CYPERACE^ 297 



Distribution. — Europe from Italy and Spain to the Arctic regions, 

 Northern Asia, North America. British. 



Carex canescens L. 



Stems tufted, at least a foot high, with long, narrow leaves. 

 Spikelets 4-6, slightly distant, of a pale green. Male flowers 

 usually very few, at the base of most of the spikelets. Stigmas 2. 

 Fruits not longer than the glumes, rounded at the top, with a small 

 point, but not tapering into a beak like the last. 



Bogs and marshy meadows ; less frequent in the Alps than in 

 the plains. May, June. 



Distribution. — Europe from the Arctic regions to the Caucasus ; 

 N. America. British. 



Carex remota L. 



A slender, leafy, green sedge with stems a foot or more high 

 and very long, narrow leaves. Easily known by its small, pale 

 green spikelets at considerable distances from each other, and the 

 outer bracts of 3 or 4 lowest spikelets being very long and leaf-like. 

 The spikelets are mixed, male at the base, but the lowest is almost 

 entirely female. Fruits tapering to a point. 



Woods, hedges, and shady places ; common. May, June. 



Distribution. — Europe, Central and Northern Asia. British. 



Carex Goodenowii Gay. 



k very variable species. Stems 6-18 inches high, rigid, rough 

 above. Leaves very narrow. Spikelets 3-5, sub-sessile, erect, 

 close or rather distant. Inflorescence composed of chiefly female 

 spikelets below, and a more slender male spikelet above. Glumes 

 imbricate, dark, obtuse, with green midrib. Beak very short. 

 Terete, smooth. Stigmas 2. Fruit orbicular, rarely triquetrous. 



Damp places and marshes ; common up to the Alps. May, June. 



Distribution. — Europe, Western and Northern Asia. British. 



Carex flacca Schreber (C. glauca Scop.). 



A very glaucous plant with creeping rootstock. Stems round, 

 9-18 inches hi^h, varying like the leaves, according to the habitat. 

 Leaves variable in length but always glaucous, often as long as the 

 stems. Male spikelets usually 2 or 3 at the top, stalked ; female 

 spikelets 2 or 3, more compact, broader, on longer stalks and more 

 or less drooping when mature, and the sheaths of the leafy bracts 

 are very short. Glumes dark brown. Stigmas 3. Fruits ovoid, 

 with 3 obtuse angles, not beaked. 



Pastures (both wet and dry) and waste places ; very common 

 and extending to the lower Alps. May, June. 



Distribution.— Emo'pe, extending eastward to the Caucasus 

 and northward to the Arctic regions ; N. America. British. 



