North American Cijperacea. 395 
at the base of the spikes ; a cliaracter which we fear cannot be 
impHcitly trusted in this group of Carices, since we observe 
considerable diversity in this respect. We have at present no 
specimens of C. mirahilis from the author, and therefore are 
unable to decide whether it be entitled to rank as a species. 
We ha\^e, however, several specimens which correspond with 
Prof. Dewey's description ; but they appear to connect C. 
festucacea with the succeeding species. 
37. C. CRISTATA, Scluc! (Dial. tab. I. c. Schic. ^ Torr.! 
car. I. c. p. 315. t. 25. f. 1. 
Hab. Northern and iNIiddle States, and British America ! 
38. C. straminea, Schkuhr, car. 1. p. 49, f. 34. & 
157 ; Deivey, car. I. c. 11. p. 157. 
/3. minor ; slender; spikes smaller ; fruit with an ovate cir- 
cumscription, narrowly winged. 
C. straminea 0. minor, Dewey ! I. c. 
C. tenera, Dewey! car. I. c. 8. p. 97 ; & 9, t. C. f. 9. 
y.foenea; spikes more or less approximate (green); fruit 
broadly ovate, with a somewhat narrower wing. 
C. foenea, Muhl..' gram. p. 227; Schiv. S^' Torr.! car. I. c. p. 318; 
Deicey ! car. I. c. 36, p. 142. 
Hab. United States and British America. /S. Northern 
States and British America ! y. New Jersey ! Pennsylvania 
and Southern States ! — We are not wholly satisfied with 
the present arrangement of the perplexing group which 
comprises this and the 3 preceding species. The number 
should, perhaps, be still further diminished, since, notwith- 
standing, the apparent distinctness of these several forms, a 
suite of intermediate specimens may readily be collected so as 
to exhibit a regular gradation from the narrow fruit of C. sco- 
paria to the almost orbicular and broadly-winged fruit of C. 
stramirifa. No dependence can be placed on the presence or 
