538 CTPERACE^E. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 



w- *-< Spikes remote, linear or cylindrical, rather loosely flowered, on long and mostly 

 drooping peduncles : bracts long and leaf-like: perigynia smooth, somewhat inflated, 

 few and faintly nerved. 



31. C. OXylepis, Torr. & Hook. Spikes 4-5, linear, all on long bristle- 

 like partly included nodding peduncles, distant ; perigynia oblong, acute-angled, 

 emarginate at the pointed apex, longer than the lanceolate rough-pointed white 

 scale. Low ground, Florida, and westward. Culms slender, l- 2 high, 

 the lower part, like the leaves and sheaths, pubescent. 



32. C. sestivalis, M. A. Curtis. Spikes 3-5, linear or filiform, loosely 

 flowered, erect, the lowest on nearly exserted peduncles, the upper almost sessile ; 

 perigynia oblong, obtuse-angled, obtuse and entire at the apex, twice as long as 

 the ovate obtuse or emarginate scale. Mountains of North Carolina, and north- 

 ward. Culms 1 - 1 high, smooth. Lowest sheaths pubescent. 



33. C. gracillima, Schw. Spikes 3-5, distant, linear, on slender and 

 nodding peduncles ; perigynia oblong, obtuse, entire and oblique at the orifice, 

 about twice as long as the oblong obtuse short-awned scale. Wet meadows, 

 North Carolina, and northward. Culm l-2 high. Spikes !'-!' long, 

 thicker than those of the preceding. Sheaths smooth. 



34. C. Davisii, Schw. & Torr. Spikes 3-4, remote, oblong-cylindrical, 

 all on slender nearly exserted peduncles, nodding ; perigynia ovate-oblong, in- 

 flated, round-angled, emarginate at the pointed apex, longer than the oblong 

 awned scale. Mountains of Georgia, and northward. Culms l|-2 high. 

 Leaves and sheaths more or less pubescent. Spikes rather dense-flowered. 



35. C. miliacea, Muhl. Spikes 4, linear, all on exserted nodding peduncles, 

 the terminal one often wholly sterile ; perigynia yellowish, ovate, compressed- 

 3-angled, nerveless or nearly so, tapering into a spreading slightly emarginate 

 point, as long as the oblong mucronate scale. Mountains of Georgia, and 

 northward. Culms weak, l-l high. Sheaths smooth. Lower perigynia 

 scattered. 



* * Terminal spikes sterile, the others fertile, or with few sterile flowers at the summit. 

 *- Perigynia small (1" -3" long), slightly or not at all inflated, obtuse or short-beaked. 

 *-* Fertile spikes sessile, ovoid or oblong, dense-flowered; perigynia pubescent, short- 

 beaked or pointed. 



36. C. filiformis, L. Sterile spikes 2 or more, slender, long-peduncled ; 

 fertile spikes 1-3, distant, oblong ; perigynia ovoid, obtuse, 3-angled, densely 

 pubescent, obscurely nerved, abruptly contracted into a short emarginate point, 

 longer than the oblong mucronate brown scale. Bogs and swamps, South 

 Carolina, and northward. Culms 2 high, smooth. Leaves filiform, elongated. 

 Bracts leafy, many times longer than the spikes. 



37. C. vestita, Willd. Sterile spikes 1 - 2, thick, short-peduncled ; fertile 

 spikes 1-2, approximate, ovoid or oblong ; perigynia oblong-ovate, 3-angled, 

 densely pubescent, strongly nerved, tapering into a distinct beak, with a white 

 membranaceous 2-cleft orifice, longer than the oblong mucronate brown scale. 

 Sandy swamps in the upper districts, and northward. Culms rigid, acute- 



