616 cyperacejE. (sedge family.) 



38. C. aftusta, Koott. <S/)!7fc'S 4 -10, approximate or rather distant, ovato 

 or at length club-sliaped (s'traw-color or pale chestnut) ; perigyniu ovate with u, 

 tapering beak, slightly winged, rather obscurely nerved, especially on the upper side, 

 equalling the scale in length and breadth. — Rhode Island {Olney), New York 

 {S. T. Carey, S)-c.), Lake Superior (C G. Loring, Jr., with the smaller form), 

 and northward. — Much like some forms of the next, but the spikes more chaffy, 

 the perigynia tapering into a longer beak. 



39. C. festlicacoa, Schk. Spikes 6-8, obovoid or club-shaped, the lower 

 distinct ; perigynia ovate, narrowly winged, with a short beak, longer than the ovale 

 lanceolate scale; achenium sessile, broadly oval. — Var. teneea lias (3-5) 

 smaller spikes, which are more distant on the slender, flexuose, sometimes nod- 

 ding stem. (C. tenera, Z?ew.) — Var. mieAbilis has (6-8) rounder approx- 

 imate spikes, with fewer staminate flowers, and the perigynia somewhat spread- 

 ing. (C. mirabilis. Dew.) — About fields and fences ; rather common, especially 

 northward. — A stiff and rigid species,' often of a pale-green appearance, except 

 the first variety, which has commonly brownish heads, and a weak stem. 



40. C. fcciica, Muhl. Spikes 4 - 10, ovoid, approximate, the lower rarely 

 compound, of a glaucous-green color ; perigynia ovate, winged, with a short beak, 

 scarcely longer than the oblong and bluntish white scale ; achenium on a short 

 stalk, oval. — Salt or brackish marshes, on the sea-coast, Rhode Island (Olncy) 

 to Virginia, and southward. — Much like the last, from which it differs princi- 

 pally in the color of the spikes, and in the constantly erect and more broadly- 

 margined perigynia. The culm is smooth and stout. 



41 C. straminca, Schk. Spikes (about 6), roundish-ovoid, approxiviate ; 

 perigynia orbicular-ovate, much compressed, broadly and membranaceously winged, 

 >fith a short abrupt beak a little longer than the lanceolate scale ; achenium 

 nearly sessile, oval. — Borders of woods and in fields; rather common. — The 

 larger forms have a x'emarkably wide wing, often brown on the margin, giving a 

 variegated appearance to the soft and flaccid spikes. In the smaller forms the 

 heads are fewer (3-4) and more rigid, owing to the narrower wings of the 

 perigynia. 



D. Staminate and pistillate Jloivers borne in separate {commonly more or less 

 stalked) simple spikes on the same culm ; the one or more staminate (sterile) spikes 

 constantly uppermost, having occasionally more or less fertile flowers intermixed ; 

 the lower spikes all pistillate (fertile), or sometimes with staminate flowers at the 

 base or apex ; stigmas 3 : achenium sharply triangular (only 2 stigmas and the 

 achenium lenticular in No. 42-51 and 58). — Caeex Proper. 



5 1. Perigynia vnthout a beak, smooth, not inflated (slightly in No. 51), terminating 

 in a minute, straight, entire or notched point, glaucous-green when young, be- 

 coming whitish, often spotted or tinged with purple, or occasionally nearly 

 black at maturity ; pistillate scales hlackish-purple (brown in No. 51 and 57), 

 giving a dark appearance to the spikes. 



* Sterile spikes 1-3, stalked, often with more or less fertile flowers: pistMlate 

 spikes 3-5, frequently with sterile flowers at the apex : bract of the lowest spike 

 leaf-like, with dark-colored expansions (auricles) at the base, and very minute 

 sheaths, or noue. [Culm and leaves more or less glaucous.) 



