Teesdale: June, 1842; \V. Borrer, Esq. — Westmoreland ; In Birlulale : Rev. 
J. Harriman, in B. G. — Yorkshire ; On Cronkley Fell, at 2000 feet elevation : 
R. B. Bowman, in N.B.G. — SCOTLAND. Perthshire; Neat the summit 
of Schroine ach Loclten ; a mountain south of Mael Gliyrdy: August, 1827 ; 
YV. YY'ii.son, Esq., in Hooker’s Botanical Miscellany, v. i. p. 84. “ I gathered 
it somewhere on the Breadalbane Mountains, and incline to suppose it was on 
Ben More:” Mr. H. C. YVatson, in N. B. G. 
Perennial. — Flowers in August. 
Root fibrous, tufted. Culms ( stems J solitary, simple, naked, 
from 2 to 6 inches high, striated, smooth, roundish towards the 
base, angular, and rough-edged, at the top. Leaves several, radi- 
cal, spreading or recurved, very slender, strap-shaped, channelled 
on the upper surface, slightly keeled on the under, pointed, striated, 
smooth, rough-edged, shorter than the culm ; their longish sheaths 
closely embracing its base, each crowned with a short, brownish, 
membranous stipula. Spike terminal, compound, somewhat egg- 
shaped, upright, not an inch long, having a short, sheathing, brown, 
membranous bractea, or two, at its base. Spikelels alternate, small, 
brown, usually 2-flowered. Germen oblong, scarcely 3-cornered. 
Style simple. Stigmas 3, strap-shaped, downy. Seed without any 
other covering than the scale (see fig. 3, a.), oblong, somewhat tri- 
angular, horny, smooth, crowned with the base of the style. 
This singular little plant is, in habit, nearly allied to Scirpus, and still more 
closely to Blyssmus, t. 308; hut the flowers are monoecious. From Carex it 
differs in not having the inflated corolla. It is a native of Switzerland as well as 
of Biitain. Sir J.E. Smith found it on Mount Cenis in August, 1787, but 
kept it unsettled in his Herbarium till 1799, in which year it was gathered in 
the county of Durham by Mr. Dickson, to whom, Sir James informs us, is due 
the honour of making it known. The Ilev. Mr. Harriman had found it in 
1797 ; but not being aware of its novelty, he liberally disclaimed the merit of the 
discovery. See Engl. Bot. fol. 1410. 
The drawing for the accompanying plate was made from a specimen kindly 
communicated to me by W. Borrer, Esq., who gathered it in 'l'eesdale in 
June last. 
“ Every tree. 
And bush, and fragrant flower, and hilly path, 
And thymy mound that flings unto the winds 
Its morning incence, is — my friend; for I 
Did make acquaintance with inanimate things 
In very boyhood, and did love to break 
With shouts the mountain silence, and to hang 
O’er flashing torrents, when the piny boughs 
Shook their dark locks, and plained in mournful tones 
Mysterious to the barren wilderness ; 
And still, in solitary spots, my soul 
Resumes its youth .... Think not that this is all 
An idle folly ; lie who can draw a joy 
From rocks, or woods, or weeds, or things that seem 
All mute (and does’t) is wise.” 
Literary Gazette, Oct. 24, 1818. [W.] 
