5 JO 



CVPERACE-'E 



spikelets 4—12, in a terminal, umbellate cluster, the inner sessile, 

 the outer on smooth peduncles ; perianth of very numerous 

 bristles, forming dense cottony tufts, i — 2 in. long. — Bogs ; the 

 commonest species. Attempts have^ been made to spin the 

 cotton, but without much success. It is used for stulTing pillows, 



under the name of 

 "Arctic Wool." — Fl. 

 i\Iay, June. Perennial. 



4. E. poly stdcthion 

 (Broad-leaved Cotton- 

 grass). — Stems tufted, 

 hollow ; haves flat ; 

 spikelets generally less 

 numerous, on rough 

 ijeduncles. — Less com- 

 mon. 



5. E. grdciU (Slender 

 Cotton-grass). — A very 

 slender species, some- 

 what intermediate be- 

 tween the two last, some- 

 times 2 feet high ; leaves 

 channelled ; spiltelets 

 about 4, on downy 

 peduncles. — Bogs ; very 

 rare. — June, July. Peren- 

 nial. 



6. Rhvnchospora 

 (Beak-Sedge). — Tufted, 

 leafy plants with terete 

 spilielets clustered in 

 terminal or axillary heads, 

 e a c h 1 — 2-11 o \\ e r e d ; 

 ghiiih's man\- ; peria)ith 

 of 6 uicluded fjnstles ; 

 ;n// beaked. (Nametrom 



the Greek rhzinclias, a beak, spora, seed — the permanent base of 

 the style forming a beak to the fruit.) 



1. R. juscu (Brown Beal<.-Sedge). — llhizoiiie long; stems (i — to 

 in. high, very slender ; leaves few, subulate ; spit;elels brown, 

 usually in two clusters, one terminal, the other lateral ; stamens 3. 

 — Bogs in the south ; very rare. — Fl. |uly, August. Perennial. 



2. R. alba (\\'hite Beak-Sedge).— 7?/;/2()»;f short; stems 6 — iS 



EBIDPHORUM POLYST.ACHION 



