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arranged and mounted comprised the British representatives 
of the Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Filices, &c. In addition to 
these specimens the contributions of Hailstone, Moore, 
Dalton, and Walker, comprising over 6000 specimens 
required arranging, &c. After due consideration it was decided 
to complete Mr. Hincks’ labour by commencing with the 
British Sedges (Cyperaceae). The arrangement and nomencla¬ 
ture now adopted is that of the London Catalogue of British 
Plants, eighth edition. 
The Natural Order Cyperaceae, or Sedge family, is represented 
by over 2000 species, which consist chiefly of perennial grass¬ 
like tufted herbs, possessing solid, and frequently angular, 
stems. Leaves without ligules and with entire sheaths. 
Although resembling the Gramineae (grasses) in appearance 
they do not possess the nutritious or other qualities of that 
order, and in this respect are of little service to man or animals. 
On the other hand we cannot disregard the importance of the 
genus Papyrus which furnished the ancient Egyptians with 
the paper reed. From the cellular tissues of this plant the 
Egyptians manufactured a paper, by means of which much of 
the history before the Christian era has been recorded, and 
which was for many years the staple of Egypt. 
Of the use of Bulrushes, Sciipus locustris, it may be said 
that coopers employ them for the purpose of filling up the 
joints of casks, and in connection with this subject reference 
may be made to the book of Exodus which contains the 
narrative of the finding of the infant Moses “ in an ark 
composed of bulrushes.'’ In addition to these uses, rushes and 
sedges have been extensively employed in the making of 
baskets, carpets, chair seats, wicks for rushlights and in various 
ceremonial customs. 
In the economy of nature several of the species of this order, 
(Cyperaceae), appear to take up the work of the Sphagnei and 
other mosses. By means of their tufted or creeping rootstocks 
they help to bind the spongy soil of the bogs and marshes, 
and in this way assist in preparing humus for the advent 
of man or animals. 
Among the useful sand-loving and binding plants mention 
may be made of Carex avemria , which is distributed around 
