326 T. Holm — Studies in the CyperacecB, 



ochreae are free, and exposed to the light in C. clado- 

 siacliyce, they are completely hidden within the base of 

 the subtending leaf (L.) in C. ternaria, and are hyaline. 



This structure of the inflorescence is characteristic of 

 the species of Tuckermann's Vigneastra, but the number 

 of lateral axes varies very much, nevertheless the fun- 

 damental composition is exactly the same. Among the 

 Carices genuine we have sho"v\Ti that this structure is 

 also characteristic of C. Willdenowii, C. Steiidellii and C, 

 Barhii.^ Moreover several cases have been observed in 

 various species of Carices gemiinm where a similar 

 ramification may be developed, but only abnormally so. 



The ramified secondary inflorescences in the Vigneas- 

 tra, no doubt, indicate the most evolute type of Carex. 

 However some of these species occur also with a more 

 simplified structure, when the specimens are ^^depaupe- 

 rate." For instance, in Carex Boyana Schk., Boott 

 mentions that this highly developed type may also be 

 represented by individuals of less complicated structure. 

 The typical plant^ has about 20 spikes or even more, mostly 

 fasciculate ; but this species occurs also as forms much 

 modified, in which the lateral branches may be fasciculate, 

 but the spikes themselves simple, not branched ; finally 

 a much reduced form exists (Boott L c. tab. 349), 

 in which all the spikes are single in the leaf -axils, and more 

 or less remote. In other words the lesser developed types 

 of Carex may, sometimes, imitate the most evolute, either 

 in cases defined as abnormal, or as normal and t^^ical in 

 C. Willdenoivii and its allies. Conversely the highly 

 evolute Vigneastra may occur as depauperate forms imi- 

 tating the lesser developed Carice genuincB. It will be 

 evident to any one who examines these forms, that while 

 they differ in the typical, they occasionally unite in some 

 characters, in this case the structure of the inflorescence, 

 exhibiting their descent through modification from a 

 common type. And as we have stated before, we hold the 

 opinion that the Vigneastra are referable to the greges of 

 Carices genuince, and some evidently to the Vignece, 



Figure 4 shows a squama of a pistillate flower, and the 

 perigynium is dra^vn in ^g. 5 ; we notice the scabrous 

 arista in the scale, and the spinulose, upper margin of the 



* This Journal, vol. 10, p. 33, 1900. 



^ Boott: 111. genus Carex, vol. 3, p. Ill, tab. 345-549, 1862. 



