1156 CAREX. | CLASS XXI, ORDER III. 
fibres. Stem erect, from six to eight inches high, unequally trian- 
gular and rough, naked above, leafy below, and sheathed with mem- 
branous scales at the base. eaves several, a somewhat glaucous 
green, linear, tapering towards the point, rough on the margin and 
keel, sheathing at the base. Spike terminal, ovlong, interrupted. 
Spikelets ovate, the lower ones fertile, the upper barren. Bracteas 
membranous, the lower ones sometimes leafy, and longer than the 
spikelets. Seales shining brown, somewhat pale, lanceolate, acute, 
with a green keel. ruit ovate, convex at the back, plane in front, 
striated, the margins from below the middle, with a narrow membra- 
nous wing, somewhat rough on the edge, the beak short, bifid. 
Stigmas two. 
Habitat.—Sandy sea shores ; frequent. 
Perennial; flowering in June. 
This is readily distinguished from the last species by the shape of 
the spike in C. intermedia, from the upper and lower spikelets being 
fertile, and the intermediate ones barren. It gives a remarkable 
form to it, from the lower and upper ones enlarging with the fruit, 
and the others diminishing after the stamens have shed their pollen ; 
but in @. arenaria the lower spikelets only being fertile, and the 
upper barren, give an entirely different character to the appearance 
of the spike. This, together with the winged margins of the fruit, 
renders the distinction abundantly obvious. C. arenaria is one of 
the very useful plants growing among the sand on sea shores. Its 
long creeping underground stems and deep spreading branched fibres 
assist in binding together the loose sand, so as to form a firm bank 
against the encroaches of the sea. See vol. 1. p. 149. 
b. Roots fibrous. 
10. C. paniculata, Linn. (Fig. 1395.) Great panicled Carex. 
Spike panicled ; spikelets ovate, arranged on lateral branches, 
crowded or interrupted; stigmas two; fruit sub-ovate, gibbous, 
many ribbed; beak acuminaied, the apex bifid, the margin with a 
narrow toothed wing; scales ovate, acute, as long as the fruit ; 
bractea membranous; stem triangular, rough ; root tufted, fibrous. 
English Botany, t. 1064.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 92.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 334.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 286. 
Root tufted, with densely crowded branched fibres. Stem stout, 
angular, rough, from two to three feet high, leafy below, naked above, 
striated. Leaves somewhat glaucous, linear, taper pointed, striated, 
rough on the margin and keel; and with along sheath at the base. 
Spike terminal, two to four inches long, paniculated, the lower 
spikelets arranged on lateral spreading branches, of greater or less 
length, and are crowded or interrupted. Spikelets ovate, a pale 
shining brown. Bractea lanceolate, membranous, the lower ones 
often leafy. Scales ovate, somewhat acutely pointed, pale on the 
