MONOECIA TRIANDRIA. Carex. 265 



root-ones sword-shaped, erect; stem-leaves merely hollow, and 

 sheathino^ at the base. Fl.-lieads alternate, stalkless, many- 

 flowered : lowermost pistil-bearing ; upper, stamen-bearing, 

 smaller, more numerous, closer together. Parts of fructifica- 

 tion vary in number. Fruit in brown, prickly heads. 

 The h. without sharp points serve well for package. 



S. simplex. Unhranched Ujyric/ht B. Leaves triangu- 

 lar at the base, with flat sides. Common flower-stalk 

 simple (not branched.) Stigma linear. E. B. 745. 

 C. 5. 67. S. latifolium. G. E. 45. 



Pooh, ditches. Otmoor. Sb. Christ-church Meadow. Port INIeadow. 

 Bx. 



Per. June. 



Lowermost head of fl. mostly on a partial stalk. C'aL of a paler 

 brown than in vSp. ramosum ; also a smaller plant, though the 

 flower-heads are larger. Anth. (in Sp. simp.) of the stamen- 

 bearing heads, pale yellow. 



CAREX. Carex, or Sedge. 



In distinguishing the different species of this genus, attention 

 must be paid to the root, the vagina, or sheathing leaves, the 

 shape of the spikes, of the glumes, the number of the stigmas, the 

 shape of the fruit, and ii-regularities produced by soil, and 

 situation. 



The young leaves, and flower-stalks of many Carices are eaten 

 by cattle, and though coarse, afford early pasturage. The large, 

 coarser sorts, might be wrought up, with other materials for 

 thatching, and protection against weather. Carices with ci^eeping 

 roots, are well qualified to give stability to the surface of boggy 

 land. Those growing by the side of rivers, enable the banks to 

 resist the violence of tlieu' currents. Cattle not fond of these ; and 

 thus man receives more benefit from their growth. See Goodenough 

 on British Carices, in Linn. Trayis. vol. 2nd. throughout. 



Leaves used for t)4ng young hop-plants to the poles. 



Where a species of this genus, is said to have vaginas, or 

 sheathing leaves, the spikes are necessarily on foot-stalks ; the term 

 vagina, sheath, referring to the floral leaf, embracing the whole, or 

 part of the foot-stalk, or flower-stalk. Id. 



* Dioecious. 



C. dioica. Creeping Separate-headed G. Spikes sim- 

 ple, dioecious. Fruit egg-shaped, ribbed, ascending, 

 finely saw-toothed at the edges. Root creeping. E. 

 B. 543. Schk. Car. A. 1.^ Host, t. 41. 



Spongy hogs. Peat bogs on Bullingdon Green. Under Heading- 

 ton \Yick Copse. Sb. 

 Per. June. 

 Stem five, or six inches, simple, slender, roundish, leafy below. Ls. 



