140 NEW TOKK STATE MUSEUM 



beak, erect or spreading at maturity ; scale lanceolate, obtuse, 

 one-half as long as the perigynium ; achenium oval, stalked. 



Low moist ground and swales in. fields or thin woods. Com- 

 mon. July. 



Var. reducta Bailey. More slender than the type ; spike l'-2' 

 long, straight or flexuous, often nodding or recurved, somewhat 

 evenly interrupted or moniliform ; spikelets 3-10, 2"-2^" long, 

 subglobose or obovate ; bracts, when present, bristle-form ; peri- 

 gynia lanceolate, spreading, a little longer than the scale ; achen- 

 ium short-stalked or sessile. 



Swamps or wet places in fields or the borders of woods. 

 Common. July. 



The spikelets are smaller than in the typical form of the spe- 

 cies, and in general appearance the plant is quite distinct and 

 probably worthy of specific distinction. 



Var. Bebbii Bailey. Slender, erect ; leaves l^"-2" wide, much 

 shorter than the culm, their sheaths not enlarged above; spike- 

 lets 4-6, ovoid, 2"-2|^" long? aggregated into an ovoid head 5"-6" 

 long, greenish-brown or tawny ; bracts usually present, bristle- 

 form ; perigynia lanceolate, narrowly winged, erect-spreading, a 

 little longer than the acute brown scale ; achenium oval, sessile. 



Wet places. Kensselaer and Cortland counties and in the 

 northern part of the State. July. 



This also might easily be regarded as a valid species. 



24. Carex scoparia Schk. 



Stems J^°-2^° high, slender, erect, rough at the top; leaves 

 shorter than the culm, 1"-1-|" wide, rough-margined ; spike f'-l^' 

 in length, straight or a little flexuous, greenish brown or tawny ; 

 spikelets 4-8, oblong ovate or elliptical, acute, the upper contigu- 

 ous, the others distinct, or often aggregated into an ovoid head, 

 sub-erect ; bracts usually early deciduous, leafy when present ; 

 perigynia narrowly lanceolate, nerved, winged, tapering to a 

 pointed bifid beak, slightly spreading at maturity ; scale lance- 

 olate, acute, brown, about one-half the length of the perigynium ; 

 achenium narrowly oval, long-stalked. 



Common in open fields and in ditches by roadsides. July. 



This species is very easily .distinguished by its ovate acute 

 brownish or tawny spikelets and appressed perigynia. 



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