170 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



CLASS VLGLUMIFER^E. 



Perianth o, or of bristles or very minute scales. 

 (Orders C.-CI.) 



Order C.CYPE RACEME. 



Flowers unisexual or bisexual; perianth o or com- 

 posed of bristles ; stamens 1-6; stigmas 2-3; grassy or 

 reed-like herbs, with solid, usually triangular stem; the 

 leaves very narrow, with closed sheaths. A very large 

 order, belonging to all climates. 



i. CYPERUS, L. 



Flowers bisexual, in compound umbels or panicles; 

 perianth o. 



C. longus, L. ; perennial, stem 2-3 ft., stigmas 3 ; by 

 water, rare; Switzerland, Tirol, Pyrenees. C. Monti, 

 L. ; similar, but stigmas 2 ; rare ; Ticino, Pyrenees. C. 

 flavescens, L. ; annual, stem 2-8 in., flowers yellowish, 

 stigmas 2 ; wet places ; Switzerland, Jura, Pyrenees. C. 

 fuscus, L. ; annual, stem 2-8 in., flowers dark brown, 

 stigmas 3 ; wet places ; Switzerland, Jura, Pyrenees. 



2. HELEOCHARIS,* L. 



Flowers bisexual ; spikelet solitary, terminal ; perianth 

 of 3-8 bristles. Small marsh plants. 



H. palustris, R. Br. (including uniglumis, Lk.); wet 



* Often spelt Eleocharis. 



