2^58 Caricogra^thi/. 



This is a distinct, beautiful, and finely characterized species, 

 and is very appropriately named by Dr. Torrey. I had nam- 

 ed it C. Sprengelii, but the other name must have the prefe- 

 rence, as it was first published. 



40. C. polytrichoides. Muh. 

 Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 9. 

 Schk. tab. lii fig, 138. 

 C. microstachya. Mx 



Spica solitaria terminali oblonga, superne stamenifera } 

 fructibus tristigmaticis sub-quinis oblongis alternis sub-trique- 

 tris glabris emarginatis, squama ovata obtusa et raro mucro- 

 nata duplo longioribus. 



Culm 4 — 12 inches high, very slender, triangular, scabrous 

 above ; leaves subradical, linear, setaceous ; shorter than the 

 culm 5 spike single, pistillate below ; staminate flowers 3 — 7, 

 with an ovate subacute scale, green on the keel, and tawny on 

 the margin j fruit 3 — 8, oblong, somewhat lanceolate, emargi- 

 nate and entire at the orifice j stigmas three ; pistillate scale 

 ovate, obtuse, sometimes mucronate, scarcely half the length 

 of the fruit : colour of the plant yellowish green. 



Flowers in May. Found in cold, wet situations in meadows 

 — very common. 



Our plant seems to be larger and to bear more fruit than the 

 specimens observed by Muh. in Pennsylvania. It is a very 

 distinct and beautiful species. Though it belongs to a very 

 natural division of the species of this genus, it is not closely 

 allied to any of them except the following species. 



41. C. Wildenowii Schk. 



Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 5. and Ell.* 

 Schk tab. Mmm. fig. 145. 

 Spica solitaria oblonga terminali, infra fructifera ; fructibus 

 tristigmaticis lanceolatis triquetris subsenis subacuminatis sub- 

 glabris, squama ovata acuminata duplo vix longioribus. 



This species has rarely, if ever, been found in N. England. 

 My specimens are from Pennsylvania, where it grows in dry 

 woods, and flowers in June, according to Muh. It is closely 

 related to C. polytrichoides, but differs from it in its fruit and 

 scale, as well as in its place of growth. It is not so slender a 

 plant, and its leaves are considerably wider and also more flat 



* BlU»tt's Skstek of the Botany of South Carolina md Georgia. 



