212 



ORDER CXXXIX. CYPERACEiE. 



10. C. scoparia. Brown Sedge, 



spikes 5 — 10, somewhat clavate when young, at length ovate, approsimate, 

 sometimes aggregated in a dense head; perigynla narrow-lanceolate, nerved, 

 margined, longer than the lanceolate, acuminate glume. A common species in 

 low grounds and meadows, with brownish or yellowish spikes when mature. 

 Culm 3—2 ft. higli. 



11. C. lagopodioides. Hare'' s-foot Sedge. 



Spikes 8—15, approximate, at length ovate; perigynia ovate-lanceolate, 

 nerved, margined, about twice as long as the oblong-ovate, obtusish glume. A 

 very common species much resembling the last, but distinguished by its more 

 numerous spikes, and broader and more unequal perigynia and glumes. Culms 

 1—2 fL high. It sometimes occurs with the spikes aggregated in a head. 



12. C. festucacea. Nodding Sedge. 



Spikes 4 — S, obovate and somewhat clavate, alternate, upper approximate, 

 lower distinct; perigynia ovate, compressed, with a nai-row margin, and a 

 short, bifid beak, shorter than the ovate-lanceolate glume. A common species 

 in fields. There are two principal forms. The first has 5 — 8 roundish, approxi- 

 mate spikes, and a stout, rigid stem ; the other has 3—6 smaller spikes, which 

 are more or less distant The stem is slender, tlexuous above, with the upper 

 spiko frequently nodding. Culms 10'— 20' high, 



13. C. straminea. Winged Sedge. 



Spikes 3 — 6, roundish-ovoid, alternate, approsimate; perigynia roundish- 

 ovate, much compressed, broadly winged, with u short, abrupt, bifid beak, 

 somewliat longer than the lanceolate glume. A common species in fields along 

 woods, distinguished by its broad, broadly- winged perigynia. It varies in size 

 and form. In the large specimens the spikes are somewhat flaccid, and the 

 broad wings of the perigynia often brownish on the edge, while in the smaller 

 forms the spikes are more rigid, and the wings of the perigynia narrower. 

 Culms 8'— 20' high. 



B. Stamens and pisHls in eniirely separate spikes on the sameplant. 



14. C. stricta. Rigid Sedge. 



Staminate spikes 1—3, cyliudric ; fertile 2—4, long-cylindric, usually bar- 

 ren above, sessile ; lower one often on a short peduncle; bracts rarely longer 

 than the culm, auricled at base ; perigynia ovate-acuminate, or elliptical, nerve- 

 less, not beaked, entire or very slightly emarginate, usually shorter than the 

 narrower brownisb scales. A common species growing in tufts in wet grounds. 

 Culm 2—3 ft. high, rough on the angles, leafy; leaves glaucous, rough on the 

 margin. 



15. C. crinita. 



Drooping Sedge. 



Culm acutely angled, rough, leafy below; staminate spikes 1 — 2, loose, cy- 

 lindrical, often with a few perfect floivera intermixed, on long peduncles ; fer- 

 tile spikes 3 — 6, cylindric, long, densely flowered, ofl long, nodding, filiform 

 peduncles; bracts long, leafy, much exceeding the culm ; perigynia roundish, 

 tapering at base, somewhat inflated, with a short, entire beak, smooth, much 

 shorter than the narrow-oblong, rough-awned glume, A common and variable 

 species, distinguished by its long, drooping, pedunculate spikes, and leafy 

 bracts. Meadows and ditches. Culms 2—3 ft. high. 

 § 2. Stigmas 3. 

 O. Spike single, androgynous, 



16. C. polytrichioides. Dwarf Sedge. 



Culms very low, setaceous ; spike linear, staminate above; perigynia few. 

 alternate, oblong, somewhat triangular, obtuse, smooth, emarginate, twice as 

 long as the ovate, mostly obtuse glume. A very slender species, common in 

 cold swamps and bogs. Culms 2'^' high. 



Z>. Spikes several; terminal one staminate, pistillate above. 



17. C. virescens. Light- green Sedge. 



Spikes 2—4, oblong, alternate, erect, on short peduncles; perigynia pubes- 

 cent, not beaked, longer than the ovate, pubescent, mucronate glume. A com- 

 mon species in woods and bill-sides. Culm and foliage light green, pubescent 

 PlantlO'— ]8'high. 



18. C. Buxbaumii. Sea-green Sedge. 



Spikes 3 — i, oblong or obovate, short and thick, uppermost on a short po- 

 d uncle, the rest almost sessile, lower ones somewhat remote, bracteolate; pe- 

 rigjmia elliptic- ovate, somewhat 3-augled, nerved, smooth, entire at apex, 

 Rcarcely equal to the ovate, acuminate or mucronate glume. A common spe- 



cies in wet grounds, distinguished by its short and thick spikes, smooth perigy 

 nia, and light, glaucous- green foliage. Ctilm 10'— 18' high. 



19. C. gracillima. 



Graceful Sedge. 



spikes 8—5, long and slender, linear, somewhat loose, remote, on long, fill* 

 form, nodding peduncles, drooping at maturity ; bracts as long as the culm, or 

 longer; perigynia oblong, 3-angled, obtuse, somewhat oblique at the orifice, 

 longer than the oblong, awned glume. A slender, gi-aceful species, readily dis- 

 tinguished by its slender, drooping spikes and pale green foliage. Culm 10'— 



20' high. 



K Staminate spike single, very rarely pistillate atove. 



* fertile spikes small and sessile, or almost sessile, or else radical; on long 

 peduncles. 



20. C. Pennsylv4nica. 



Vernal Sedge. 



Staminate spike long, on a short peduncle ; fertile spikes 1 — 3, approximate, 

 ovoid, sessile, few-flowered, much shorter than the staminate barren spike; 

 lowest with colored, setaceous bracts ; perigynia ovate-globose, pubescent with 

 a short, scarcely toothed beak about as long as the ovate- acuminate, brownish- 

 red glume. An early species, common in the border of woods and on hill-sides. 

 Culms 4'— 10' high. 



21. C. Novae Anglise. New England Sedge. 



Sterile spike pedunculate, short and slender; fertile spikes 2 — 4, ovate, 

 nearly sessile, alternate, more or less remote, few-flowered ; lowest with usually 

 a setaceous bract at base ; perigynia slightly stalked, somewhat pubescent, with 



a comparatively long, bifid beak, somewhat longer than the ovate, acuminate 

 glnme. A slender species, growing in tufts, either erect or decumbent It 

 varies with the fertile spikes more or less aggregated. Culms 4' — 16' long. 



22. C. umbellata. Umhelled Sedge. 



staminate spike short, erect; fertile spikes several, ovate; uppermost ses- 

 sile, close to the sterile ; the rest solitary, on filiform, radical peduncles, equal- 

 ling the others in height, forming apparently a little umbel, the radical pedun- 

 cles being concealed by the leaves ; perigynia 3-angled, pubescent, with a long 

 beak, equalling the ovate, acuminate scale. A small species, growing in tnfis, 

 with long, glossy leaves, sufficiently distinguished by the filiform radical 

 peduncles. Culms 2' — 6' high. 



* * Upper fertile .ipike^ nearly or quite sessile ; loioer often on long pedini- 

 cles ; all densely flowered. Perigynia more or less infla ted. 



23. C. flava. Yellow Sedge. 



Fertile spikes 2 — i, ovoid, densely flowered, upper approximate, lower re- 

 mote, on usually exsert peduncles; bracts spreading, or somewhat reflexed, 

 longer than the culm; perigynia slightly infiated, nerved, smooth, somewhat 

 3-angled, tapering to a long, curved, bifid beak, longer than the ovate-lanceolato 

 glume, reflexed at maturity. Culm 6' — IS' high. 



24. C. tentaculata. Burr Sedge. 



Fertile spikes 2 — 3, ovoid-cylindrical, densely flowered, approximate, upper 

 one sessile, the others on short, more or less exsert peduncles; bracts leafy, 

 much longer than the culm ; perigynia much infiated, spreading, smooth, Avith 

 a long, bifid beak, twice longer than the lanceolate, awned glume. A common 

 species In wet grounds, where its cylindrical, burr-like spikes of perigynia are 

 very conspicuous. Culm 10' — 20' high. 



25. C. intumescens. Bladderfruit Sedge. 



Barren spike pedunculate ; fertile spikes 1 — 3, few-flow^ered, closely approxi- 

 mate, sessile, the lowest on a very short peduncle; bracts leafy, much longer 

 than the culm; perigynia large, very much infiated, diverging, very smooth, 

 many-nerved at base, tapering to a long, 2 toothed beak, three times as long as 

 the ovate glume. Culm rigidly erect, leafy, with dark green foliage, 10' — 20' 

 high. A common species in low grounds and swamps, distinguished by the 

 large, inflated perigynia, which, often ^' long, are in roundish, 4 — 8-flowered 

 clusters. 



26. C. folliculata. Tawny Sedge. 



staminate spike small, short-pedunculate or sessile; f?rtile spikes 2 — 4, 

 ovoid, very distant, lowest on long, exserted peduncles; bracts leafy, much 

 longer than the culm, sheathing at base ; perigynia erect, diverging, veiy much 

 infiated, large, with a long, 2-tootbed beak, somewhat longer than the ovate, 

 whitish, awned glume. A tall, leafy species with broad, flat leaves ; the culm 

 and foliage usually pale yellow, 2—4 ft. high. Common in swamps. 



