Cyperus. 



CYPERACEJE. 



339 



var. castaneus : scales oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, shining, very closely imbricated ; 

 style scarcely exserted ; achenium orbicular-obovate, minutely wrinkled transversely. — Torr. 

 I. c. C. flavescens, /3. castaneus, Pursh, fl. 1. p. 52. C. castaneus, Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 18. 

 C. bicolor, Bart. fl. Phil. 1. p. 27 (not of Vahl). 



Culms cespitose, obtusely triangular, 4-10 inches high, often weak and reclining. In- 

 volucre of 3 very unequal leaves, two of which are 3-7 inches long. Umbel often much 

 contracted, so that the clusters of spikelets are nearly sessile ; the rays, when elongated, very 

 unequal, each bearing 6-12 spikelets : these are flatly compressed, but in the var. they are 

 less so. Scales with a broad light brown margin, with yellowish sides and a green keel ; in 

 the var. longer and narrower, of a dark chestnut-color, and the texture much firmer. Stamens 

 sometimes three in the upper flowers. Style 2-cleft nearly to the base, straight ; in the var. 

 about twice the length of the achenium, less deeply cleft, and usually making a short double 

 curvature toward the base. 



Wet grounds : frequent where the water is brackish ; the var. castaneus most abundant in 

 the interior of the State. Fl. August. Fr. September. 



3. Cyperus Nuttallii, Torr. (Plate CXXXV.) NuttalVs Galingale. 



Culms cespitose, triquetrous ; rays few, short or nearly sessile, loose ; spikelets linear- 

 lanceolate, much compressed, acute ; scales oblong-lanceolate, acute, rather loosely imbricated ; 

 stamens 2 ; achenium oblong-obovate, very obtuse, dull — Torr. in Spreng. neue ental. 1. 

 p. 240 ; fl. 1. p. 60, and Cyp. p. 252 ; Spreng. syst. 1. p. 222 ; Beck, hot. p. 142. C. 

 filicinus, Vahl, enurn. 2. p. 332 ? Kunth, enum. 2. p. 14. C. casspitosus,- Torr. cat.pl. N. 

 York, p. 89 (not of Poir.) ; Spreng. syst. 1. p. 224. 



Perennial. Culms 4-12 inches high, forming dense tufts. Umbel sometimes with very 

 distinct rays, but usually they are very short. Spikelets sometimes compound, closely ap- 

 proximated on the rachis, nearly an inch long and a line and a half wide. Scales distinct at 

 the tips, giving the spikelets a serrate appearance, yellowish brown on the sides ; the keel 

 green. Rachilla narrowly winged. Stamens always 2. Style 2-parted to the middle. Achenium 

 gray or brown. 



Borders of brackish meadows, near New-York, and on Long Island. Fl. August. Fr. 

 September. This may be the C. filicinus of Vahl, but the description of that species is in- 

 sufficient for identifying the plant. 



** Cyperus proper. Style 3-cleft. Achenium triangular. 



t Spikelets alternate, or disposed towards the summit of the rays in a distichous or spiciform manner ; the lowest ones often 



compound. 



4. Cyperus Michauxianus, Schultes. Michaux's Galingale. 



Culm acutely triangular, rather stout ; umbel compound, the rays short ; involucels 1 - 2- 



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