524: CYPERACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



of the style (tubcrcled). Perennials, with jointed and leafy culms. Spikes 

 small, disposed in axillary and terminal corymbs or clusters. 



1. ERIOCHJETE. Bristles of the perianth 6, plumose. 



1. R. plumosa, Ell. Culms (6' -12' high) and leaves filiform; spikes 

 few, in about three small clusters at the summit of the culm ; nut nearly globu- 

 lar, strongly wrinkled, pointed with the short ovate smooth tubercle ; bristles 

 rather longer than the nut, plumose throughout or nearly to the summit. Low 

 pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. June and July. 



Var intermedia. Culms taller (l-2 high); leaves narrowly linear; 

 clusters 4-6, forming an interrupted spike at the summit of the culm ; nut obo- 

 vate, pointed with the conical-beaked pubescent tubercle ; bristles plumose only 

 at the base, or below the middle. Sandy pine barrens, often dry places, Elorida. 



2. R. semiplumosa, Gray. Culms erect, rigid (l-2 high); leaves 

 narrowly linear ; spikes oblong-ovate, dark brown, crowded in a terminal head, 

 or rarely in a remote axillary one ; nut globose-obovate, faintly wrinkled, pointed 

 with the short broadly conical smooth tubercle ; bristles exceeding the tubercle, 

 plumose below the middle. Dry sandy ridges, near the coast, West Florida. 

 July and Aug. The leaves, like those of the preceding species, have a joint- 

 like contraction near the middle. 



3. R. oligantha, Gray. Culms (6' -12' high) and smooth leaves bristle- 

 like, reclining ; corymb terminal, of 3 - 6 large (4" long) ovate-lanceolate whitish 

 stalked spikes ; nut oval, lenticular, faintly wrinkled ; tubercle dilated at the base, 

 conical, flat ; bristles longer or shorter than the nut, plumose below the middle. 



Low open pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. June and July. 



$ 2. RHYNCHOSPORA PROPER. Bristles of the perianth 3-20, smooth, 



scabrous, or hispid. 



* Nut transversely wrinkled or uneven : bristles denticulate or hispid upward. 

 t- Bristles shorter than the nut. 



4. R. rariflora, Ell. Culms and leaves bristle-form; corymbs 2-3, re- 

 mote, spreading ; spikes few and scattered, ovate ; nut broadly obovate, bicon- 

 vex, strongly wrinkled, twice as long as the 6 fragile bristles ; tubercle flat, 

 broadly conical, | as long as the nut. Low grassy pine barrens, Florida to 

 North Carolina. June and July. Culms 1-1^ long, commonly reclining. 

 Spikes pedicelled. 



5. R. Torreyana, Gray. Culms erect, slender, nearly terete ; leaves nar- 

 rowly linear or bristle-form ; corymbs 1-3, remote, erect ; nut obovate, flat, about 

 twice as long as the 6 bristles ; tubercle compressed-conical, dilated at the base, 

 | the length of the nut. Wet ground, South Carolina, and northward. July. 



Culm 1- 3 high. Corymbs many-flowered and somewhat spreading, or 

 few-flowered and capitate. 



6. R. cymosa, Nutt. Culms (2 -3 high) 3-angled; leaves narrowly 

 linear ; corymbs mostly 3, distant, open or contracted ; spikes ovate, clustered, 

 light brown ; scales mucronate ; nut broadly obovate, biconvex, faintly wrinkled, 

 twice as long as the 3-6 bristles ; tubercle broadly conical, compressed, as 



