168 -T. Holm — Studies in the Cyperacece. 



Salince may indicate, that the Cryptocarpce represent a 

 modified branch of these. We remember that typical 

 C. salina as well as the vars. Kattegatensis, and Thulen- 

 sis and even C. subspathacea occur in Alaska, where 

 C. cryptocarpa abounds ; furthermore that C. Lyngbyei 

 is associated with C. salina var. Kattegatensis on the 

 Faroe Islands, while, on the other hand, C. salina, and 

 only the typical plant, is very rare on Iceland. With re- 

 spect to Greenland, C. subspathacea and C. reducta occur 

 there, beside the so-called variety concolor of C. filipen- 

 dula, which we are most inclined to refer to the Salince. 

 At present Alaska with adjacent islands, and the north- 

 eastern corner of Asia may be looked upon as the most 

 important center of geographical distribution of the 

 Cryptocarpce, extending as far south as Vancouver Island 

 and Japan. 



Car ex salina Wahlenb. is a very variable species, and 

 reaches the arctic region in Norway, Sweden and Lap- 

 land; C. subspathacea is circumpolar. But concerning 

 C. cryptocarpa, this has, so far, only developed a very 

 few, and indeed rather inconspicuous forms, and the geo- 

 graphical distribution is farther south than that of the 

 Salince in general; the same may be stated with regard 

 to the other Cryptocarpce. We might thus be entitled to 

 the conclusion that the Cryptocarpce represent a modi- 

 fied, southern branch of the Salince, and especially of the 

 polymorphic C. salina Wahlenb. 



EXPLANATION OF FIGURES. 



Fig. 1. Carex Lyngbyei Hornem.; specimen collected by E. Rostrup on 

 Suderce, Faroe Islands; two-thirds of the natural size. 



Fig. 2. Pistillate scale of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 3. Utriculus of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 4. Pistillate scale of C. cryptocarpa C. A. Mey., from St. Paul 

 Island, Bering Sea; enlarged. 



Fig. 5. Perigynium of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 6. Scale and perigynium of C. cryptocarpa from Alaska: Seldovia; 

 enlarged. 



Fig. 7. Carex capillipes Drej.; specimen collected on Iceland, Grims- 

 nges, by Chr. Grcenlund; two-thirds of the natural size; copied from Flora 

 Danica Tab. 2844. 



Fig. 8. Pistillate scale of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 9. Pistillate scale and perigynium of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 10. Perigynium of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 11. C. prionocarpa Franch. ; scale and perigynium; enlarged; copied 

 from Franchet (1. c.) 



Fig. 12. C. hcematolepis Drej. from South Greenland collected by J. 

 Vahl; staminate scale; enlarged. 



Fig. 13. Pistillate scale of same; enlarged. 



Fig. 14. Perigynium of same; enlarged. 



Clinton, Md., March, 1920. 



