CyPEEACE^. 551 



In moist places, chiefly near the sea, in the Mediterranean region, extend- 

 ing eastward into central Asia, and northward in western Europe to the 

 Loire, and here and there into central Europe. In Britain, only in two 

 neighbouring locahties in North Devon and Somerset. Fl. late in smnmer. 



10. Sharp Scirpus. Scirpus pungens, Yahl. 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2819.) 



Yery near the triangular S., but a rather smaller plant ; one or two of 

 the sheaths bear naiTOW, keeled leaves, 1 to 3 inches long, and the spilielets 

 are few (usually 3 to 6), all sessile, in a close cluster; the stiff, triangular, 

 outer bract continuing the stem as in the triangular S. 



In bogs, marshes, and on the margins of pools, chiefly in North Ame- 

 rica and the West Indies, but occurs occasionally in western Europe, 

 and has been found on the banks of St. Ouen's Pond, in Jersey. Fl. summer, 

 rather late. 



11. Triangular Scirpus. Scirpus triqueter, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1694.) 



Eootstock creeping. Stems acutely triangular, 2 or 3 feet high, leafless, 

 except that the one or two loose sheaths at the base bear a short lanceolate 

 blade, from a couple of lines to near an inch long. Spikelets usually 8 or 

 10 or even more, the central ones sessile, the others stalked, forming a 

 compound lateral cluster or umbel ; the stifi", triangular outer bract con- 

 tinuing the stem for an inch or more. Each spikelet is ovoid, 4 or 5 Unes 

 long ; the glumes brown, broad, usually notched or fringed at the top, with 

 a minute point. Hypogynous bristles about 5. Style 2-cleft. Nut smooth 

 and shining. 



In marshes, and edges of pools, in central and southern Europe, extend- 

 ing eastward to the Caucasus, and northward chiefly in western Europe to 

 Denmark. Hare in Britain, and probably limited to the banks of the 

 Arun, in Sussex, and of the Thames, near London. Fl. late in summer. 



12. Lake Scirpus. Scirpus lacustris, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 666.) 



Eootstoek creeping, with stout, erect stems, from 2 or 3, to 6 or 8 feet 

 high, cylindrical at the base, gradually tapering upwards, and sometimes 

 obtusely triangular near the top, with a single short leaf near the base. 

 Spikelets ovoid or oblong, 3 to 6 lines long, rather numerous, in a com- 

 pound lateral umbel or cluster, the outer bract continuing the stem. G-lumes 

 numerous, broad, brown, fringed at the edge, notched at the top, with a 

 little point in the notch. Hypogynous bristles 5 or 6. Style 2- or 3-cleft. 

 Nut smooth. 



On the margins of lakes and ponds, and in watery ditches, extending aU 

 over Europe and Russian Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic 

 regions, and in North America. Abundant in Britain. Fl. summer. Two 

 varieties are often distinguished as species, the S. lacustris, with 3-cleft 

 style and smooth glumes, and the S. Tahernoemontani, or S. glaucus (Eng. 

 Bot. t. 2321), with a 2-cleft style and raised dots on the glumes ; but 

 these characters are very inconstant, and there are often 2-cleft and 3-cleft 

 styles in the same spikelet. The name of S. Duvalii, or S. carinatus (Eng. 

 Bot. t. 1983), is sometimes given to a variety of the lake S. with the steins 

 rather more triangular at the top, sometmies to a shght variety of the 

 triangular S. 



b 



