484 THE SEDGE FAMILY. [Scirpus. 



with narrow, leafy tips, 1 to 2 lines long. Spikelets solitary and 

 terminal, ovoid, brown, scarcely above 2 lines long; the outer bract 

 like the glumes but larger, with an almost leafy tip, about the length 

 of the spikelet. Flowers usually 6 to 8 in the spikelet. Hypogynous 

 bristles about 6. Style 3-cleft, the persistent base very minute. Eleo- 

 cliarls ccespitosa, Link. 



In moorlands and bogs, common in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, 

 and America, but restricted to mountain ranges in central and southern 

 Europe, and not recorded from the Caucasus. Frequent in Britain, 

 excepting some of the southern counties of England. Fl. summer. 



7. S. fhiitans, Linn. (fig. 1098). Floating &— Easily known by its 

 long, slender, branching stems, either floating on the water, or forming 

 soft, densely matted masses on its margin, with linear-subulate leaves, 

 \ to 2 inches long. Spikelets solitary and terminal, oblong greenish, 

 not 2 lines long, the outer bract without any leafy point. Flowers 

 without hypogynous bristles. Styles 2-cleft. Isolepis fluitans, Br. 



In pools and still waters, generally distributed over Europe, and 

 reappearing in the southern hemisphere, but not recorded from Asia or 

 America. Scattered over the whole of Britain, but not very common. 

 Fl. summer, 



8. S. setaceus, Linn. (rig. 1099). Bristle S. — Stems slender, 2 or 3 

 inches high, forming little dense tufts, with 1 or 2 short, subulate 

 leaves, on each stem, sheathing it at the base. Spikelets solitary, or 

 2 or 3 together in a little cluster, appearing lateral, the subulate point 

 of the outer bract forming a continuation of the stem. Each spikelet 

 is ovoid, seldom 2 lines long ; the glumes broad and short, dark brown, 

 with a green mid-rib. No hypogynous bristles. Style 3-cleft. Nut 

 very small, marked with about 8 longitudinal ribs and furrows, only 

 visible under a magnifying-glass. Isolepis setacea, Br. 



In gravelly and sandy places, on the margins of pools, &c. , in Europe 

 and Eussian Asia, from the Mediterranean nearly to the Arctic circle. 

 Generally distributed over Britain. Fl. summer. 



9. S. Savii, Seb. and Maur. (fig. 1100). Savis £.— Very like S. 

 setaceus, but usually still more slender, although sometimes attaining 6 

 or 8 inches ; the point of the outer bract scarcely exceeds the spikelet, 

 and the nut has not the longitudinal ribs and furrows of S. setaceus. S. 

 riparius, Spreng ; Isolepis Saviana, Sch. 



In marshes and edges of pools, chiefly near the sea, frequent in the 

 southern hemisphere, and in the Mediterranean region and west of 

 France. In Britain, in several counties from Wales and Suffolk south- 

 wards, also in Lancashire, the west of Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. 

 summer. 



10. S. Holoschcenus, Linn. (fig. 1101). Clustered S. — A stiff, rush- 

 like plant, with a stout, creeping rootstock, and cylindrical stems, 1 

 to 2 feet high or even more, with 1 or 2 stiff leaves sheathing the base. 

 Spikelets very numerous and small, closely packed into one or more 

 globular heads, forming a lateral cluster or umbel, the largest stiff outer 

 bract forming an apparent continuation of the stem. The largest heads 

 are seldom above 4 or 5 lines diameter, and contain upwards of 30 

 spikelets, of a light-brown colour, each containing many flowers. No 

 hypogynous bristles. Style 2-cleft or rarely 3-cleft. 



In sandy places, chiefly near the sea, in the Mediterranean region, 



