Carex. 



CYPERACE^E. 



381 



staminate flowers ; the staminate spikes more or less pistilliferous. Torr. Cyp. I. c. C. sterilis, 

 Schk. Car. t. Mmm./. 146 ; Willd. sp. 4. p. 208 ; Muhl. gram. p. 217 ; Dew. Car. I. c. 11. 

 p. 304 ; Schwein. <§• Torr. Car. 1. c. p. 293 ; Kunth, I. c. p. 401. 



var. scirpoides : somewhat smaller; spikes (especially the uppermost) with numerous 

 staminate flowers, thus becoming clavate. Torr. I. c. C. scirpoides, Schk. Car. t. Zzz. 

 /. 180 ; Willd. sp. 4. p. 237 ; Muhl. gram. p. 225 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 533 ; Deiv. Car. I. c. 8. 

 p. 96 ; Schwein. Torr. Car. I. c. p. 317. 



Culm usually about a span high, but often a foot or more, triangular with the sides convex. 

 Leaves about a line wide, pale green. Spikelets rarely 5, mostly 4, few-flowered, yellowish 

 green when mature ; the lower one or two a little distant. Scales light brown. Perigynium 

 broad at the base, tapering above to a longish beak, convex externally, and marked with 7-9 

 pretty distinct nerves. Achenium roundish ovate. 



Wet meadows : common. Fl. in the beginning, and fr. about the end of May. A some- 

 what variable species, but easily recognized. I cannot distinguish, by any constant and specific 

 marks, C. scirpoides and C. sterilis from the proper C. stellulata. 



27. Carex tenuiflora, Wdhl. Slender Cluster-spiked Sedge. 



Spikelets 3, roundish-elliptical, approximated, the lowest one bracteate at the base ; peri- 

 gynium elliptical, obtuse, compressed, erect, about the length of the broadly ovate rather obtuse 

 scale. — Wahl. in act. Holm. 1803. p. 147 ; Schk. Car. t. Eeee. /. 187 ; Dew. Car. I. c. 28. 

 p. 273, and 39. p. 51 ; Torr. Cyp. p. 392 $ 443 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 405. 



Culms cespitose, 8-12 inches long, very slender and often prostrate, triquetrous, nearly 

 smooth. Leaves narrowly linear, shorter than the culm. Spikelets closely approximated. 

 Scales hyaline, with a green keel. Perigynium smooth, obscurely striate, nearly entire at the 

 orifice. Achenium obovate, lenticular, crowned with the continuous persistent style. 



Sphagnous swamps : Oriskany, Oneida county (Dr. Knieskern) ; near Ogdensburgh (Dr. 

 Crawe). Fl. June. Fr. July. This rare species is a native also of the north of Europe. 



28. Carex scoparia, Schk. Broom-like Sedge. 



Spikelets 5- 10, elliptical or ovoid, acute, approximated, the lowest with a deciduous 

 setaceous bract at the base ; perigynia lanceolate, nerved, with a rough narrowly winged 

 margin, bifid, longer than the lanceolate acuminate scale. — Schk. Car. t. Xxx. f. 175 ; Willd. 

 sp. 4. p. 230 ; Muhl. gram. p. 277 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 535 ; Dew. Car. I. c. 8. p. 94 ; Schw. 

 Sf Torr. Car. I. c. p. 313 ; Beck, hot. p. 434 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 30 ; Kunth, enum. 2. 

 p. 396 ; Tuckerm. enum. Car. p. 17 (excl. var. 7.). C. leporina, Michx. fl. 2. p. 170. 



var. lagopodiodes : spikes 10 - 15, crowded, the lowest usually subtended by a long bract. 

 Torr. I. c. ; Tuckerm. enum. Car. p. 17. C. lagopodiodes, Schk. Car. t. Yyy. f. 177; 

 Willd. I. c. ; Muhl. gram. I. c. ; Ell. I. c. ; Dew. I. c. p. 95 ; Schwein. cj- Torr. I. c. p. 313; 

 Beck, bot. p. 434 ; Darlingt. I. c. ; Kunth, I. c. p. 398 (excl. syn. C. cristatce). 



