T. Holm — Studies upon the Cyperacece. 215 



this leaf becomes confined to the rhizome. There is, howeverj 

 another leaf in the genus Carex^ which occupies a somewhat 

 singular position, at the base of the peduncles of the female 

 inflorescences in the heterostachyous species. This leaf was 

 first discovered by G-ay, who correctly enough compared it 

 with the utriculus, until later on Roeper succeeded in drawing 

 the comparison still more precise by observing the presence of 

 a female flower in its axil. In this way the leaf becomes a 

 true antho-prophyllon, even if its flower usually stays as a 

 rudiment, or does not develop at all. Yery few authors men- 

 tion this leaf, by E-oeper called ochrea or vagina, although its 

 shape varies so much so as to become of some importance in 

 the specific diagnosis. It attains its highest development in 

 species which have long, sheathing stem-leaves, and it has been 

 very comprehensively described by Schulz, who, also, states a 

 number of cases where he found its flower developed. When 

 inclosed by the leaf-sheath it is generally membranous, pale 

 and tubular in its entire length, or but slightly cleft on its 

 anterior face. In species of which the stem-leaves are only 

 clasping, without any distinct sheath, this leaf becomes more 

 scale-like and open, of a firmer texture and often dark brown- 

 ish, or purplish-colored, and has often several nerves. 



The best known antho-prophyllon of the Carices is, of 

 course, the so-called utriculus, which surrounds the pistil and 

 is, therefore, exclusively restricted to the female inflorescence. 

 We must admit, though, that mention has been made of a 

 very few instances where this leaf contained stamens, instead 

 of a pistil, as recorded by Boott, in some abnormal specimens 

 of Carex acuta L. (Plate II, fig. 7.) 



The history of utriculus is most remarkable. There are, 

 indeed, few vegetative organs that have caused greater trouble 

 to the botanists than this leaf, as to its morphological identity. 

 The literature shows us a number of widely opposite theories, 

 suggested by some of the ablest botanists, and it might be of 

 some interest to present a brief outline of the history of this 

 organ, generally known now as the " utriculus." The differ- 

 ent names under which it has been described are as follows : 



Achenhwi. — (Necker, 1790.) 



JBractece. — (R. Brown, 1814.) 



JBractee adossee. — (Van Tieghem, 1884.) 



Capsida. — (Tonrnefort, ]694; Micheli, 1729; Haller, 1742; 

 Schkuhr, 1801; St. Hilaire, Lamarck and DeCandolle, 1805; 

 Schweinitz, 1824.) 



Fruit— {DQ^fiej, 1824.) 



Glumes, two opposite. — (Lindley, 1836.) 



Involucrmn. — (Haller, 1768.) 



Nectarium. — (Linne, 1791 ; Wahlenberg, 1803 ; Nees ab Esen- 

 beck, 1821.) 



