496 THE SEDGE FAMILY, [ Carex. 
25. C.digitata, Linn. (fig. 1132). Fingered Carex.—A densely 
tufted species, 6 inches to a foot high, with short leaves. Male spike about 
6 lines long, and really terminal although exceeded by the upper female 
spike, which is placed close under it; there are also 2 or 3 other female 
ones rather lower down, all shortly stalked, longer than the male and more 
or less spreading, so as to give the whole spike a digitate appearance; the 
flowers in each spikelet at some distance from each other. Bracts brown 
and sheathing, without leafy points or only a very short one. Styles 3- 
cleft. Fruits obovoid and minutely downy. ; 
In the woods of limestone mountains, in central and southern Europe 
and temperate Russian Asia, extending northward into Scandinavia, Rare 
in Britain, and only in the hilly districts of western and north-central 
England. Fl. spring. [C. ornithopoda, Willd., is a variety with distant 
female spikelets, and fruit longer than the glumes, found in Derbyshire 
and Yorkshire. C. ericetorum, Poll., with the habit of C. digitata, has 
keeled leaves and smaller shorter crowded spikes. A native of dry banks 
in Europe and North Asia, found in Britain in the eastern counties on 
chalk-hills only. | 
26, C. preecox, Jacq, (fig. 1133). Vernal Carex.—Near C. pilulifera 
and C. tomentosa, but with shorter, stiffer leaves; the inflorescence is less 
compact than in the former, more so than in the latter, and the bract of 
the lowest spikelets forms a short sheath with a small leafy point. The 
male spikelet is larger, and the glumes more obtuse, but with a distinct 
fine point. Fruits rather small, shortly beaked, covered with a minute 
down. 
In dry pastures, and heaths, common in Kurope and Russian Asia, ex- 
cept the extreme north, and naturalized in North America. Generally 
distributed over Britain. Fl. spring. 
27, C.montana, Linn. '(fig. 1134). Mountain Carex.—Very near 
C. pilulifera, but the bracts have scarcely any leafy points; the female 
spikelets are shorter, with much darker glumes; and the fruits are twice 
as long, with acute angles, and are rather hairy thandowny. C. collina, 
Willd. 7 
In pastures and heaths with C. precow, in central and southern Europe 
and western Asia, and extending northward into Scandinavia. In Britain, 
found in a few western and southern counties. Fl. spring. 
28, C. pilulifera, Linn. (fig. 1135). Pill-headed Carex,—Stems 6 inches 
toa foot high, forming broad and sometimes loose tufts, but scarcely creeping 
at the base. Leaves shorter than the stem, weak and flexible. Female 
spikelets 2 or 3, short and compact, close under the terminal male one, 
Bracts leafy, usually short, without sheaths. Glumes brown, more or less 
' pointed. Styles 3-cleft. Fruits small, obovoid, or nearly globular, scarcely 
beaked, covered with a minute down. 7 
In hilly pastures, and moors, generally distributed over Europe, and the 
same, or a closely allied species, across Russian Asia and in North America, 
Common in Britain, Fl. early summer. 
22, C. tomentosa, Linn. (fig. 1136). Downy Carex.—Rootstock 
creeping. Stems erect, slender, a foot high or more. Leaves narrow, 
erect, much shorter than the stem. Terminal male spikelet about an inch ~ 
