Taken on the Abakan Steppe, near Askys, in moist grass-grown depressions, near 

 the river, where associated with Carex capillaris subspec. densiflora, Carex panicea, 

 Orchis spec, div., Cypripedilam macranthum, Carex tomentosa, etc. In full flower and 

 with young fruits in the middle of June. 



Distribution: This subspecies is distributed over central Asia from Turkestan to 

 Trans Baikal. 



Carex fuliginosa Schkuhr, Riedgr. I (1801) p. 91; Kiikenth. Cyper.-Caricoid. in 

 Engl. Pflanzenr. H. 38 (IV, 20, 1909) p. 556; Kiikenth. Cgper. Sibir. in ^brtohko, MaT. *ji. 

 Ch6. II (1912) p. 151. 



This species is of very rare occurrence in Asia, where heretofore only indicated 

 for Siberia by Lessing, on the Ssogutici mountain, in the government of Yenisei. From 

 the Altaian I have brought home a rather rich material of it, taken in moist, grass- 

 grown places, among stones and gravel, at altitudes of about 2000 m. above sea-level. 

 Specimens collected here at the end of July, are nearly past flowering, and with nearly 

 ripe fruits. 



These specimens from central Asia do not agree perfectly with the European ones, 

 as they appear, in some respects, to be intermediate to Carex macrogyna Turczan. 

 (Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou, 1838, p. 104), as well as to Carex frigida All. (Fl. Pedem. II, 

 1785, p. 270). 



The culms are, by the way, higher and more vigorous than usual in the typical 

 Carex fuliginosa, from 30 to 45 cm. high. The leaves are comparatively broad, from 

 4 to 6 mm. broad, about half as long as the culms. The sheaths of the bracts are always 

 completely green, not brownish. Number of spikes as a rule 5, of which the 2, or rarely 

 3 upper ones are staminate and densely approximate at the summit of the culm, shortly 

 pedunculate. They are rather long and narrow, from 1 to 2 cm. long, and 2 to 3 mm. 

 broad. In this character the specimens resemble much Carex macrogyna, but differ 

 distinctly from the latter in the structure of the pistillate spikes, being the typical one of 

 Carex fuliginosa. The pistillate spikes occur in a number of from 2 to 3, and are from 

 1 to 2 cm. long, from 0,5 to 0,8 cm. broad, on long peduncles, more or less relaxed, 

 drooping and glabrous. 



At the apexes of the pistillate spikes there are sometimes some few staminate 

 flowers. The glumes are ovate, subacute at the summit, of a dark chestnut colour, and 

 furnished with a membranous margin, which may be broader or narrower. The peri- 

 gynium is somewhat longer than the glumes, oval lanceolate, 5 to 6 mm. long, nerveless 

 and glabrous, tapering upwards, and drawn out into a distinctly 2-cleft beak, more or 

 less distinctly membranous at the orifice. In many specimens this hyaline orifice is 

 altogether or nearly wanting, and as these specimens are destitute of a membranous 

 margin in the glumes as well, such specimens may resemble considerably Carex frigida. 

 The perigynia tapers downwards into a broad stalk. The margin of the beak is distinctly 

 scabrous in the upper half. 



156 



