302 WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



beaked and inflated) sac or perigynium. Akene lenticular or triquetrous 

 (according as the stigmas are 2 or 3), more or less beaked with the base 

 of the style. Perennial herbs with usually caespitose culms which are tri- 

 angular, often nodose and leafy. Spikes terminal and axillary, mostly 

 bracted at base. 



Obs. The three species here described, are inserted merely as samples 

 of a very extensive genus of unprofitable plants, of which every intelli- 

 gent farmer would like to know something. Those who may desire to 

 become better acquainted with the family, will find the species well de- 

 scribed, in various Monographs and Floras. 



* SPIKES ALL ANDROGYNOUS. 



f Spikes clustered, staminate at their summit. Stigmas 2. 



1. C. vulpinoi'dea, Muhl. Spike oblong, decompound, interrupted, 

 bracteate, of 8-10 crowded clusters; fruit compressed, ovate, acumi- 

 nate, 3-nerved, scabrous on the margin, finally diverging, rather shorter 

 than the ovate cuspidate scale. 



YULPINA-LIKE CAREX. Sedge. Sedge-grass. 



Culm about 2 feet high, obtusely triangular and leafy at base, acutely triquetrous above. 

 Leaves lance-linear, channelled above, scabrous on the margin, the upper ones over- 

 topping the culm ; sheaths transversely rugose on the side opposite the leaves. Spike 2-3 

 inches long, formed of numerous spikelets which are crowded into clusters a little sepa- 

 rated from each other, and either appressed to the rachis or diverging. Bracts at the base 

 of the compound spike, and also of the principal clusters, often long and foliaceous, 

 those at the base of the spikelets, short, setaceous and scabrous. Staminate glumes lan- 

 ceolate, with a short point. Pistillate glumes ovate, with a long serrulate point. Fruit 

 3-nerved, bifid at apex, rather small, densely crowded, finally much diverging, and yel- 

 lowish. 



Swamps and low grounds : Northern and Middle States. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



Obs. This, like all the other species of this very numerous genus 

 (amounting to some 300 or more), is a very worthless plant ; and is often 

 quite abundant in wet meadows. The form of the akenes, in Carex 

 like those of Polygonum, already noticed has a constant relation to 

 the number of styles or stigmas. When the stigmas (or stigmatose 

 branches) are 2, the akene is compressed, and ancipital or 2-edged ; but 

 when there are 3 stigmas, the akene is uniformly triquetrous. A similar 

 relation, between the form of the akene or nut, and the number of the 

 styles or stigmas, appears to exist in numerous other instances, as in 

 Eumex, Rheum, Scirpus, Cyperus, Fagus, Morus, Alnus, Betula, &c., 

 &c., and the law may, perhaps, be general. 



** STAMINATE AND PISTILLATE SPIKES, DISTINCT. 

 f Staminate spike solitary : pistillate subsessile. Stigmas 3. 



2. C. tentacula'ta, Muhl. Staminate spike bracteate, on a short pe- 

 duncle ; pistillate spikes about 3, cylindric-oblong, approximate, hori- 

 zontal, the uppermost sessile, the lower on short exserted stalks ; bracts 



