Caricography. 35 
cina, is referred to this species, but the accurate observer 
cannot make the mistake. 
§2. C. hystertena. Willd. 
Muh, Pursh, Eaton, Pers. no. 155. 
Eil. no 41. Schw. 
Schk. tab. Fff fig. 127. 
Spicis distinctis ; spica staminifera solitaria (riquetra brae- 
teata pedunculata ; spicis fructiferis subternis tristigmaticis 
alternis subdistantibus oblongis cylindraceis bracteatis cernuis, 
suprema incluse pedunculata, ceteris exserté pedunculatis, 
et infima sublongo-peduuculata ; fructibus ovatis glabris ifla- 
tis subtriquetris rostratis ore bifido nervosis, squama oblonga 
emarginata scabro-mucronata duplo long‘oribus 
Culm 15—24 inches high. triangular, scabrous above, 
leafy ; leaves linear-lanceolate, rather rough, about the length 
of the culm, with short sheaths terminating in large, leafy 
bracts which surpass the culm; staminate spike single, rather 
slender, triangular, bracteate ; staminate scale ovate-obiong, 
short-mucronate. tawney, green on the keels pistillate spikes 
2—4, generally three, rather distant, bracteate, cylindric, ob- 
long, nodding, upser nearly sessile, lower rather lon. pedun- 
culate, with quite short sheaths; stigmas three; fruit ovate, 
somewhat triangular, rather long beaked and bifid at the ori- 
fice, glabrous, nerved, nearly horizontal, not so crowded as 
in the preceding species; pistillate scale oblong, distinctly 
emarginate, terminated by a scabrous point, white. green on 
the keel. Colour of the plant is yellowish green—of the 
spikes, brown near maturity. 
Flowers in May—grows in wet places with the preceding 
species—common over the country. 
In some of his letters, Muh. first called this plant C. exina- 
cea, but afterwards adopted the name given it by Willd. The 
description given in Pursh corresponds to the plant, when 
there are only two pistillate spikes, which is not very com- 
mon in this species. The fig. of Schk. is exceilent. 
This species flowers just after C. te,tacuiata, and is very 
liable to be confound-d with it, especialiy as it grows in the 
same situations and as its spikes are not at first nodding. Its 
pistillate spikes are commonly longer and smaller in propor- 
tion to thei: length ; and by its recurved peduncles, fruit, and 
pistillate scale, it is readily distinguished from all its related 
species. Ihave very rarely seen any fruit upon the staminate 
