Olney), New York 

 (S. T. Carey, $-c.), Lake Superior (C. G. Loring, Jr., with the smaller form), 

 and northward. Much like some forms of the next, but the spikes more chaffy, 

 the perigynia tapering into a longer beak. 



39. C. fcsttBCacea, Sc-hk. Spikes 6-8, oboroid or dult-sliajHd, the lower 

 distinct ; perigynia orate, narrow!// winged, irith a short beak, longer than the orate' 

 lanceolate scale; achenium sessile, broadly oval. Var. TENERA has (3-5) 

 smaller spikes, which are more distant on the slender, flexuose, sometimes nod- 

 ding stem. (C. tenera, Dew.) Var. MIRABILIS has (6-8) rounder approx- 

 imate spikes, with fewer staminate flowers, and the perigynia somewhat spread- 

 ing. (C. mirabilis, Dew.) About fields and fences ; rather common, especially 

 northward. A stiff and rigid species, often of a pale-green appearance, except 

 the first variety, which has commonly brownish heads, and a weak stem. 



40. C. ftEBiea, Muhl. Spikes 4-10, ovoid, approximate, the lower rarely 

 compound, of a glaucous-f/reen color ; perigynia orate, winged, u'ith a short beak, 

 scarcely longer than the oblong and b/untish white scale ; achenium on a short 

 stalk, oval. Salt or brackish marshes, on the sea-coast, Rhode Island (Olney) 

 to Virginia, and southward. Much like the last, from which it differs princi- 

 pally in the color of the spikes, and in the constantly erect and more broadly- 

 margined perigynia. The culm is smooth and stout. 



41. C. Straminea* Schk. S/rikcs (about 6), roundish-ovoid, approximate; 

 perigynia orbicular-ovate, much compressed, broadly and menibranaccons/y icinged, 

 with a short abrupt beak a little longer than the lanceolate scale ; achcnium 

 nearly sessile, oval Borders of woods and in fields; rather common. The 

 larger forms have a remarkably wide wing, often brown on the margin, giving a 

 variegated appearance to the soft and flaccid spikes. In the smaller forms the 

 heads arc fewer (3-4) and more rigid, owing to the narrower wings of the 

 perigynia. 



D Staminate and pistillate flowers borne in separate (commonly more or less 

 stalked) simple spikes on the same culm ; the one or more staminate (sterile) spikes 

 constantly uppermost, having occasionally more or less fertile flowers intermixed ; 

 the lower spikes all pistillate (fertile), or sometimes with staminate flowers at the 

 base or apex: stigmas 3: achenium sharply triangular (only 2 stigmas and the 

 achenium lenticular in No. 42-51 and 58). CAREX Proper. 



1. Perigynia without a beak, smooth, not inflated (slightly in No. 51), terminating 

 in a minute, straight, entire or notched point, glaucous-green when young, be- 

 coming whitish, often spotted or tinged with purple, or occasionally nearly 

 black at maturity: pistillate scales blackish-purple (brown in No. 51 and 57), 

 giving a dark appearance to the spikes. 



* Sterile spikes 1-3, stalked, often with more or less fertile flowers: pistillate 

 spikes 3 5, frequently with sterile flowers at the apex : bract of the lowest spike 

 leaf-like, with dark-colored expansions (auricles) at the base, and very minute 

 sheaths, or none. ( Culm and leaves more or less glaucous. J 



