302 



WEEDS AXI) USEFUL PLANTS, 



Vjeaked and inflated) sic or peri gynhm. Alcene lenticular or triquetrous 

 (according as the stigmas aae 2 or 3), more or less beaked with the ba-se 

 of the style. Perennial herbs with usually c^espitose culms which are tri- 

 angular, often nodose and leafy. Spikes terminal and axillary, mostly 

 bracied at base. 



Obs. The three species here described, are inserted merely as samples 

 of a very extensive genus of unprofitable plants, — of Avhich every intelli- 

 gent farmer would like to know something. Those who may desire to 

 become better accjuainted with the family, will find the species well de- 

 scribed, in various Monographs and Floras. 



^ Spikes all axdrogyxous. 



f SpiJces clustered, starainate at their summit. Stigmas 2. 



1. C. vuipinoi'dea, Muhl. Spike oblong, decompound, interrupted, 

 bracteate, — of 8-10 crowded clusters; fruit compressed, ovate, acumi- 

 nate, 3-nerved, scabrous on the margin, finally diverging, rather shorter 

 than the ovate cuspidate scale. 



YuLPiXA-LiKE Carex. Sedgc. Sedge-grass. 



Culm about 2 feet high, obtusely triangular and leafy at base, acutely triquetrous above. 

 Leaves lance-linear, channelled above, scabrous on the margin, — the upper ones over- 

 topping the culm ; sheatJis transversely rugose on the side opposite the leaves. Spike 2-3 

 inches long, formed of numerous spikelets which are crowded into clusters a httle sepa- 

 rated from each other, and either appressed to the rachis or diverging. Bracts at the base 

 of the compound spike, and also of the principal clusters, often long and foliaceous, — 

 those at the base of the spikelets, short, setaceous and scabrous. Staniinate glumes lan- 

 ceolate, with a short point. Pistillate glumes ovate, with a long serrulate point. Fruit 

 3-nerved, bifid at apex, rather small, densely crowded, finally much diverging, and yel- 

 lowish. 



Swamps and low grounds : Northern and Middle States. Fl. May. Fi: July. 



Obs. This, like all the other species of this very numerous genus 

 (amounting to some 300 or more), is a very worthless plant ; and is'often 

 quite al3undant in wet meadows. The form of the akenes, in Carex— 

 like those of Polygonum, already noticed— has a constant relation to 

 the number of styles or stigmas. When the stigmas (or stigmatose 

 branches) are 2, the akene is compressed, and ancipital or 2-edged ; but 

 Vvhen there are 3 stigmas, the akene is uniformly triquetrous. A similar 

 relation, between the form of the akene or nut, and the number of the 

 styles or stigmas, appears to exist in numerous other instances, — as in 

 Eumex, Rheum, Scirpus, Cyperus, Fagus, IMorus, Alnus, Betula, &c.. 

 &c., and the law may, perhaps, be general. 



Staminate and pistillate spikes, distinct. 

 I Staminate spike solitary : pistillate subsessile. Stigmas 3. 



2. C. tentacnla'ta, MuJd. Staminate spike bracteate, on a short p9 

 duncle ; pistillate spikes about 3, cylindric-oblong, approximate, hon 

 zoutal, the uppermost sessile, the lower on short exserted stalks; bract? 



