494 . THE SEDGE FAMILY. 
prominent, is very convex, not flattened as in the latter species. ‘This 
variety is connected with the more common state of C. paniculata, by ~ 
numerous intermediate forms, often considered as a species under the 
name of C. paradoxa, Willd. 
13. GC. vulpina, ‘Linn. (fig. 1123). Fox C.—A short, tufted plant, ° 
2 to 8 or even 4 feet high, with rather broad but not very long leaves, 
ending in a fine point, and a sharply-triangular stem, with broader sides 
than in C. paniculata. Spikelets numerous, green or pale brown, densely 
crowded into a terminal spike of 1 to 2 inches, always more or less com- ~ 
pound and interrupted as the base, but the branches never elongated. 
The outer bracts of the lower clusters of spikelets have a fine leafy 
point. The individual spikelets are ovoid, many-flowered, all male at 
the top. Styles 2-cleft. Fruits much flattened, spreading when ripe, 
with a green or pale brown, rather broad beak. ) 
In marshes and wet meadows, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, 
except the extreme north, and in North America. Frequent in England 
and Ireland, more scarce and chiefly a coast plant in Scotland. Fl. 
early summer. 
14. ©. muricata, Linn. (fig. 1124). Prickly C.—A much smaller 
plant than the last two, seldom attaining a foot in height, with rather 
narrow leaves shorter than the stem. Spikelets about 6, rather short, 
brown or shining green, all mixed, having a few male flowers at the top 
of each, either all simple and crowded in a terminal spike of about an 
inch, or the lower ones rather more distant and sometimes slightly 
compound. Outer bracts mostly terminating in short fine points. 
Styles usually 2-cleft. Fruits rather large, 2 lines long when ripe, 
pointed and spreading as in C. echinata. 
In marshy and gravelly pastures, throughout Europe, temperate Asia, 
except the extreme north, and North America. Not uncommon in 
England, Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. early summer. 
C. dwulsa, Gooden., appears to be a variety of mwricata growing in 
less open situations, with longer stems and leaves, and paler, more 
distant spikelets, forming an interrupted spike of 2 or 3 inches; the 
lowest spikelet occasionally compound, with a rather long, leafy outer 
bract. It is distinguished from C. elongata, by the shorter nearly 
globular spikelets, without any male flowers at the base, and the fruits 
much less flattened. 
15.0. arenaria, Linn. (fig. 1125). Sand C.—Rootstock creeping often 
to the length of many feet, emitting small tufts or single stems from a 
few inches to 1 or 14 feet in height and leafy at the base. Spikelets 
rather large, ovoid, all simple and sessile, crowded 8 or 10 together in 
a terminal spike of 1 to 2 inches, or 1 or 2 lower ones occasionally 
more distant. Outer bracts all glume-like, or the lowest with leafy 
points. Male flowers often numerous in the upper, and especially in 
the intermediate spikes, very few at the top of the lowest. Fruits 
much flattened, tapering into a beak, and winged as in C. leporma, 
from which this species differs in the creeping rootstock and in the 
male flowers at the top, not at the base of the spikelets. 
In maritime sands, on the coasts of Europe and northern Asia. 
Abundant all round Britain. Fl. all swmmer. 
C. intermedia, Gooden. (C. disticha, Huds.), appears to be an inland 
variety, not uncommon in marshy ground and wet meadows, in Europe ~ 
