898 



THE SEDGE FAMILY. 



Savi's Seirpus. Scirpus Savii, Scb. et Maur. (Fig. 10S2.) 

 (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2782. Isolepis, Brit. Fl.) 



Very like the bristle S., but usually 

 still more slender, although sometimes 

 attaining 6 or 8 inches ; the point of the 

 outer bract scarcely exceeds the spikelet, 

 and the nut has not the longitudinal ribs 

 and furrows of the bristle S. 



In marshes, and edges of pools, chiefly 

 near the sea, frequent in the southern 

 hemisphere, and in the Mediterranean 

 region of the northern hemisphere, ex- 

 tending along the western coasts to the 

 British Channel. In Britain, on the 

 southern and western coasts of England, 

 the west of Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. 



Fig. 1082. 



9. Clustered Scirpus. Scirpus Holoschoenus, Linn. (Fig. 1083.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1612. Isolepis, Brit. Fl.) 



A stiff, rush-like plant, with a stout, 

 creeping rootstock, and cylindrical stems, 



1 to 2 feet high or even more, with 1 or 



2 stiff leaves sheathing the base. Spike- 

 lets very numerous and small, closely 

 packed into one or more globular heads, 

 forming a lateral cluster or umbel, the 

 largest stiff outer bract forming an ap- 

 parent continuation of the stem. The 

 largest heads are seldom above 4 or 5 

 lines diameter, and contain upwards of 

 30 spikelets, of a light brown colour, 

 each containing many flowers. No hy- 

 pogynous bristles. Style 2-cleft or rarely 

 3-cleft. 



In moist places, chiefly near the sea, 

 in the Mediterranean region, extending 

 eastward into central Asia, and north- 

 ward in western Europe to the Loire, 

 and here and there into central Europe. 



In Britain, only in two neighbouring localities in North Devon and 



Somerset. Fl. late in summer. 



Fig. 1083. 



