CTPEEACEiE. (SEDGE FAMILY.) 563 



downxoardly barbed bristles. (S. actitns, JI/«^. S.lactistriS, of Amer. authors and 

 in former editions. ) — Common everywhere in still fresh water. — Achenium 

 (I" long, half the size of that of the European S. lacustris, also narrower, pale, 

 not shining. — A slender variety with narrower heads, very smooth scales, 

 and shorter or fragile bristles, was sparingly collected by Rev. J. W. Chichering 

 at Havana, New York. 



11. S. rip&rius, Presl, which largely takes the place of the preceding 

 southwestward, probably within our limits, is known by the 2 - 4 rather shorter 

 and linear plumose scales, rather than bristles of the perianth. 



■^ -^ ■>- -^ Cultns slender from an annual root, terete, plane-convex or obtusely trian- 

 gular, naked; the sheaths at tlie base rarely extended into a short leaf: spilcei 

 few or several, sometimes solitary, in u, sessile cluster, much overtopped by the 

 involucral leaf: bristles of the perianth often few or wanting. 



12. S. d^bilis, Pursh. Culms obtusely triangular, with somewhat hol- 

 lowed sides, l°-2° high, yellowish-green; spikes 3-12, capitate, ovatc-oblong, 

 obtuse (3"-4" long), chestnut-brown; involucral leaf often horizontal at matu- 

 rity ; scales roundish ; stamens 3 ; style 2 - 3-cleft ; bristles 6, Stout, downwardly 

 barbed, equalling or two surpassing the obovate turgidly plano-convex (or 

 bluntly 3-sided) abruptly mucronate-pointed smoothish achenium. (S. juncoi- 

 des, Roxburgh.) — Swamps, Mass. to Virgitiia and southward. Aug., Sept. 



13. S. Smlthii, n. sp. Culms terete, slender, 3' -12' high, often leaf-bear- 

 ing from the upper sheath, dull green as are the 1-3 oblong-ovate acute spikes ; 

 involucral leaf always erect; scales oblong-oval; style 2-cleft; bristles 1 or 2 

 minute rudiments or none ; achenium somewhat lenticular, smooth, deciduous 

 with the scales. (S. debilis, Oray, Gram. ^ Cyp. 135.) — Wet shores. Lake On- 

 tario to Illinois and Delaware Bay (in tidal mud). July. — Named for C. E. 

 Smith, who indicated and insisted on its distinctions. 



14. S. suplnus, L., var. H4Uii. Culms filiform, 5'- 12' high; upper 

 sheath rarely distinctly leaf-bearing ; spikes 1 - 7 in a sessile or sometimes gem- 

 iuately proliferous cluster, ovate-oblong becoming cylindrical, greenish ; scales 

 ovate, strongly keeled, mucronate-pointed ; stamens 2 ; style 2-cleft ; bristles 

 none ; achenium obovate-orbicular, mucronate, plano-convex, strongly wrinkled 

 transversely. (S. Hallii, Gray, addend, ed. 2.) — Wet shores, Illinois, E. Hall, 

 &c., and southwestward. — In Texas occurs the normal S. supinus, with 3-cleft 

 style and triangular achenium, as in Europe, where it sometimes has short 

 bristles, as in the variety of No. 12. (Eu.) 



« * * Spikes clustered in Ampli or mostly compound umbellate or cymose-panided 

 clusters, many-flowered, terete: involucre of mostly several obvious and flat leaves : 

 culm tall, from tufted or running rootstocks ; triangular, leafy, sedge-like : style 

 mostly 3-cleft. 



-I- Spikes large, 6" ^ 1 5" long : midrib of the scales extended beyond the mostly lacerate 

 or two-cleft apex into a distinct awn. 



15. S. maritimuS, L. (Sea Club-Rush.) Leaves flat, linear, as long 

 A3 the stout culm (l°-3° high), those of the involucre 1-4, very unequal ; 

 spikes few- several in a sessile cluster, and often also with 1-4 unequal rays 

 bearing 1-7 ovate or oblong-cylindrical (rusty-brown) spikes; awns of the 



