502 THE SEDGE FAMILY. [Carex. 



In mountain woods, dispersed over north and central Europe ; ex- 

 tending from France and Denmark to the Caucasus, but nowhere very 

 common. Occurs in many parts of England and Ireland, but not in 

 Scotland. Fl. early summer. It is probable that varieties of C. sylvatica 

 are often mistaken for it. 



43. C. Pseudocyperus, Linn. (fig. 1153). Gyperus-UJce C— Stems 

 tall, stout, and triangular, with long, broad leaves, as in G. pendula, but 

 the spikelets are not above 2 inches long, more crowded at the top of 

 the stem, on longer stalks, and remarkable for the very narrow, pointed, 

 green glumes, and the narrow, striated, spreading fruits, ending in a 

 long, pointed, slender beak. The spikelets droop when in fruit, as in 

 G. pendula. The terminal male one has often a few female flowers at 

 the top, or sometimes in the whole upper half. Styles 3- cleft. 



In marshes and wet ditches, in central and southern Europe, extend- 

 ing eastward to the Caucasus, and northward into southern Scandinavia, 

 and in North America. Scotland, south of the Caledonian Canal. 

 Spread over a great part of England and Australia and Ireland. Fl. 

 early summer. 



44. 0. pendula, Hud. (fig. 1154). Pendulous G. — One of the largest 

 of our Car exes. Stems stout, triangular, leafy, 3 to 5 feet high. Leaves 

 long, and often near \ inch broad. Spikelets 4 to 6 inches long, more 

 or less drooping, the terminal one male ; females 3 or 4, at some dis- 

 tance from the male, their stalks almost concealed in the sheaths of 

 the long, leafy bracts. Glumes ovate-lanceolate, brown, with a green 

 centre. Styles 3-cleft. Fruits small, crowded, ovoid, with a very 

 short beak. 



In woods and shady places, in central and southern Europe, extend- 

 ing eastward to the Caucasus and northward to the Channel, but 

 scarcely into northern Germany. In Britain, scattered over England, 

 Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. early summer. 



45. C. ampullacea, Gooden. (fig. 1155). Bottle 0. — A stout, tufted 

 species, the stems scarcely angled, 1 to 3 feet high, with long leaves. 

 Spikelets 1 to 2 inches long or even more ; males 2 or 3, the terminal 

 one longer than the others ; females 2 or 3, erect, cylindrical, compact, 

 the lowest shortly stalked. Leafy bracts rather long, without sheaths. 

 Styles 3-cleft. Fruits ovoid, inflated, pointed, with a rather long beak, 

 spreading horizontally. C. rostrata, Stokes. 



In bogs and marshes, in central and northern Europe, and central 

 and Eussian Asia, from northern Spain and Italy to the Arctic regions, 

 and in North America. Generally spread over Britain. Fl. early summer. 



46. O. vesicaria, Linn. (fig. 1156). Bladder C. — Very near G. 

 ampullacea, but the stem is more angular, the spikelets rather shorter, 

 and the fruits, although inflated as in that species, are more conical, 

 tapering more gradually into the beaks. 



The geographical distribution is nearly the same as that of G. ampul- 

 lacea, extending from Spain to the Arctic regions, and all across Eussian 

 Asia into North America. In Britain, however, it is less frequent, and 

 does not extend so far north. Fl. spring and early summer. [As observed 

 under G. saxatilis (p. 495), that plant has been regarded by various 

 authors as a variety of vesicaria. Whether as forms or distinct species 

 they may be distinguished by the following characters : — G. vesicaria 

 (including G. involuta, Bab.) ; stems 1 to 2 feet, fruit elongate-ribbed, 



