1180 CAREX. [CLASS XXI, ORDER III. 
leafy, sheathing at the base, and mostly enveloping the base of all the 
peduncles. Barren spikelet solitary, small, shorter than the peduncles 
of the fertile spikelets, its scales membranous, lanceolate, fertile 
spikelets three or four, of from six to eight florets, lax, drooping on 
slender hair-like peduncles, rough, the scales pale brown, membra- 
nous, soon falling away, broadly ovate, shorter than the fruit. Fruit 
elliptic ovate, tapering at both ends, dark brown, smooth and shining, 
triangular, with a round obliquely pointed beak. Stigmas three. 
Habitat.—Plentiful on the Highland Mountains of Scotland, 
especially the Breadalbane range; on Ben-y-Gloe. 
Perennial; flowering in June and July. 
51. C. limo'sa, Linn. (Fig. 1433) Mud Carex. Barren spikelet 
solitary, with lanceolate acute scales; fertile one or two, oblong, ovate, 
densely flowered, on slender drooping peduncles ; scales ovate, acute . 
stigmas three; fruit roundish ovate, striated, the beak short, mucro. 
nate; Beene leafy, bi-auriculated, or shortly sheathed at the base ; 
leaves very narrow, linear ; root creeping. 
English Botany, t. 2043.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 102—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 340.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 288. 
Root extensively creeping, with long branched fibres. Stem erect, 
or ascending, six to twelve inches high, slender, striated, triangular 
and rough on the angles, leafy below. Leaves very narrow, linear, 
erect, a glaucous green, rough on the margins and keel, sheathed at 
the base, and enveloped in purplish brown striated membranous 
sheaths. Bracteas leafy, narrow, sheathed at the base, or with an 
obtuse dark membranous auricle on each side. Barren spikelet ter- 
minal, solitary, cylindrical, erect, its scales lanceolate, dark shining 
brown, with a green mid-rib, fertile spikelets one or two, ovate oblong, 
densely flowered, on slender somewhat drooping peduncles, its scales 
ovate lanceolate, acute, with a green mid-rib, terminating in a point, 
longer than the roundish ovate fruit, which is numerously striated, 
obtuse, with a short fine pointed beak, somewhat compressed, greenish 
brown. Stigmas three. 
Habitat.—Bogs and marshes; rare in England, and mostly found 
in the northern counties and mountainous districts; not unfrequent 
in Scotland and Ireland. 
Perennial ; flowering in June. 
52. CO. rariflo'ra, Smith. (Fig. 1434.) Loose flowered alpine Carex. 
Barren spikelet solitary, with oblong acute scales; fertile two or 
three, of few lax florets, drooping on slender peduncles ; scales ovate, 
acute, longer than the fruit; fruit ovate, acute, tapering at the base, 
striated, the beak very short, slightly notched; stigmas three ; 
bracteas very slender, with large membranous auricles at the base; 
leaves linear ; root creeping. 
English Botany, t. 2516.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 100.—Hooker, 
