CLASS XXI. ORDER III. 359 



Syn. Eriocaulon septangulare ? Sm. 



Found in ponds, growing under water, a part of the stem only 

 projecting above the surface, and supporting a small, flat head 

 of obscure flowers. The whole plant appears made up of a mass 

 of cells, whose reticulated appearance is very obvious, particu- 

 larly in the root. The leaves grow in a tuft at the bottom. 

 They are one or two inches long, narrow, tapering to a point, 

 transparent at base, like the root. Stem erect, furnished with a 

 sheath at base, simple, with six and sometimes seven angles, 

 terminating in a small, hemispherical head of close flowers. — 

 August. 



371. CAREX. 



§ Subgenus . Stigmas two. 



Carex cephalophora. Willd. Headed Sedge Grass. 



Spikes androgynous, aggregate in an elliptic head ; 

 fruit ovate, compressed, bifid, margined, ciliate-ser- 

 rate above. 



A slender sedge with a single spike or head, barren at top. — 

 Found in woods. — June. — Perennial. 



Carex stipata. Willd. Close spiked Sedge. 



Spikes androgynous, about five, oblong, aggregate; 

 fruit spreading, ovate, acuminate, two pointed, flat 

 and convex, nerved ; culm triangular, rough. 



A stout, but not very tall species, common in wet meadows, 

 forming tufts. Spikelets five or six, barren above, crowded into 

 an irregular, interrupted spike. — May, June. — Perennial. 



Carex sparganioides. Burr Reed Sedge. 



Spikes androgynous, many flowered, about eight, 



ovate, rather approximated ; fruit ovate, compressed, 



margined, bifid, ciiiate-serrate at the edge, horizontal. 



A tall sedge with a long interrupted spike. — Ditches and wet 

 grounds. — May, June. — Perennial. 



