SEDGE FAMILY. 465 



III. Glumaceous Division. 



Flowers inclosed or subtended by glumes or husk-like 

 bracts ; no proper calyx or corolla, except sometimes mi- 

 nute bristles or scales which represent the perianth. Stems 

 of the straw-like sort, called culms. 



cxxxiii. cyperacej:, sedge family. 



Some rush-like, others grass-like plants, with flowers in 

 spikes or heads, one in the axil of each glume, the glume 

 being a scale-like or husk-like bract. No calyx nor corolla, 

 except some vestiges in the form of bristles or occasionally 

 scales, or a sac which imitates a perianth ; the 1-celled 1- 

 ovuled ovary in fruit an akene. Divisions of the style 2 when 

 the akene is flattish or lenticular, or 3, when it is usually tri- 

 angular. Leaves, when present, very commonly 3-ranked, and 

 their sheath a closed tube; the stem not hollow. A large 

 family, to be studied in the Manual, and too difficult for the 

 beginner. The most prominent genera are the following: 



* Flowers commonly all perfect. 



■*- Spikelets usually many-flowered with only one or two of the lower 

 scales without flowers. 



** Scales 2-ranked, the spikelet therefore flat. 



= No bristles about the akene, and no beak at its top. 



1. CYPERTJS. Spikelets few-many-flowered, mostly flat and slender, 

 in simple or compound terminal umbels or heads. Culms mostly tri- 

 angular and simple, most of the leaves at the base. Many species in 

 low grounds ; three should be mentioned here : 



C. rotrindus, Linn. Nut Grass, Coco Grass. A bad weed in sandy 

 lands from L. I., S. ; early leaves grass-like and tufted, 3'-6' high, followed 

 later in the season by a single, leafless, triangular culm, 6'-20' high ; 

 umbel simple or slightly compound, about equaling its involucral leaves, 

 its rays few, and each one bearing 4-9 dark-chestnut, 12-40-flowered, 

 acute spikelets ; scales nerveless. The plant is introduced in the N. 

 It persists in the soil by means of little, nut-like tubers which are borne 

 from several inches to 4° away from the base of plant, on stolons. 



C. escule'ntus, Linn. Chufa. Cultivated, especially at the S., for 

 its edible tubers, which are clustered about the base of the plant, and 

 also wild ; early leaves 15'-30' high, slightly rough, about as long as the 

 stem ; umbel 4-7 -rayed, sometimes compound, much shorter than the 

 involucral leaves ; spikelets numerous and light colored, 12-30-flowered, 

 the scales nerved. The cultivated form rarely flowers in the N. 



GBAY'S F. F. & G. BOT. 30 



