Carex.] LXXXVIII. CYPERACEiE. 491 



plant, seldom above 6 or 8 inches high, with a creeping rootstock ; the 

 leaves very narrow, much shorter than the stem, the radical ones 

 loosely tufted. Spikelets brown, solitary on each stem ; those of 

 the male plant linear, about 6 lines long ; the female's much shorter, 

 and ovoid. Fruits longer than the glumes, contracted into a point, 

 and more or less spreading when ripe. Styles 2-cleft. 



In spongy bogs, in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, 

 and in the mountain ranges of central Europe. Common in Scotland, 

 northern England and Ireland, but rarer in the south. Fl. early 

 summer. 



[G. Davalliana, Sm., alluded to in former editions under this species, 

 is a very distinct one, formerly found near Bath, but now extinct.] 



2. 0. pulicaris, Linn. (fig. 1112). Flea G. — A small tufted species, 

 not creeping, 3 to 6 inches high, the leaves narrow, almost subulate, 

 shorter than the stem. Spikelet' solitary and terminal, about 9 lines 

 long, male in the upper half, 3 to 7 of the lower flowers female. Style 

 2-cleft. Fruit ovate, sessile, and erect when young, becoming oblong, 

 pointed, contracted at the base, and horizontally spreading when ripe, 

 and then nearly 2 lines long. 



In wet meadows and bogs, or moist hilly pastures, in northern Europe 

 and Asia, and in the mountains of central and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus. Generally spread over Britain. FL early summer. 



3. O. rupestris, All. (fig. 1113). Mock G. — Kootstock creeping. 

 Leaves in loose tufts, broader and flatter than in G. pulicaris, but end- 

 ing in a long fine point. Stems 3 to 6 inches high, with a linear, 

 mixed spikelet like that of G. pulicaris, but the style is 3-cleft, and the 

 fruit is shorter, obovoid, not pointed, and not so spreading. The lower 

 glumes often bear a fine deciduous point. 



On wet rocks, and moors, in the mountains of northern and Arctic 

 Europe and Asia, and North America, and the higher ranges of central 

 Europe. In Britain, limited to the higher mountains of Scotland. Fl. 

 summer. 



4. C. pauciflora, Lightf. (fig. 1114). Few-flowered 0. — A slender 

 species, with long, creeping runners, and a loosely branched stem, 

 decumbent at the base, or rarely forming dense tufts, and not above 6 

 inches high. Leaves narrow, the upper ones sheathing the stem to 

 nearly the middle, and often nearly as long. Spikelet solitary, pale 

 brown, 3 or scarcely 4 lines long, with few flowers, the 2 or 3 upper- 

 most male, the 2 or 3 lower female, with 3 cleft styles. Fruits narrow 

 and pointed, nearly as long as the whole spikelet, spreading or reflexed 

 when ripe. 



In moors and swamps in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and 

 America, and in the higher mountain ranges of central Europe. Rather 

 frequent in the Highlands of Scotland, more local in northern England, 

 and not recorded from Ireland. FL summer. 



5. 0. leporina, Linn. (fig. 1115). Oval G. — Stems loosely tufted 

 at the base, forming at length a short, horizontal rootstock, and 

 attaining a foot or more in height. Leaves usually considerably 

 shorter. Spikelets 4 to 6, sessile, distinct but very close together, 

 ovoid, brownish-green and shining, about 4 lines long, consisting 

 chiefly of female flowers, with a few males at the base of each spikelet. 

 Outer bracts like the glumes or the lowest rarely with a short, leafy 



