130 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



apart, the 2 or 3 lower 4"-8" in length, 2^"-S" thick, sometimes 

 branched, slightly spreading on the straight or flexuose rachis; 

 bracts bristle-shaped, inconspicuous ; perigynia 1^" long, broadly 

 ovate, margined, nerveless, tapering or contracted into a short 

 rough-edged, bidentate beak, usually divergent but not reflexed 

 at maturity ; scale thin, white, ovate, acute or cuspidate, about 

 one-half as long as the perigynium. 



A reduced form, 18-20' high, with closer spikelets, usually 

 occurring ia glades and on shaded rocky banks, is Yar. minor 

 Boott. This robust, handsome species is readily known by its 

 ample graceful foliage and large strict spikes. 

 ^ Common in rich soil about woods and in copses. June, July. 



9. Carex cephaloidea Dew. 



Stems 2°-3° high, slender, erect or weak and somewhat spread- 

 ing, flaccid, the upper half rough on the angles, smooth below ; 

 leaves shorter than the culm, 2"-3" wide, thin, smooth, rough- 

 margined, dark green ; spikes i'-l' in length, rarely capitate ; 

 spikelets 4-7, globose, contiguous, the two lower sometimes dis- 

 tinct or 2" apart, 2|^" long and broad, ascending ; bracts incon- 

 spicuous; perigynia 1^" long or more, nerveless, dark green, soft, 

 ovate-lanceolate, tapering into a fiat, rough-edged, bidentate 

 beak, spreading at maturity ; scale thin, white, short-ovate, blunt, 

 mucronate, about half as long as the perigynium; achenium 

 obovate ; style slightly enlarged at base. 



Moist or swampy places, mostly in woods or copses. June, 

 July. 



In the eastern part of the State this species is less common 

 than the preceding one to which it has sometimes been added as 

 a variety, but from which it is easily separated by its spikelets 

 being collected in an oblong head. From C. Muhlenbergii it is 

 distinguished especially by its broader leaves. 



10. Carex cephalophora Mahl. 

 Stems 10-30' high, stiff, erect, smooth or a little rough near the 

 head, often branched at base as if stoloniferous; leaves rather stiff, 

 the longest sometimes exceeding the culm, gradually tapering to a 

 setaceous point, 1"-1^" wide, smooth or the margins slightly rough ; 

 spike capitate, ovate or short oblong, 3"-9" long, pale green ; 

 spikelets 4-6, globose, densely aggregated, spreading ; bracts 



