478 | THE SEDGE FAMILY. [ Cladium. 
III. CLADIUM. CLADIUM. 
A single species, distinguished from Rhynchospora chiefly on account of 
the thick texture of the fruit. Its habit is very different from that of our 
Rhynchospora, but comes very near to that of some exotic species of that 
genus. 
1, ©. Mariscus, Br. (fig. 1084). Prickly Cladiwm.—A tall, ye 
plant,with a creeping rootstock, and leafy stems, 3 to 6 feet high. Leaves 
‘nearly erect, the lowest nearly as long as the stem, smooth and sheathing 
at the base, then keeled, and ending in a long triangular point; the keel 
and edges very rough and cutting, being bordered by minute, sharp teeth. 
Spikelets of a pale brown, in small but very numerous clusters, arranged in 
somewhat corymbose panicles in the upper axils, the whole forming a 
terminal, more or less leafy, oblong panicle, often above a foot long. Each 
spikelet is 2 or 3 lines long, rather pointed, with the glumes imbricated 
all round the axis, containing usually one perfect flower in the innermost 
glume, an incomplete one in the next, the 4 or 5 outer glumes gradually 
shorter and always empty. Stamens usually 2. Style branches 3. Nut 
tapering at the top, the outer coating thick and fleshy when fresh, brittle 
when dry. C. germanicum, Schrad. 
In deep bogs and marshy places, in most temperate and some tropical 
regions of the globe, extending northward in Europe to southern Scandi- 
navia. In Britain, thinly scattered over England, frequent in the west of 
Treland, and very rare in Scotland. Fl. late in summer. 
IV. RHYNCHOSPORA. BEAKSEDGE. 
Spikelets several, in one or more clusters, forming terminal or axillary 
heads or panicles. Hach spikelet oblong, more or less pointed; the glumes 
imbricated all round the axis, 1 to 3 of the upper or inner ones containing 
each a flower, the lower or outer ones shorter and empty. Stamens 3 or 
rarely 2. Hypogynous bristles 6 or sometimes more, shorter than the 
glumes. Nuts globular or laterally flattened, tapering into a 2-cleft style. 
A considerable genus, widely dispersed over the surface of the globe, 
formerly united with Schenus, but well distinguished by the glumes 
imbricated all round the axis, not arranged in two opposite rows. 
Spikelets brown. Outer bract projecting an inch beyond the flowers. 1. #. fusca. 
Spikelets white. — ss edk shorter or genteel loners than the 
flowers . ° - 2. BR. alba. 
1. R. fusca, Limi. (fig. 1085). Bros Reabeeue —Near BR. alba, 
but rather firmer, with a creeping rootstock. Stem 6 to 10 inches high, 
with a few short, erect, subulate leaves; the floral ones or bracts project- 
ing an inch or more beyond the flowers. Spikelets brown, usually forming 
two rather loose clusters, one terminal, the other on a slender pedicel, in 
the axil of the next leaf; each spikelet about 2} lines long, containing 
usually 2 flowers, with 3 or 4 empty outer glumes. Hypogynous bristles 
about 6, small and very unequal. 
In bogs, chiefly in northern and western Europe, in the mountains of 
central Europe, and in North America. In Britain, confined to southern 
and western England and Ireland. Fl. summer. 
2, R.alba, Vahl, (fig. 1086). White Beaksedge.—Stems 6 to 9 
ee , 
