370 



CYPERACEiE. 



Carex. 



Tribe VIII. CARICEJE. Nees. 



Flowers diclinous. Scales of the spikes imbricated on all sides, one-flowered. Stamens 2-3. 

 Stigmas 2 — 3. Achenium wholly enclosed in an utriculate perigynium, which is con- 

 tracted and often 2-toothed or 2-lobed at the orifice. 



14. CAREX. Linn.; Endl. gen. 957 '; Torr. Cyp. p. 386. SEDGE. 

 [ Supposed to be from the Greek word keiro, to shear or cut ; on account of its sharp leaves.] 



Spikes one or several, androgynous, monoecious or rarely dioecious. Stam. fl. Stamens 3, 

 rarely 2 or 1. Pist. fl. Perigynium membranaceous or somewhat coriaceous, 2-toothed, 

 emarginate or truncate at the apex, without an included bristle. Style single, included : 

 stigmas 2-3, elongated, exserted. Achenium lenticular, plano-convex or triangular, crowned 

 with the lower portion of the persistent and continuous or rarely articulated style. — Culms 

 triangular, more or less leafy. Spikes terminal or axillary, distant or approximated, or 

 variously aggregated. 



This immense genus (containing, according to Dr. Boott, more than 550 species) is largely represented in the United 

 States. Within the limits of the United States, there are probably at least 200 species. 



A. Spike single. 

 * Diwciuus. Stigmas 2. 



1. Carex dioica, Linn. Dioecious Sedge. 



Culm and leaves smooth ; spike simple, dioecious ; perigynia somewhat erect or spreading, 

 oblong-ovoid, nerved, hispid toward the summit on the margin. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1379 ; Schk. 

 Car. t. A. /. 1 ; Engl. hot. t. 543 ; Richards, app. Fremiti, nar. p. 34 ; Scluvein. <§■ Torr. 

 Car. I.e. 1. p. 293 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 368. 



Rhizoma creeping. Culms 6-8 inches high, filiform, triangular, a little rough on the 

 angles. Leaves setaceous, shorter than the culm. Sterile spikes about three fourths of an 

 inch long ; the scales ovate-lanceolate, rather obtuse, brown. Fertile spikes half an inch long, 

 8 - 12-flowered ; the scales ovate. Perigynia somewhat erect or finally spreading almost 

 horizontally, mostly straight or only slightly curved, obtusely triangular, with a short abrupt 

 beak, longer than the scale ; the orifice obliquely truncate. Achenium obovate- lenticular, 

 grayish brown. 



Swamps, Yates county (Dr. Saitwell). I have the same plant from Michigan, where it 

 was collected by Mr. Bull. It agrees very well with my European specimens ; but my valued 

 friend Prof. Dewey thinks that it should rather be referred to C. Davalliana. 



