SEDGE FAMILY. 



361 



There are numerous other species of Cyperus, in the U. States ; but 

 the foregoing are the most important for the Agriculturist to be ac- 

 quainted with. The Papyrus — which the ancients used, for writing 

 upon, prior to the manufacture of paper from rags — was obtained from 

 a species of this genus, viz : C. Papyrus, L. 



2. SCIR'PUS, L. Bulrush. 



[An ancir-nt I.Atiu Dame for the Bul rush, — which belongs to the genus.] 



Spikelets many-flowered. Scales imbricated on all sides. Perianth of 

 3-6 capillary bristles. Styles 2-3-cleft. Akene crustaceous, either 

 somewhat compressed, or trigonous — according to the condition or num- 

 ber of the styles or stigmas. Culms mostly simple, triangular or terete, 

 often with leafless sheaths. Spikes either solitary, conglomerate or co- 

 rymbose, terminal or lateral. 



1. S. pun'gens, Vahl. Culm triquetrous, nearly leafless ; spikes ovoid- 

 oblong (1-5), in a dense cluster long overtopped by the pointed invo- 

 lucral leaf ; scales orbicular-ovate, emarginate, mucronate ; bristles 2-6, 

 slender, shorter than the akene ; styles 2, united below, free at summit ; 

 akene subcompressed, obscurely trigonous, abruptly acuminate. 

 Sharp-pointed Scirpus. Chair-maker's Rush. 



Root (or rhizoma) creepmg. Culm 2-4 or 5 feet high, cuspidate at summit, acutely 

 triquetrous, naked and smooth, sheathed at base, — the sheaths often bearing a few short 

 triangular-carinate leaves. Sjjikes nearly sessile, in a dense lateral cluster, — i. e. at the 

 base of an erect tapei'ing 1-leaved involucre, which is apparently a continuation of the 

 culm. Scales often emarginate, and mucronate with the projecting midrib, ferruginous on 

 the sides, the margins scarious and pubescent-ciliate. Bristles rctrorsely scabrous, brittle. 

 Akene smooth, dark-brown. 



Swampy meadows and muddy margins of rivers — salt and fresh : throughout the United 

 States. Fl. July. Fi: Sept. 



Obs. This is the plant used in making the seats of " Rush-bottomed 

 Chairs," in the U. States. Some of the English Botanists say, the 

 terete culms of the S. lacustris, L., or common Bulrush, are used for 

 that purpose, — which I think must be a mistake ; as they are certainly 

 much inferior, in tenacity and pliability, to those of this species, — and 

 the chair-makers would be apt to discover the fact. Numerous species 

 of this genus occur in our wet low grounds ; but, although of no value 

 in Agriculture, they scarcely require notice, here, — inasmuch as they 

 are neither very troublesome, nor difficult to get rid of, by draining, and 

 other appropriate management of the grounds. 



3. CA'REX, L. Sedge. 



[A classical name, — of obscure etymology.] 



Staminate and pistillate flowers either in distinct spikes on the same plant 

 (moncBcious) or m difl'erent portions of the same spike, (androgynous), 

 rarely on distinct plants (dioecious). Scales 1-flowered, imbricated on 

 all sides. Stamens mostly 3. Ovary included in a membranous (often 

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