SEDGE FAMILY. 361 



There are numerous other species of Cyperus, in the U. States ; but 

 the foregoing are the most important for the Agriculturist to be ac- 

 quainted with. The Papyrus which the ancients used, for writing 

 upon, prior to the manufacture of paper from rags was obtained from 

 a species of this genus, viz : C. Papyrus, L. 



2. SCIR'PUS, L. BULKUSH. 



[An anciout Latin name for the Bui-rush, which belongs to the genus.] 



Spikelets many-flowered. Scales imbricated on all sides. Perianth of 

 3-6 capillary bristles. ' Styles 2 - 3-cleft. Akene crustaceous, either 

 somewhat compressed, or trigonous according to the condition or num- 

 ber of the styles or stigmas. Culms mostly simple, triangular or terete, 

 often with leafless sheaths. Spikes either solitary, conglomerate or co- 

 rymbose, terminal or lateral. 



1. S. pun 'gens, Vahl. Culm triquetrous, nearly leafless ; spikes ovoid- 

 oblong (1-5), in a dense cluster long overtopped by the pointed invo- 

 lucral leaf; scales orbicular-ovate, emarginate, mucronate ; bristles 2-6, 

 slender, shorter than the akene ; styles 2, united below, free at summit ; 

 akene subcompressed, obscurely trigonous, abruptly acuminate. 

 SHARP-POINTED SCIKPUS. Chair-maker's Rush. 



Root (or rhizoma) creeping. Culm 2-4 or 5 feet high, cuspidate at summit, acutely 

 triquetrous, naked and smooth, sheathed at base, the sheaths often bearing a few short 

 triangular -carinate leaves. Spikes nearly sessile, in a dense lateral cluster, i. e. at the 

 base of an erect tapering 1-leaved involucre, which is apparently a continuation of the 

 culm. Scales often emarginate, and mucronate with the projecting midrib, ferruginous on 

 the sides, the margins scarious and pubescent-ciliate. Bristles retrorsely scabrous, brittle. 

 Akene smooth, dark-brown. 



Swampy meadows and muddy margins of rivers salt and fresh : throughout the United 

 States. Fl. July. Ft: Sept. 



Obs. This is the plant used in making the seats of " Rush-bottomed 

 Chairs," in the U. States. Some of the English Botanists say, the 

 terete culms of the S. lacustris, L., or common Bulrush, are used for 

 that purpose, which I think must be a mistake ; as they are certainly 

 much inferior, in tenacity and pliability, to those of this species, and 

 the chair-makers would be apt to discover the fact. Numerous species 

 of this genus occur in our wet low grounds ; but, although of no value 

 in Agriculture, they scarcely require notice, here, inasmuch as they 

 are neither very troublesome, nor difficult to get rid of, by draining, and 

 other appropriate management of the grounds. 



3. CA'REX, L. SEDGE. 



[A classical name, of obscure etymology.] 



Staminate and pistillate flowers either in distinct spikes on the same plant 

 (monoecious) or in different portions of the same spike, (androgynous), 

 rarely on distinct plants (dioecious). Scales 1-flowered, imbricated on 

 all sides. Stamens mostly 3. Ovary included in a membranous (often 

 16 



