23 



C, f e/ras/ac//y s, Scheelc, Linnsea, xxii. 374 (1849). 



Very tall and slender (16 inches or more higli); spikes much 

 contracted below, medium in size ; perigynium very thin, flat and 

 scale-like, the wide nerved margin wrinkled or corrugated above, 

 produced into a very long and slender beak which renders the 

 spikes comose in appearance; scales small and inconspicuous. 



Florida, Chapman, westward to Texas. 



v^ Van CUMULATA. 



C, alata^ Torr., \2.^. pidchra, Olney, at least in part, Exsicc. 



fasc. ii. No. 23 (1871), v. s. 



I • 



Culm very tall and stiff; spikes several to many (sometimes 

 5 ! ) greenish, usually aggregated into a bunchy head, very 

 densely flowered and squarely contracted at the base, short and 

 pointed, spreading; perigynium appressed, the points therefore 



not conspicuous. Monroe Co., Y^ww,^ Porter, to New Brunswick, 



Foivler\ also on the Saskatchewan Plains, Maconn. Most like 



the var. alata, Bailey. In its heavier forms it resembles C, tribti- 



loides, Wahl. 



Var. AUSTRAL] S. 



C, pineioriun, Liebm., Mex. Halv. 75 (1850), v. s. Hb. 



Liebm. 

 C, f estiva, forma htimilis^ Boeckl Engler's Bot. Jahr. i. 75 



(1881), V. s. (Excl. syn, C, propinqua, Nees et Meyer.) 



Low (3 to eight inches high), the culm more or less curved ; 

 head small, composed of about three small and distinct but con- 

 tiguous ovate spikes ; perigynium small, the margin narrow, 



nerveless or nearly so, greenish or very light-tawny. Real del 



Monte, Mexico, Coulter 1622 (type, Hb Kevv.); Orizaba, Lieb- 



majin. This is the nearest approach of Carex straminca to C, 



festiva. From the latter species it is certainly distinguished by 



its separate and ovate spikes, the characters of the perigynium, 



and general port. C propinqiia, Nees (v. s. Hb. Berol.) I have 



never seen from North America. I doubt if it belongs to C 



/estiva, 



Carex straminca may be better understood by adopting the 



■ 



following arrancrement : 



A . — Heads stra m in eons. 

 Carex straminea, Willd 

 Var. brevior, Dewey. 



