524 CYPKRACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



nerves. Copses and hill-sides, New England to "W. New York and Pennsyl- 

 vania. Very closely approaching the next ; perhaps only a variety of it. 



78. C. digitalis, Willd. Fertile spikes linear-oblong, Iwsely f>- 3 -flowered, 

 on long stalks, the lowest sometimes drooping ; leaves and bracts narrow, dark 

 green; perigynia smaller than in the last. (C. oligocarpa, Sckw. $ Torr., not of 

 Schk. C. Vanvleckii, Schw.) Copses and hill-sides, New England to Michi- 

 gan, and southward. A low species, 6 ; - 12' high, growing in tufts, with numer- 

 ous culms and long grassy leaves. 



* # * Sterile spike short, linear ; fertile spikes 2-4, erect ; the 1-2 uppermost 

 commonly near the base of the sterile, on an included stalk ; the rest on ex- 

 serted stalks, with long sheathing bracts resembling the leaves ; the uppermost 

 exceeding the erect culm : perigynia with obtuse angles, about the length of the 

 scale. OLIGOCARPJS. 



79. C. laxifiora, Lam. Fertile spikes slender, loosely flowered on a zigzag 

 rhachis ; perigynia ovoid, nan-owed at each end. (C. anceps, Willd. $ ed. 1.) 

 Var. STRIATULA has the spikes oblong, more densely flowered, and the perigynia 

 obovoidvf\\\\ a shorter point. (C. striatula, Michx. C. conoidea, Muhl., not of 

 Schk. C. blanda, Dew.) Var. PATULIF6LIA, Dew., has the radical leaves very 

 broad (l ; - !'), many-nerved, with a rather longer point. (C. plantaginea, Schk., 

 not of Lam.) Open woods and copses; common. A very variable specie, 

 as to the breadth of the leaves and length of the spikes ; the culms are usually 

 flattened or 2-edged above. An intermediate form occurs, with the broad leaves 

 and slender spikes of var. patulifolia, but having the obovoid shortly pointed 

 fruit of var. striatula, differing in the latter respect from the plant figured as C. 

 plantaginea by Schkuhr. 



80. C. Oligocarpa, Schk. Fertile spikes small, 3 - 8-Jlowered ; the point 

 of the perigynium slightly oblique, not recurved ; style very short, thickened towards 

 the base ; leaves rough only on the edge, sheaths smooth. (C. Sartwelliana, Gay.) 

 Woods, Connecticut to Illinois and Kentucky. Culm slender, 8' -12 

 long ; the fertile spikes 2' - ' in length. 



81. C. HitcllCOCkiaiia, Dew. Fertile spikes very loosely 3- 4-floivered; 

 sheaths and upper side of the leaves roughly pubescent. Woods, New England to 

 Illinois and Kentucky. Culm l-2 high, stouter than the last, with very 

 scabrous sheaths. The fruit is also larger (2" long) ; but in other respects the 

 plaats are similar. 



$ 5. Perigynia without a beak, smooth or downy, not inflated, obovoul -triquetrous, 

 with a minute obliquely bent white and membranaceous point, reddish-brown 

 or olive-colored at maturity : bracts reduced to colored sheaths, or with a short green 

 prolongation : leaves all radical, narrow or bristle-shaped. DIGITATE. 



82. C. eburnea, Boott. Sterile spike solitary; the fertile 3-4, erect, 

 about 5-flowered, approximated and elevated on long stalks above the staminate spike : 

 the lowest sometimes a little remote ; perigynia obscurely nerved, smouth and 

 shining, rather longer than the broad and obtuse mcmbranaceous whitish scale. 

 (C. alba, var. setifolia, Dew.) Limestone rocks, N. New England to Kentucky, 

 and northward. A delicate species, 4' - 10' high, with bristle-shaped leaves, 



