CTPEEACE^. 557 



of the male plant linear, about 6 lines long ; the females much shorter, and 

 ovoid. Fruits longer than the glumes, contracted into a point, and more 

 or less spreading when ripe. Styles 2-cleft. 



In spongy bogs, in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, and 

 in the mountain-ranges of central Europe. Common in Scotland, Ireland, 

 and northern England, but very rare in the soutli. Fl. early summer. 



2. Flea Carex. Carex pnlicaris, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1051.) 



A small tufted species, not creeping, 3 to 6 inches high, the leaves nar- 

 row, almost subulate, shorter than the stem. Spikelet solitary and ter- 

 minal, about 9 Hnes long, male in the upper half^ 3 to 7 of the lower flowers 

 female. Style 2-cleft. Fruit ovate, sessile, and erect when young, be- 

 coming oblong, pointed, contracted at the base, and horizontally spreading 

 when ripe, and then near 2 lines long. 



In wet meadows and bogs, in northern Europe and Asia, and in the 

 mountains of central and southern Europe to the Caucasus. Generally 

 spread over Britain. Fl. early summer, 



3. Rock Carex. Carex i^pestris, All. 



(Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2814.) 



Rootstoct creeping. Leaves in loose tufts, broader and flatter than in 

 the^ea C, but ending in a long, fine point. Stems 3 to 6 inches high, 

 with a Unear, mixed spiitelet like that of the flea C, but the style is 3-cleft, 

 and the fruit is shorter, obovoid, not pointed, and not so spreading. The 

 lower glumes often bear a fine deciduous point. 



On wet rocks, and moors, in the mountains of northern and Arctic 

 Europe and Asia, and the liigher ranges of central Europe. In Britain, 

 limited to the higher mountains of Scotland. Fl. summer. 



4. Feiv-floTvered Carex. Carex pauciflora, Lightf. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2041.) 



A slender species, with long, creeping runners, and a loosely branched 

 stem, decumbent at the base, or rarely forming dense tufts, and not above 

 6 inches high. Leaves narrow, the upper ones sheathing the stem to nearly 

 the middle, and often nearly as long. Spikelet solitary, pale brown, 3 or 

 scarcely 4 lines long, with few flowers, the 2 or 3 uppermost male, the 2 or 

 3 lower female, with 3-cleft styles. Fruits narrow and pointed, nearl,> as 

 long as the whole spikelet, spreading or reflexed when ripe. 



In moors and swamps, in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and Ame- 

 rica, and in the higher mountain-ranges of central Europe. Bather fre- 

 quent in the Highlands of Scotland, more local in northern England, and 

 not recorded from Ireland. Fl. summer. 



5. Oval Carex. Carex leporina, Linn. 

 (C. ovalis, Eng. Bot. t. 306.) 

 Stems loosely tufted at the base, forming at length a short, horizontal 

 rootstock, and attaining a foot or more in height. Leaves usually consi- 

 derably shorter. Spikelets 4 to 6, sessile, distinct, but very close together, 

 ovoid, brownish-green and shining, about 4 lines long, consisting chiefly of 

 female flowers, with a few males at the base of each spikelet. Outer bracts 

 like the glumes, or the lowest rai-ely with a short, leafy point. Styles 2- 

 cleft. Fruits flat, with a scarious wing or border round the edge. 



3b2 



