48 ENGLISn BOTANY. 



SPECIES I.— B L Y SMUS COMPRESSUS. Panz. 

 Plate MDLXXXIII. 



Eekh. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VIII. Tab. CCXCIII. Fig. G93. 



Blllof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 3255. 



Sehcenus compressus, Linn. Sin. Engl. Bot. No. 791. 



Scii-pus compressus, Pers. Koch, Syn. PL Gei-m. et Helv. ed. ii. p. 858. Gren. & Godr. 



Fl. de Fr. Vol. III. p. 371. 

 S. Caricis, Betz. B.C. Fl. Fr. Vol. IH. p. 137. 

 S. caricinus, Schrad. Lois. Fl. Gall. Vol. I. p. 35. 



Rootstock extensively creeping. Stems rather distant, mostly soli- 

 tary. Leaves flat, grasslike, rough on the edges and keel. Spikelets 

 16 to 20, each of them 6- to 8-flowered, arranged in an oblong com- 

 pressed distichous spike; lower spikelets frequently a little remote 

 from the others. Bract at the base of the lowest spikelet with a green 

 foliaceous tip, frequently exceeding the spike, but sometimes shorter 

 than it. Glumes pale chestnut, ribbed, the lowest glume of each 

 spikelet much shorter than the spikelet. Bristles 3 to 6, stout, per- 

 sistent, with their teeth reflexed. 



In damp pastures and by the sides of sti-eams. Rather rare, but 

 widely distributed in England. Very rare in Scotland, where it occurs 

 about Berwick-on-Tweed and AUanton, Berwickshire; near Crichton 

 Castle, Edinburgh; and Tnnerkip, Renfrew. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer, 



Rootstock extensively creeping, producing baiTcn tufts and flower- 

 ing stems, both of which are enveloped at the base in brown leafless 

 sheaths ; above this 3 or 4 of the sheaths bear grasslike laminte 3 to 6 

 inches long. Stem 3 inches to 1 foot high, leafless, terminated by a 

 spike f to 1^ inch long. Spikelets ^ to -^ inch long, the glumes pale 

 chestnut, with the edges paler and scarious and the midrib usually 

 green, the lowest ones broader than the others. Nut roundish oval- 

 lenticular, much compressed, abruptly acuminated into a beak which 

 tapers gradually into the style, whitish. 



Broad-leaved Blysmus. 



German, Zusammengedriwlie Simse. 



SPECIES n.— B LYSMUS RUFUS. Link. 



Plate iDDLXXXIV. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. Vni. Tab. CCXCIII. Fig. 694. 

 Sehcenus rufas, Euds. Sm. Engl. Bot. No. 1010. 

 Scirpus ruius, Schrad. Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 858. 

 S. bifoUus, Wallr. Sched. Crit. p. 27. 



Rootstock creeping. Stems rather close together so as to appear 



