SciRPUS. 



CYPERACEiE. 



353 



sometimes almost winged ; the sheaths often bearing one or more leaves several inches in 

 length. Spikes in a dense cluster, either near the summit, or some distance from the same. 

 Scales often emarginate, with the midrib produced into a point nearly a line in length ; the 

 sides rusty colored : margin scarious and somewhat pubescent. Bristles 3-5, slender, fragile, 

 retrorsely hispid. Stamens 3 : anthers with a flat subulate slightly fringed point. Achenium 

 dark brown and rather dull, even, very convex but scarcely angular in fruit, abruptly pointed. 



Swamps and wet meadows, both salt and fresh : common. Fl. August. Fr. September. 

 A native of many parts of the world. The culms are extensively used for making rush-bottom 

 chairs. 



6. Scirpus mucronatus, Linn. Long-headed Triangular Rush. 



Culm triquetrous, the sides concave and nearly equal, leafy at the base ; spikes 2-4, 

 sessile, oblong- lanceolate, acute ; scales ovate, somewhat coriaceous, mucronate, smooth ; 

 anthers acute (not fringed at the tip); bristles longer than the achenium; style 3 -cleft; 

 achenium angular-convex externally, acuminate. — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 1. p. 73 ? ; R. Brown, 

 prodr. 1. p. 223 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 161. 



Culm about two feet high, with one or two leaves at the base, which are sometimes more 

 than a foot in length : these are channelled, obtusely keeled, and attenuated and flattish to- 

 wards the point. Spikes clustered, 4-6 lines long, more elongated and of a lighter color than 

 in S. triqueter ; the culm continued beyond them for several inches, and flattened. Scales 

 distinctly carinate above, acute, and terminating in a short thick mucro. Bristles 6, rather 

 slender, hispid downward, one-third longer than the achenium. Stamens 3 : anthers acute, 

 but without a subulate appendage. Achenium obovate, flattish on the inside, prominent and 

 somewhat angular externally, brown. 



Margin of ponds near West-Point {Prof. Bailey). Fl. July. Fr. August. I have received 

 this rare species also from Michigan, and from Boston. 



7. Scirpus lacustris, Linn. Bulrush. 



Culm terete, leafless ; umbel compound, growing from the side of the culm near the summit; 

 spikes ovoid or ovoid - oblong ; scales ovate, mucronulate, ciliate ; style 2- cleft ; achenium 

 obovate, plano-convex, shorter than the bristles. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 48 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 31 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 1. p. 55 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 31 ; Muhl. gram. p. 32 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 48 ; Beck, hot. 

 p. 425 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 21 ; Torr. Cyp.p. 321 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 164. S. acutus, 

 Muhl. I. c. ; Bigel fl. Bost. p. 31 ; Torr. fl. I. c ; Beck, I. c. S. validus, Vahl, enum. 2. 

 p. 268 ; Pursh, I. c. ; Vahl, I. c. S, orgyalis, Raf. ann. not. 1820. 



Culm 3-8 feet high, gradually tapering upward, smooth, tough, filled with pith, sometimes 

 marked with oblong dark brown spots ; the base clothed with several sheaths, which occasion- 

 ally bear short sheaths. Umbel (or rather cyme) growing from one to three inches below the 

 summit of the culm. Spikes nearly one-third of an inch long, mostly ovoid but sometimes 

 [Flora — Vol. 2.] 45 



