308 



CYPERACE^E. 



ScLERIA. 



2. Scleria laxa, Torr. Loose-jloivered Nut-rush, 



Culm weak, somewhat diffuse, nearly smooth ; fascicles lateral and terminal, remote, on 

 long slender peduncles, somewhat branched, loosely flowered ; scales and bracts smooth ; 

 achenium globose, pitted, and marked in a somewhat spiral manner with transverse hairy 

 rugae ; perigynium 3-lobed , the lobes ovate-lanceolate. — Torr. Cyp. p. 376. S. reticularis, 

 Muhl. gram. p. 266 ; Pursh, fl.l.p.45; Ell. si. 2. p. 601 1 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 348, 

 not of Michx. 



Culm 12-18 inches high, slender, acutely triangular, with the angles somewhat winged 

 and slightly rough. Leaves about 2 lines wide, flat, smooth. Peduncles 2-6 lines long, 

 compressed, slender and often recurved. Spikelets distant, in pairs, disposed as in the pre- 

 ceding species. Stamens 2. Achenium about a line in diameter (larger than in the preceding 

 species), crustaceous, somewhat shining, whitish, with narrow brown wrinkles which are more 

 or less hairy, pitted in an obscurely reticulate manner. Perigynium deeply 3-lobed, rigid, 

 appressed. 



Sandy swamps, Long Island. Fl. August. Fr, September. A common species in the 

 pine region of New-Jersey, and in some of the Southern States. 



** Trachylomia, Necs. Achenium ovoid, smooth, somewhat crustaceous. Perigynium obtusely triangular, narrow, entire, 



rejlexed, crustaceous. 



3. Scleria triglomerata, Michx. Three-clustered Nut-rush. 



Culm rough ; leaves broadly linear, smoothish or a little hairy ; fascicles lateral and ter- 

 minal, triglomerate , the lateral ones remote, pedunculate ; bracts slightly ciliate ; scales 

 cuspidate ; nut ovoid-globose, smooth and polished ; perigynium annular, whitish, vesicular- 

 papillose. — S. triglomerata, Michx. fl. 2. p. 168 ; Muhl. gram. p. 260 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 558 ; 

 Beck, hot. p. 430 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 26 ; Torr. Cyp. p. 380. S. nitida, Kunth, enum.. 

 2. p. 350. Trachylomia triglomerata, Nees, Cyp. in Endl. Mart. fl. Bras. p. 174. 



Culm 2-3 feet high, leafy, triquetrous ; the angles almost winged. Leaves 2-3 lines 

 wide, rough on the margin, often a little hairy underneath. Terminal fascicle or head con- 

 sisting of 3 distinct clusters of spikelets, each with a foliaceous bract at the base : lateral 

 fascicle composed of few spikelets, remote, usually supported on a long peduncle. Sterile 

 spikelet seated within the upper fertile scale, many-flowered ; the scales lanceolate, purplish. 

 Stamens 3. Cupula shallow, entire. Achenium nearly 2 lines in diameter, resembling white 

 enamel, slightly apiculate. Perigynium an obtusely triangular thickened ring, in which the 

 achenium is seated. 



Swamps and moist thickets : frequent. Fl. July. Fr. August. 



