cypeeacej:. 885 



generally by the want of an inner scale or palea between the flower 

 and the axis of the spikelets ; by the simple, not feathery, branches of 

 the style ; besides that in most cases the two families are readily 

 known by the sheath of the leaves closed round the stem in the Sedges, 

 slit open on the side opposite to the blade in the Grasses. The glumes 

 are also most frequently brown in the former, green or purplish in the 

 latter. 



Flowers unisexual, the stamens and ovaries under separate 

 glumes, either in the same or in separate spikelets. 

 Ovary enclosed in a little bottle-shaped utricle? the style 



protruding through a small aperture at the top . . 9. Carex. 

 Ovary within the glurae, not enclosed in an utricle. . . 8. Kobresia. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite, the stamens and ovaries under 

 the same glume. 

 Glumes in each spikelet arranged in tivo opposite rows. 

 All the glumes in each spikelet, except the outer one, 

 containing flowers. Spikelets many, in a com- 

 pound umbel 1. Cyperus. 



Several of the lower glumes of each spikelet smaller 

 and empty. Spikelets closely sessile, in compact 



terminal heads 2. Schcenits. 



Glumes in each spikelet imbricated all round the axis, 

 Spikelets sessile, in a terminal spike, arranged in 2 



opposite rows 5. Bltsmus. 



Spikelets solitary, or in heads, clusters, umbels, or 

 panicles. 

 Several of the lower glumes of each spikelet smaller 

 and empty. Only 2 or 3 flowers at the top 

 of each spikelet. 

 Spikelets very numerous, in a compound panicle 3. Cladium. 

 Spikelets few, in 1 or 2 terminal or pedunculate 



clusters 4. Beaksedge. 



All the glumes of the spikelet, excepting one outer 

 larger one, containing flowers. 

 Hypogynous bristles (within the glume round 

 the flowers) projecting far beyond the 

 glumes and forming long cottony or silky 

 tufts 7. COTTONSEDGE. 



Hypogynous bristles shorter than the glumes or 



none 6. Scirptts. 



I. CYFERUS. CYPERUS. 



Stems triangular, leafy at the base. Spikelets in clusters or heads, 

 usually several together in a terminal, irregular, umbel-like panicle, 



