C YPERA CEA E. 



Spikes several or many in an oblong; or narrow, simple or somewhat compound 

 cluster. 



Leaves 2 mm. wide or less. 



Beak of the perigynium shorter than the body ; western species. 



156. C. marcida. 



Beak as long as the body ; northern marsh species. 157. C. teretiuscula. 

 Leaves 2-6 mm. wide. 



Scales acuminate, cuspidate or awned. 

 Perigynia 35 mm. long. 



Perigynia ovate or ovate-lanceolate, the beak about as long as the 



body. 158. C. alopecoidea. 



Perigynia broadly ovate or obicular, the beak about one-third as 



long as the body. 159. C. gravida. 



Perigynia 3 mm. long or less. 



Leaves as long as the culm or longer. 160. C. vulpinoidea. 



Leaves shorter than the culm, 



Perigynia ovate-elliptic, the base narrowed. 



161. C. xanthocarpa. 



Perigynia lanceolate, the base truncate. 162. C. setacea. 

 Scales blunt, scarious-tipped. 163. C. Sartwellii. 



152. Carex conjuncta Boott. SOFT Fox SEDGE. (I. F. f. 822.) Light 

 green ; culms sharply 3-angled when fresh, soft, 4-9 dm. tall. Leaves soft, rough- 

 margined, 5-7 mm. wide ; bracts small and bristle-like, or wanting ; spikes in a 

 terminal elongated cluster, or the lower separated ; perigynia ovate-lanceolate or 

 lanceolate, 3 mm. long, tapering into a roughish 2-toothed beak ; scales oblong- 

 lanceolate, cuspidate or short-awned, about as long as the perigynia. In moist 

 meadows and thickets, N. J. (according to Bailey), Penn. to Ky., Iowa and Minn. 

 June-Aug. 



153. Carex stipata Muhl. AWL-FRUITED SEDGE. (I. F. f. 823.) Culms 

 smooth, sharply 3-angled, 2-10 dm. tall. Leaves flat, 4-8 mm. wide; bracts bristle- 

 form or wanting; spikes numerous, yellowish brown, in a terminal oblong cluster 

 3-10 cm. long, the staminate flowers few, always terminal; perigynia lanceolate, 

 4-5 mm. long, tapering into a rough flattened 2-toothed beak 1-2 times as long as 

 the body; scales ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than the perigynia. In 

 swamps and wet meadows, Newf. to Ont. and Br. Col., south to Fla., Tenn., Mo., 

 N. Mex. and Cal. May-July. 



154. Carex Crus-Corvi Shuttlw. RAVEN'S-FOOT SEDGE. (I. F. f. 824.) 

 Pale green and glaucous; culms 3-angled, rough above, 0.5-1.1 m. tall. Leaves 

 flat, 5-12 mm. wide, rough-margined; usually shorter; spikes yellowish brown, 

 very numerous in a large compound branching cluster 1-3 dm. long ; perigynia 

 elongated -lanceolate, about 8 mm. long, with a short hard base and a subulate 

 rough 2-toothed beak; scales ovate or lanceolate, thin, much shorter than the peri- 

 gynia. In swamps, Ind. to Minn., Fla., La. and Tex. May-July. 



155. Carex decomposita Muhl. LARGE-PANICLED SEDGE. (I. F. f. 825.) 

 Dark green; culms smooth, obtusely angled, or terete below, 4-9 dm. tall. Leaves 

 4-8 mm. wide, rough, longer than the culm; spikes yellowish brown, very numer- 

 ous in a decompound cluster 5-13 cm. long, the lower branches 2-5 cm. long; 

 bracts subulate, ciliate, or wanting ; perigynia short-obovate, less than 2 mm. long, 

 hard, abruptly tipped with a short slightly 2-toothed beak; scales ovate, about 

 equalling the perigynia. In swamps, N. Y. to Ohio, Mich., Fla. and La. May- 

 Aug. 



156. Carex marcida Boott. CLUSTERED FIELD SEDGE. (I. F. f. 826.) 

 Light green; culms 3-angled, rough, at least above, 3-6 dm. tall. Leaves 2 mm. 

 wide or less, much shorter than the culm; bracts short, subulate, or wanting; spikes 

 several, staminate at the summit or some of them wholly staminate, in an oblong 

 head about 3 cm. long; perigynia ovate, dark brown, about 2 mm. long, faintly 

 nerved, tapering into a flat serrate beak; scales brownish, acute or cuspidate, 

 about equalling the perigynia. In dry soil, Manitoba to Br. Col., Kans., N. Mex. 

 and Nev. June-Sept. 



157. Carex teretiuscula GooJtn. LESSER PANICLED SEDGE. (I. F. f. 827.) 

 Rather light green; culms very rough, at least above, 3-7 dm. long. Leaves 

 mostly less than 2 mm. wide; bracts small or none; spikes several or numerous, in 

 a narrowly oblong cluster 2-5 cm. long; perigvnia ovate-oval, smooth, dark brown. 



