CYPERACE7E. 



911 



branched stem, decumbent at the base, 

 or rarely forming dense tufts, and not 

 above 6 inches high. Leaves narrow, 

 the upper ones sheathing the stem to 

 nearly the middle, and often nearly as 

 long. Spikelet solitary, pale-brown, 3 

 or scarcely 4 lines long, with a few 

 flowers, the 2 or 3 uppermost male, 

 the 2 or 3 lower female, with 3- cleft 

 styles. Fruits narrow and pointed, 

 nearly as long as the whole spikelet, 

 spreading or reflexed when ripe. 



In moors and swamps, in northern 

 and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, 

 and in the higher mountain-ranges of 

 central Europe. Hather frequent in the 

 Highlands of Scotland, more local in 

 northern England, and not recorded 

 from Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 1096. 



5. Oval Carex. Carex leporina, Linn. (Fig. 1097.) 



(C. ovalis, Eng. Bot. t. 308.) 



Stems loosely tufted at the base, form- 

 ing at length a short, horizontal root- 

 stock, and attaining a foot or more in 

 height. Leaves usually considerably 

 shorter. Spikelets 4 to 6, sessile, dis- 

 tinct, but very close together, ovoid, 

 brownish-green . and shining, about 4 

 lines long, consisting chiefly of female 

 flowers, with a few males at the base of 

 each spikelet. Outer bracts like the 

 glumes, or the lowest rarely with a short, 

 leafy point. Styles 2-cleft. Fruits flat, 

 with a scarious wing or border round 

 the edge. 



In moist meadows, and pastures, over 



the whole of Europe and Russian Asia, 



except perhaps the extreme north and 



south. Generally diffused over Britain. 



Fl. summer, rather early, 



** Fig. 10i?7. 



