260 Caricograj)hy, 



near-janceblate, shorter than the culm, abbreviated beldvv, 

 generally pubescent, sheathing ; sheaths striate, pubescent ; 

 spikes three, from half an inch to an inch in length, oblong, 

 rather slender, somewhat three-sided, — ^^highest spike stami- 

 nate below, — lower ones entirely pistillate, nearly sessile, 

 supported by linear-lanceolate, pubescent bracts ; staminaie 

 scale ovate, acute ; fruit ovate, generally obtuse, costate, pu- 

 bescent, rather close ; pistillate scale ovate, mucronate, pu- 

 bescent, carinate, green, varying from about half the length 

 to the length of the fruit. Colour of the plant a dull green. 



Flowers in May. Grows on the borders of woods, on hills 

 and in wet ujjland meadows. West base of Mt. Holyoke — 

 common in Berkshire county. 



/3. costata. C. costala. Sch\^. 



Has its fruit more strongly costate, and its outer sheaths 

 purplish-brown. Its leaves more numerous and larger. 



The difference seems not sufficient to constitute it a distinct 

 species. The fruit of C. virescens differs considerably in the 

 distinctness of the nerves or ribs. On examining specimens 

 from Pennsylvania, I can find no essential differencie from the 

 real C. virescens. Both C. virescens and C costata are referred, 

 in the " Analytical Table of Carices," to those species which 

 have more than four spikes and two stigmas, neither of which 

 is correct. 



44. C. hirsute. . Willd. 

 Muh., Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 95. h Ell. 

 Schk. tab Www. fig. 172. 



Spicis tristigmaticis ternis brevi-oblongis alternis ereciis, 

 suprema brevi-pedunculata et infra stamenifera, caeteris sub- 

 sessilibus foliaceo-bracteatis, omnibus approximatis densiflo- 

 ris ; fructibus ovato-triquetris nervosis obtusis ore integris 

 g^labris, squamae ovatae acuminatae glabrae subaequalibus. 



Culm 12— Ig inches high, triangular, scabrous above, glab- 

 rous below, dark brown at base, leafy ; leaves linear-lanceo- 

 late, long as the culm, sheathing, and, like the sheaths, re- 

 trorsely pubescent and striate; spikes three, sometimes four, 

 a^out half an inch long, rather close-fruited, oblong, approxi- 

 mate highest spike staminate below — lower ones wholly pis- 

 tillate, nearly sessile, with long linear-lanceolate, subpubes- 

 eeol bracts— lower bract much surpassing the culm ; stami- 

 ib'ata scale ofelong, obtuse, white on the margin ; stigmas 

 three ; fruit ovate, triangular, nerved, glabrous in maturity, 



