North American CyperacefB. 339 
6. Eriophortjim polystachyum, Linn, 
Culm nearly terete; leaves flat, acutely triangular at the 
point; involucre about 2-leaved; peduncles scabrous ; spikes 
nodding ; scales ovate, acute ; nut obovate, obtuse. 
E. polystachyum, Li7tn. ; IVilld. sp. l.p. 312; VahUcnum, 2. p. 390, 
Walt.fl. Car. p. 71; Pursh,fl. 1. p. 58; Elliott, sk. 1. p. 92; Muhl. ! 
gram. 1. p. 49; TorrJ fl. 1. p. 66; Big.Jl. Bost. ed. 2. p. 23; BecTc, 
hot. p. 427; Gray J Gram. S;Cyp.pa.x\. J. no. 90; Hook, in app. Parry's 
2nd voy. p. 27; Smith, Eng.Jl. 1. p. 67, and Eng. hot. t. 563. 
E. polystachyum, /3. Michx. ! fl. 1. p. 34. 
E. latifolium, Hoppe; Ram. S^-Schult. syst. 2. 149. 
E. vulgare, Pers. syn. 1. p. 70. 
Root fibrous. Culm 1 — 2 feet high, somewhat compressed towards tlie 
base, leafy; sheaths rather loose. Leaves 3 — 6 inches long, 2 — 41uie9 
wide, pale green, flat except towards the point, which is sharply triangular 
and generally of a dark brown colour. Involucre mostly 2-leaved, rather 
shorter than the umbel; the leaves channelled, and triangular at the 
point. Peduncles often simple, unequal, at first erect, but at length 
nodding, scabrous upward. Spikes 4 — 12, ovate, 3 — 4 lines long. 
Scales ovate, acute, scarious, of a livid green colour, at length becoming 
dark brown ; the midrib somewhat prominent. Hairs 40 — 50 in each 
flower, three-lburths of an inch long, flat, white, with a slight reddish 
tinge. Stamens 31 S<3/Ze 3- (rarely 4-) cleft ; the divisions downy. Nui 
narrowed downward, obtuse, flat on the back, angular in front. 
Has. Boggy meadows; Canada! to Georgia! and west 
to the Rocky Mountains ! 
7, Eriophoruivi angustifolium, Reicliard. 
Culm somewhat triangular; leaves triquetrous, channelled; 
involucre mostly 1-leaved ; peduncles mostly smoothish, nod- 
ding ; scales broadly ovate, somewhat obtuse, with a strong 
midrib ; nut elliptical, narrowed at each end, acutely trian- 
gulaj-. 
