146 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



beak, much longer than the oblong-lanceolate or ovate acute 

 brown scale, erect-spreading at maturity. 



The conspicuously corky base of the perigynia distinguishes 

 this species. 



Wooded swamps, wet meadows, etc. Common. May, June. 



Stigmas 3 ; achenium triangular. 

 Spikes staminate above, pistillate below. 

 Flowers disposed in a single spike 2 // -8 // long. 

 Bracts and scales not leaf-like. 



Perigynia oblong, erect polytrichoides. 



Perigynia awl-shaped, deflexed pauciflora. 



35. Carex polytrichoides Muhl. 



Stems 4- '-15' high, capillary, diffuse or erect, rough above ; 

 leaves flat or capillary, wide, smooth and soft, mostly about 

 the length of the culms; spike linear, 2"-5" long, subloosely 

 flowered, green or brownish at maturity ; bracts scale-like, ovate, 

 bristle-tipped; perigynia lj f long, subtriquetrous, alternate, 

 erect, slightly recurved at the apex, nerved, about twice longer 

 than the obtuse or acute, whitish scale, the latter usually caducous. 



Swamps and wet places. Common. June. 



The species is easily distinguished by the small green few- 

 flowered spikes and caducous scales. 



36. Carex pauciflora Light/. 



Stems 6-15' high, stiff, erect or curved, smooth below; leaves 

 flat or involute, i" wide, rough-margined, stiff and often curved, 

 mostly shorter than the culm ; staminate scales 2, light brown, 

 conspicuously terminating the spike ; spike loosely 2-5 flowered ; 

 perigynia awl-shaped, 4" long, slightly inflated, mostly erect in 

 the early stage, becoming widely divergent and strongly deflexed 

 at maturity, twice the length of the lanceolate scale. 



Cold sphagnous swamps and bogs. Common in the northern 

 part of the State, rare elsewhere. June, July. 



A pretty species, easily distinguished by its single spike and 



subulate at length deflexed perigynia. 

 Bracts and scales leaf-like. 



Perigynia 2-5, smooth Backii. 



Perigynia 4-9, rough on the angles and beak Willdenovii. 



Perigynia 2-5, rough on the beak Jamesii. 



