— Scirpus. | - LXXXVIII. CYPERACEX. 481 
Stems bearing several long leaves. 
Spikelets large, brown, in a sessile cluster or close com- 
poundumbel . 14. S. maritimus., 
Spikelets small, green, very % numerous, in ry large loose, 
compound panicle < 15, S. sylvaticus. 
1. S. acicularis, Linn. aie 1089). Needle Scirpus.—A little slender 
tufted plant, with the appearance of an annual, but emitting thread-like, 
creeping rootstocks ; the fine subulate stems scarcely 2 inches high, with 
short sheaths at their base, and most of them bearing a single terminal 
oblong spikelet, not 2 lines long, of a dark-brown colour, the outer bract 
similar to the glumes. Flowers usually 6 to 8 in the spikelet. Hypogy- 
nous bristles 3 or 4. Styles 3-cleft. Nut obovoid, slightly triangular. 
Eleocharis acicularis, Br. 
In wet, sandy places, the margin of lakes, etc., widely spread over 
Europe and central and Russian Asia, and North America. Not uncom- 
mon in Britain. #7. summer and autumn. 
2, S. parvulus, Roem and Sch. (fig. 1090). Small Scirpus.—A 
small tufted plant emitting creeping rootstocks, very closely allied to S. 
acicularss, but the thread-like stems usually rather stouter and the spike- 
let rather larger and palescoloured. Flowers, hypogynous bristles, style 
and nut the same as in S. acicularis, of which this may be a maritime 
variety. Hleocharis parvula, Hook. 
In wet, sandy places, chiefly in salt marshes in western Europe, for- 
-merly indicated near Lymington in Hampshire, not since found there, but 
recently detected by Mr. A. G. More on the coast of Wicklow in Ireland. 
Fl. summer, ‘ 
3, S: palustris, Linn. (fig. 1091). Creeping Scirpus.— Rootstock 
often creeping to a considerable ‘extent, with numerous erect stems, often 
densely tufted, and not 6 inches high at the edge of the water, more dis- 
tant, and a foot high or more when in the water; all leafless, except one 
or two short sheaths at their base, without leafy tips. Spikelets solitary 
and terminal, oblong, 4 to 6 lines long. Glumes numerous, closely imbri- 
cated, poo with scarious edges, and green on the midrib; the outer 
bract only differing from the glumes in being rather larger. Hypogynous 
bristles usually 4. Style 2-cleft. Nut obovate, crowned by a little conical 
tubercle, being the persistent base of the style. Hleocharis palustris, Br. 
On the edges of pools and watery ditches, throughout the northern 
hemisphere, and in some parts of the southern one. Frequent in Britain. 
Fil. all summer. Specimens with the outer bract rather broader, so as 
almost to enclose the base of the spike, have been distinguished as a species 
under the name of S. uniglumis, Link. ~ 
4, S. multicaulis, Sm. (fig. 1092). Many-stalked Scirpus.—Very 
much like the last, and perhaps a mere variety, but smaller, forming dense 
tufts, with a few creeping offsets; the stems more slender, often slightly 
decumbent at the base, many of them barren and leaf- like. Spikelet 
rather smaller. Styles usually, but not always, 3-cleft, the nut becoming 
obovoid and triangular. Hypogynous bristles usually 6. Hleocharis 
multicaulis, Br. 
In similar situations to S. palustris, and often mixed with it, but not 
so much in the water; recorded chiefly from northern and western Eur ope. 
Not unfrequent in Britain, FU. summer. 
et 
