Quite typical specimens of Carex fuliginosa do not occur in my collection! 



Besides these specimens I have collected, in the Altaian, a number of specimens 

 belonging to a smaller form, much resembling subspecies misandra, but differing from 

 the latter in pretty essential characters. 



This one is separated by me under the name of 



subspec. pronella nov. subspec. [Tab. V, Fig. 2 and 3]. 



PaucUate spicularum ab forma typica differens; spiculae niimero non pliires quam 

 2 vel 3, pediinrulis longis, teniiibiis, pronis, teretibus, glabris inserlae. 



Spiculae ierminali flores tantummodo masculi, spiculae in feriori, vel duobus spiculis 

 inferioribus, semper feminei, pedunculis longis, tenuibus, laxis, pronis inserti. Spiculae omnes 

 longae et angustae, 12-15 mm. longae, 2-4 mm. latae. Squamae comparate latae, 

 marginibus late nembranaceis, nervo dorsali disiinclo instructae. Cetera subspeciei mi- 

 sandrae similis. 



In point of external habitus, this subspecies resembles, at first sight, Carex fuligi- 

 nosa subspec. misandra to such a degree that they may be confounded, but is definitely 

 distinguished from the latter by having the spikes longer and very narrow, only 2 or 3 

 in number, unisexual, the upper one wholly staminate, the lower one wholly pistillate. 

 The spikes are always more than 1 cm. in length, generally from 12 to 15 mm., and 

 from 2 to 4 mm. broad, while in subspecies misandra the spikes are more numerous, 

 shorter and broader, frequently nearly globular, never exceeding 1 cm. in length, the 

 terminal spike androgynous, staminate at the base, and pistillate at the summit, and 

 the other ones only having pistillate flowers. Besides, the glumes have a very broad 

 membranous margin, being on both sides fully as broad as the dark central part of the 

 glume, the whole of the spike thus becoming much paler and lighter. The glumes are 

 also generally comparatively broader, and furnished with a very marked midvein. The 

 perigynium is 5 mm. long, somewhat longer than the glumes, nerveless, glabrous, of the 

 same shape as in the typical species. The leaves are short, from about }^ to 34 of the 

 length of the culm rigid, slightly channelled, and recurved-spreading. All of the spikes 

 are long-stalked, and, like the upper parts of the whole culm, with the staminate spike 

 overhanging and drooping. The culm is about 10 to 25 cm. high. This subspecies also 

 somewhat resembles Carex sempervirens var. pendulina Kukenth. (in Bull. Herb. 

 Boiss. 2. Ser. IV, 1904, p. 58) but differs from the latter, above all, by having the perigynia 

 glabrous and nerveless, only rough along the margins, and only slightly projecting be- 

 yond the glumes, which are broader, broadly ovate, and more obtuse, and furnished with 

 a very broad membranous margin. 



This species and the allied ones, with their many varieties and forms, seem to be 

 in great need of a more minutely systematic investigation. 



Distribution: The main species is distributed in alpine and subalpine regions of 

 central Europe, the Caucasus, Siberia (Montes Ssogutici, Lessing), northern Mongo- 

 lia (the Altaian); subspec. misandra occurs in the arctic regions of northern Europe, 

 the arctic islands, arctic Asia, on the tundras on the coasts of the Arctic Ocean, on the 



157 



