are of a dark brown, to quite black. These specimens may also resemble var. recliuscula 

 Hartm. in their congested spikes, but differ very distinctly from this one in having the 

 spikes rather coarser, to 18 mm. long, and 8 mm. broad, and the culms sohtary and 

 smooth, or nearly so above, never distinctly rough. 



In places covered with moss and lichens, at an altitude of about 2100 m. above sea- 

 level, in the Altaian, I have collected some young specimens belonging to a form with 

 culms only from 4 to 6 cm. high, and rather broad leaves, protruding considerably 

 above the culms. The culms are, in the upper parts, sharply triangular and rough. 

 The head consists of from 2 to 4 rather approximate, very loosely flowered and narrow, 

 nearly cyhndric spikes, from 8 to 14 mm. long, and only from 3 to 4 mm. broad, all 

 of them very shortly stalked. The glumes are more acute than in the typical atrata, 

 and considerably longer than the perigynia. In point of external habitus this form re- 

 sembles much Cavex slylosa C. A. Meyer, but differs distinctly, for one thing, in having 

 the glumes more acute and narrow. Occurring together Avith Carex rigida, and may 

 possibly have to be regarded as a bastard between Carex alrata and Carex rigida. 



Distribution: Carex airala occurs in the northern and alpine regions of Europe, 

 southwards to the Pyrenees and the Balkan Peninsula, south-western Asia, Turkestan, 

 Siberia, northern Mongolia, Manchooria, eastern Asia, North America, Greenland. 



subspec. aterrima (Hoppe) Hartm. in Svensk och Norsk Excursions-Flora (1846) p. 

 331; Kiikenth. Cyper.-Caricoid. in Engl. Pflanzenr. H. 38 (IV, 20, 1909) p. 398; Ledeb. 

 Fl. Alt. IV, p. 215. Carex alrata /S Ledeb. Fl. Ross. IV, p. 287; Turczan. Fl. Baical.- 

 Dahur. 1. c. p. 336; Kiikenth. Cyper.-Sibir. in ^gatohko. Max. <Kj. Ch5. II (1912) p. 108. 



This subspecies is characteristic in having the culm relaxed, rather rough, and in 

 having the lowest bract large and foliaceous, equalling or exceeding the terminal spike. 

 The specimens collected have 3 to 4 rather densely congested spikes on short, erect, not 

 relaxed or drooping stalks. The leaves rather narrow, 3 to 4, rarely to 5 mm. broad, and 

 are, consequently, narrower than usual. Intermediates betAveen this one and the typical 

 Carex atrata seemed to occur. 



Distribution: Together with the main species. 



Carex tomentosa L. Mant. I (1767) p. 123; Kiikenth. Cijper.-Caricoid. in Engl. 

 Pflanzenr. H. 38 (IV, 20, 1909) p. 434; Ledeb. Fl. Ross. IV, p. 303; Kiikenth. Cyper. Sibir. 

 in 5)e.flTOHK0, Max. <^j. Cii5. II (1912) p. 115; K])h.i. *.i. Ait. VI (1912) p. 1498. 



In moist, grass-grown depressions on the Abakan Steppe, near Askys. Not very 

 common. Taken past flowering and with fruits in the middle of June. The specimens 

 collected are low, the height of the culms not exceeding 20 cm. The glumes are of a 

 light brown colour, with a midrib of the same colour as the glume, rarely shghtly 

 lighter, never green. 



Distribution: Europe, except the northern parts, Caucasia, western Siberia, east- 

 wards to about the Yenisei. 



150 



