16 
Holm, The genus Carex in North-West America. 
North prevents us from counting them among our northwestern 
types, C. macrocepliala is not confined to our region either, since 
it has been reported from Eastern Asia: Siberia, Japan and China. 
The only northwestern type is an ally of C. Douglasii, namely 
C. irrasa, so far only- known from Idaho and Washington, besides 
the variety hracteata of C. inacrocephala, collected in Alaska. 
Carices athrostachyae. 
As mentioned above several of these occur in our region and 
are by no means infrequent, nevertheless none of these ma\^ be 
considered as types. In regard to C. festiva, which is here accom- 
parfied by several and very well marked varieties, we feel inclined 
to believe that the center of the geographical distribution as well 
as of the development of the species must be sought on this 
continent, and especially in the Rocky iNIountains, rather than in 
Greenland or in northern Europe. C. festiva is here associated 
with some more or less aberrant forms, which we have enumerated 
as varieties, and some of these exhibit a very distinct habit for 
instance Haydeniana and deciimbens yet with the characters of the 
species. well retained, and besides these we meet with closely 
allied species as for in-stance C. athrostachya, muttimoda d.nd j^eta- 
sata. Some others, but of a more distant relationship, occur also 
as associates, prominent among which are C. pratensis, aenea and 
Liddonii, thus the grex is well represented in our region even if 
it does not contain' any types that are limited to North-West- 
America alone. 
Carices pterocarpae. 
With the exception of C. straminiformis all the other species 
that are represented in our region are eastern; none of these are 
frequent and none have been observed in Alaska or in Yukon. 
Carices ceplialostacliyae. 
C. pansa is a northwestern type; it shows the same habit as 
C. arenaria, but the spikes are almost black and the scale-like 
leaves of the creeping rhizome very dark. The occurrence of 
C. foetida in this region so very remote from its European stations 
is difticult to explain; it seems, also, very stränge that C. Cayana, 
a South-American species, has reached our region. 
Carices melana nthae. 
Of the Yignea-like „formae hebetataC' C. cdpina is the only 
One that inhabits our region, and it is rare. Among the higher 
developed species C. edrata and chcdciolepis have been found at 
a few stations, but are more frequent farther east and south, 
especially in the Rocky iMountains. A species that is very 
characteristic and peculiar to the region is, on the other hand, 
C. Mertensii, known from many places in Alaska, Oregon and 
Washington, besides from Idaho, British Columbia and Vancouver 
island, extending as far east as jMontana. It represents the most 
evolute type of the grex, and is readily distinguished by its 
numerous gynaecandrous, heavy, drooping spikes and pale, very 
thin perigynia. C. stylosa with its nearest ally C. accedens are, also. 
