ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE GENUS CAREX. 
13 
luxuriant state of the plant. In the spicuhe, by the gradual elon¬ 
gation of the rachis in maturity, the female florets become more 
and more lax, and the size and substance of the perigynium are 
often materially modified by the deposition of spongy matter be¬ 
tween the coats. Peculiar localities also will undoubtedly explain 
many of the characters observable in the specimens upon which 
some of the species have been founded. 
33. C. nivalis (Boott); spicis 4 vel 3-5 oblongis vel 
cylindricis basi attenuatis atro-purpureis concoloribus in- 
terdum albido-variegatis, superioribus, rarius omnibus, 
basi masculis contiguis sessilibus erectis, inferioribus ex- 
serte pedunculatis nutantibus, infima subremota rarius 
basi composita breve bracteata; stigmatibus 3; perigy- 
niis ellipticis erostratis vel plus minus in rostellum ab- 
rupte desinentibus, ore subintegro vel emarginato demum 
albo-hyalino oblique fisso, atro-purpureis basi vel medio 
et basi albidis enerviis tenuissirnis superne granulatis 
marginibusque plus minus serrato-dentatis, squama lan- 
ceolata acuta vel mucronata purpurea concolori vel nervo 
pallido longioribus latioribusque.—C. nivalis, Boott, Lin, 
Trans, xx. 136. (Tab. XXXV.) 
Var. cinnamomea; spicis cinnamomeis concoloribus, 
Boyle, Herb. “ C. cinnamomea,” Boott, l. c. 136. 
Hab. In Himalaya occidentali et Tibetia alpina, alt. 
14-18,000 ped.: Kunawur, Jacquemont; Ladak et Nubra, 
Thomson; Gugi, Strachey et Winterbottom. “ Supra Dhun- 
rao, versus fauces montium Mana dictas, alt. 16,000 
ped.,” Edgeworth. 
Stolonifera. Culmus 1-2-ped., acute triqueter, granulatus, 
erectus, ssepe apice nutans, inferne foliatus; pars spicas ge- 
rens 2-10 poll, longa. Folia 2-4 lin. lata, culmo breviora, 
plana, apice attenuata, margine scabra, granulata. Bractece 
inferiores subfoliacese, spiculis suis breviores, vaginatse; supe- 
riores pur pur cm, squamseformes. Pedunculus infimus 1-5- 
poll., granulatus. Vagina infima |-1-| poll, longa. Spicce sse- 
pius 4, rarius 3-5, purpurese vel albido-variegatse, 7 lin. ad 1| 
poll, longse, 3-3| lin. latse : superiores smpius 3 (rarius 2-4 
vel omnes) basi masculm: inferiores basi attenuato-laxiflorse, 
nutantes. Perigynium ‘}pa~To bn. longum, T s - 0 —1 T 2 0 - lin. latum. 
Achenium (cum stipite yu lin. longo) lyu- bn. longum, -pg- lin. 
latum, insequaliter trigonum, pallidum. 
I described this species in 1846, in the twentieth volume of the 
Linnean Transactions, from a solitary specimen given to me by 
Mr. Edgeworth. I have since had the opportunity of examining 
those brought from India by the distinguished botanists quoted 
above. Its affinity is with O. ustulata, G. coriophora, G. cinnamo¬ 
mea, etc., from the last of which it is scarcely distinguishable ex¬ 
cept by its dark purple colour and larger perigynia. In the group 
to which they belong we have a similar contrast in colour in other 
species very closely allied, as in G. ovata, Rudge, compared with 
G. atrata, L., and in G. coriophora, Fischer, as compared with C. 
ustulata, Wahl.; and probably future observers, in seeing a larger 
suite of specimens from different localities, may combine these 
species now considered distinct. The contrast between the ori¬ 
ginal specimens of G. cinnamomea and G. nivalis left no doubt on 
my mind, at the time, of their specific difference ; but though I 
do not quote the one as a synonym of the other, I doubt much 
now. 
The figure of the perigynium at a represents it as trigonous, 
which is not correct. Its texture is membranous, and in the dried 
state the form is compressed, taking in the middle anteriorly the 
impress of the small triquetrous achenium. The only nerves are 
the two marginal ones, which, in the compressed state, appear at 
some distance from the apparent margin, and the style is visible 
through the transparent texture. The fig. c is more correct. 
In Dr. Thomson’s specimens the spikes have a remarkably va¬ 
riegated white and purple colour, from the blanched spots at the 
upper sides of the perigynium, and the rostrum is generally more 
decided in form than is represented in the figure. Some of the 
leaves are faded and torn into blanched shreds^ In twenty-three 
specimens I find— 
3 spicis 3. 4 spicis 2 superioribus basi masculis. 
15 spicis 4. 17 spicis 3 superioribus basi masculis. 
5 spicis 5. 1 spicis 4 superioribus basi masculis. 
1 spicis omnibus (3) basi masculis. 
23 23 
34. C. CMnensis (Retz); spicis 5-6 cylindricis erectis 
subapproximatis pallidis, terminali mascula pedunculata, 
reliquis fcemineis laxifloris exserte pedunculatis, bracteis 
angustis inflate vaginantibus, superioribus spicis suis bre- 
vioribus, infima culmo breviori; stigmatibus 3 ; perigy- 
niis ellipticis acute triquetris longiuscule rostratis basi 
attenuatis, ore bidentato membranaceo oblique secto, pu- 
bescentibus crebre sequaliter nervosis pallidis divergen- 
tibus, squama lineari-lanceolata acuta vel ssepe emargi- 
nata obtusa longe liispido-cuspidata pallida medio viridi 
trinervi latioribus brevioribusque.'—C. Chinensis, Betz, 
Obs.; Wahl. Act. Holm. iii. 155; Willd. iv. 283; Schk, 
70; Kunth, 517; Spr. Syst. iii. 825. C. Retzii, Nees, 
l.c. 128. (Tab. XXXVI.) 
Hab. In China: Canton, Bladh, apud Wahlenberg; 
Macao, Gaudichaud, Herb. Mus. Baris. 
Culmus subpedalis, triqueter, scaber, basi foliosus; pars spi¬ 
cas gerens 6-7 poll, longa. Folia 1-2 lin. lata, culmo lon- 
giora. Bractece vaginantes : infima 1-1 lin. lata. Vagince 
subinflatse: infima 6-8 lin. longa. Pedunculus infimus 1 \ 
poll, longus. Spica mascula 14-18 lin. longa, 1-1J lin. lata. 
Spicce fceminece 1-11 poll. Ion gag 2-3 lin. late, a se 1-11 
poll, remote. Squamce conformes. Perigynium l|--2 lin. 
longum, vix | lin. latum. Achenium -y (7 lin. longum, T 4 (T lin. 
latum, ovale, utrinque acutum, perigynio arete tectum, atro- 
purpureum; basi styli incrassata, triquetra, decidua. 
I am indebted to M. Spach for the knowledge of this species, 
and for the figure taken from Gaudichaud’s specimen in the her¬ 
barium at the Garden of Plants at Paris. I had previously seen 
it in the herbarium of Sir W. J. Hooker; but the expression of 
Wahlenberg, “capsulis ovali-ventricosis,” had made me doubt 
about its being Retz’s plant. As the achenium ripens, and the 
rostrum and attenuated base of the perigynium proportionally 
shrink, the epithet ventricose is to a degree applicable, though 
the achenium is closely invested by the perigynium. It is remark¬ 
able that Wahlenberg alone alludes to the pubescence of the peri¬ 
gynium. Retz remarks the resemblance of the spikes to those of 
G. Pseuclocyperus, probably from the form of the scales; for the 
two species are not otherwise allied. He says, “ Spic® foemine® 
omnino Pseudocyperi, sed erect®, remotse, solitari®, tenuiores.” 
35. C. filifolia (Nuttall); spica simplici androgyna 
apice mascula oblongo-cylindrica nuda ferrugineo- demum 
castaneo-albida; stigmatibus 3; perigyniis triquetro- 
ovalibus rostellatis, ore integro albo-hyalino, pallidis 
apice ferrugineo tinctis scabris enerviis laxiusculis squa- 
mam latiorem obtusissimam medio ferrugineam demum 
castaneam marginibus latissime albo-hyalinis amplec- 
tentem subsequantibus.—C. filifolia, Nutt. Gen. ii. 204 
(1818); Brown in Franklin Nar. App. 763; Schw. et 
Tor. 298; Dewey, Sill. xi. 150 et xii. 296. Uncinia 
breviseta, Tor. Mon. 428. Ivobresia globularis, Dewey, 
l. c. xxix, 253. (Tab. XXXVII.) 
Hab. In America Boreali. Dry plains and gravelly 
E 
