CVrERACE^. 07 



rather stout, firm, triquetrous tlu-oughout, leafless ; basal sheaths 

 several, the lowest one leafless, the 2 or 3 upper ones with elongate 

 linear-triquetrous channelled lamina; ; the barren tufts never producing 

 long floating leaves. Spikes few (2 to 6), ovate-ovoid in fruit, all 

 sessile, arranged in a pseudo-lateral head, Avhicli does not become 

 terminal in fruit. Bracts very unequal, the lowest one herbaceous 

 triquetrous and always resembling a prolongation of the stem, much 

 longer than the head. Glumes oval-ovate, deeply notched, mucronate, 

 sometimes fimbriate-ciliate, smooth; lobes acuminate-acute. Stigmas 

 2. Hypogynous bristles 1 to 2 (" 2 to 6," Kunth), much shorter thaii 

 the nut. Nut obovate-truncate, mucronate, plano-convex, nearly 

 smooth, dim. 



On the banks of St. Ouen's Pond, Jersey. Possibly it occvirs at 

 Lodmoor near Weymouth, as specimens Avere sent to Mr. I. C. Mansel 

 Avith plants from that neighbourhood; but he has not been able to 

 obtain satisfactory information as to whether the specimens of S. 

 pungens were gathered in Dorsetshire or no. 



England (?), Channel Islands. Perennial. Summer. 



S. pungens resembles S. triqueter, but is smaller and more slender ; 

 the rootstock is thinner ; the stems 6 inches to 2 feet high ; the leaves, 

 however, are longer and narrower, the lamina? being frequently 4 to (i 

 inches long ; the spikes are considerably larger, rarely less than 

 -^ inch when in fruit, and always sessile; the glumes ai-e more con- 

 colorous, reddish-brown Avithout any green on the midrib, and with 

 the margins not conspicuously paler; the apical lobes on each side of 

 the central mucro of the glume are acuminated into sharp points; 

 the lowest bract is much longer ; the anthers have a longer and more 

 acute apiculus; the nut is much more truncate at the apex and more 

 attenuated below, pale olive inclining to straw-colour, resembling in 

 sculpture and general appearance rather that of S. lacustris than of 

 S. triqueter. 



Leafy -stemmed Bullrush. 



French, Scirpe piquant. German, StecJicnde Shnse. 



Section VII.— CYPERO-SCIRPUS. 



Spikes several or numerous (rarely solitary), sessile in a terminal 

 head, or several or very numerous and arranged in a terminal simple 

 or compound or decompoimd umbellato-corymbose panicle, surrounded 

 by several bracts resembling the leaves. Hypogynous bristles 1 to G, 

 rarely absent. Nut not crowned with a tubercle; the base of tin; 



