32 BULLETIN -545, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
2. The stems of grasses are generally hollow, cylindrical, and 
jointed, the leaves 2 -ranked, and the leaf sheaths usually split. 
Rushes {J uncus and JunccAdes) are readily distinguished from 
grasses and sedges by: 
1. The flowers of rushes are regular and. though dimin utive; simi- 
lar in form to those of a lily, having a perianth composed of six 
bractlike scales, and with three to many small seeds borne in a capsule 
or small pod. 
2. The flowers of grasses and sedges are not sy m metrical, the 
perianth being irregular and inconspicuous or obsolete, and are sub- 
tended by husklike scales, each flower producing but a single seed. 
Sedges axd Rushes. 
It is the general opinion among ranchers that, as compared with 
grasses, sedges and rushes are of low nutritive value. This idea is 
generally true, but when a grass species occupying a typical marshy 
bog is compared with sedges and rushes from a similar situation 
chemical analysis has shown that the food value differs but little. 
Practically all species of moist habitats are somewhat too succulent 
or "washy." notably in the spring of the year, and while they are 
eaten with relish at that time they are doubtless more nutritious 
later in the season. 
A thousand or more species of sedges (Carex) have been described. 
They are widely distributed and are most abundant in temperate 
regions. In the United States approximately 500 species are found, 
about half of which occur in the Western States. The rush genus 
(Juncus) contains over 200 species. 
Tall Swamp Sedge. 
( Ca rex exs icca ta . ) 
Because of its abundance, density of stand, and height growth, 
this species is one of the best-known sedges on the Wallowa National 
Forest. It ranges from H to 3 feet in height, has coarse leafy culms, 
and broad, thick, flat leaves of a light-green color. The spikes, 
developed sometimes as much as 4 inches below the staminate 
flower clusters, are very short-stalked (Plate XX VI). The root 
system is somewhat meager, and new growth takes place abundantly 
through stolons and rootstocks, 
The drought tests showed that this plant wilted destructively 
when the rich organic soil in which it grows contained, in the one 
case, 22.5 per cent of moisture and in the other 24 per cent. Ob- 
viously, therefore, the species is distinctly of the marsh type. In 
most perennial bogs, preferably in saturated soils, it grows pure, to 
the exclusion of other species (Plate XXVII). 
