[*][*] Achene papillose or warty.

3. S. pauciflòra, Muhl. Smoothish or hairy; culm slender (9–24´ high); leaves narrowly linear; fascicles few-flowered, the lateral pedunculate, sessile, or wanting; bracts ciliate; achene globose-ovate; the disk a narrow ring bearing 3 pairs of minute tubercles.—N. H. to Ohio, south to Fla. and Tex.

[*][*][*] Achene reticulated or wrinkled.

4. S. reticulàris, Michx. (Pl. 5, fig. 6–10.) Culms slender, erect, scabrous (1–2½° high); leaves linear (1–1½´´ wide), smooth; lateral fascicles 1–3, loose, remote, nearly erect, on short often included peduncles; bracts glabrous; achene globose, regularly reticulated and pitted, not hairy, resting upon a double greenish conspicuously 3-lobed disk, the inner appressed to and deciduous with the achene.—E. Mass. to Fla.—Var. pubéscens, Britton. Edges of reticulations more or less hairy, especially toward the apex; lateral fascicles generally on longer peduncles. Pine-barrens of N. J. to Fla.—Var. obscùra, Britton. Achene bony, its surface with very obscure reticulations, nearly smooth at the summit. R. I. and N. C.

5. S. Torreyàna, Walpers. Culms weak, diffuse, slightly scabrous or smooth; leaves linear (2–4´´ wide), smooth; lateral fascicles loose, on more or less elongated and drooping filiform peduncles; achene irregularly pitted-reticulated or pitted-rugose with the ridges somewhat spirally arranged and more or less hairy (sometimes smooth); otherwise as in the last. (S. laxa, Torr.)—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.

6. S. verticillàta, Muhl. Smooth; culms simple, slender (4–24´ high); leaves narrowly linear, fascicles 3–9-flowered, 4–6, sessile in an interrupted spikelet; achene globose (½´´ broad), somewhat triangular at base, rough-wrinkled with short elevated ridges; disk obsolete.—E. Mass. to Ont., Minn., and south to the Gulf.

16. CÀREX, Ruppius. Sedge. (By L. H. Bailey.)

Flowers unisexual, destitute of floral envelopes, disposed in spikes; the staminate consisting of three stamens, in the axil of a bract, or scale; the pistillate comprising a single pistil with a bifid or trifid style, forming in fruit a hard lenticular or triangular achene, which is enclosed in a sac (perigynium) formed by the complete union of the borders of a bractlet or of connate bractlets and borne in the axil of a bract, or scale. Staminate and pistillate flowers borne in different parts of the spike (spike androgynous), or in separate spikes on the same culm, or rarely the plant diœcious.—Perennial grass-like herbs with mostly triangular culms, 3-ranked leaves, usually with rough margins and keel, and spikes in the axils of leafy or scale-like bracts, often aggregated into heads. An exceedingly critical genus, the study of which should be attempted only with complete and fully mature specimens. (The classical Latin name, of obscure signification; derived by some from κείρω, to cut, on account of the sharp leaves—as the English name Shear-grass.) (Pl. 5 and 6.)

§ 1. CAREX proper. Staminate flowers forming one or more terminal linear or club-shaped spikes (often pistillate at base or apex). Pistillate flowers usually in distinct and simple mostly peduncled spikes. Cross-section of perigynium circular, obtusely angled, or prominently triangular in outline. Style mostly 3-parted and achene triangular or triquetrous.

[*] 1. Physocarpæ. Perigynium mostly straw-colored at maturity, papery in texture, usually more or less inflated, smooth (sometimes hairy in n. 6), nerved, tapering into a beak as long as or longer than the body; spikes few to many, distinct, compactly flowered; stigmas 3 (2 in n. 10).

[+] 1. Paucifloræ. Perigynium greenish, linear-lanceolate or almost needle shaped, not inflated, strongly deflexed at maturity, several times longer than the inconspicuous scale; spike androgynous, the pistillate flowers at base, few.—Sp. 1.

[+] 2. Lupulinæ. Perigynium green or greenish tawny or sometimes yellow, more or less inflated (except in n. 2–4) long, usually very turgid at base, mostly erect or nearly so, very gradually attenuate to a long slenderly toothed beak exceeding the scale; spikes 3 or more, the staminate mostly 1 and stalked, the pistillate often sessile, usually short and thick, often becoming dark colored in drying.—Sp. 2–8.

[+] 3. Vesicariæ. Perigynium smooth and shining, much inflated, at maturity straw-colored or sometimes purple, beaked and conspicuously short toothed (entire in n. 10), usually prominently few nerved, much shorter than in [+] 2; staminate spikes commonly 2 or more; pistillate spikes as a rule long and densely cylindrical.—Sp. 9–16.

[+] 4. Pseudocyperæ. Perigynium less inflated, more conspicuously nerved or even costate, and with more or less setaceous or awned teeth; scale usually awned; spikes mostly nodding or spreading, comose in appearance, greenish, greenish-yellow, or ochroleucous.—Sp. 17–19.

[+] 5. Squarrosæ. Perigynium obconic or obovoid, squarrose in exceedingly dense short spikes.—Sp. 20, 21.

[*] 2. Trachychlænæ. Perigynium mostly thick and hard in texture, often scabrous or hirsute, straight-beaked; pistillate spikes compactly flowered, mostly large, erect or nearly so; staminate spikes 1 or more; stigmas 3. Generally large and coarse.

[+] 1. Shortianæ. Terminal spike androgynous, staminate below; perigynium small, scabrous, nearly beakless, entire.—Sp. 22.

[+] 2. Anomalæ. Terminal spike all staminate; pistillate spikes long and cylindrical, mostly dense; perigynium broad and short, short-beaked, the orifice very slightly notched or entire, mostly granulate.—Sp. 23.

[+] 3. Hirtæ. A heterogeneous group, distinguished from [+] 2 by the longer and more deeply cut beak (slightly toothed in n. 24), and by the hairy perigynium (smooth in n. 25)—Sp. 24–27.

[+] 4. Paludosæ. Staminate spikes 2 or more, long stalked; the pistillate 2–several, usually all peduncled, long and heavy, loose-flowered, erect or nodding; perigynium large, thick in texture, strongly nerved, mostly smooth, usually conspicuously beaked. Coarse species.—Sp. 28, 29.

[*] 3. Microrhynchæ. Parallel with [*] 2; distinguished in general by the much smaller and nearly or entirely beakless and mostly entire-mouthed perigynium, which is much thinner in texture; stigmas 2 or 3. Paludose and alpine species, of various habit, mostly with colored spikes, often in dense tufts or tussocks.

[+] 1. Atratæ. Terminal spike club-shaped and androgynous with the staminate flowers below (very rarely all staminate in n. 32); pistillate spikes mostly short and dark-colored, erect or drooping; stigmas 3.—Sp. 30–32.

[+] 2. Rigidæ. Mostly stiff, with short erect closely flowered spikes, an entirely staminate terminal spike, dark colored scales, and bracts with purple or black auricles at base; stigmas 2 or 3.—Sp. 33.

[+] 3. Acutæ. Mostly larger and more slender, usually paludose, with green or light-colored large and long spikes; stigmas 2 (3 in n. 39). Distinguished from [+] 2 mainly by habit.—Sp. 34–39.

[+] 5. Pendulinæ. Distinguished from [+] 4 by the smaller size, smaller spikes, sheathless bracts, and whitish, more or less granulated, nearly pointless perigynium; stigmas 3.—Sp. 42–45.

[*] 4. Hymenochlænæ. Perigynium mostly light green or whitish, usually thin and membranous, often somewhat inflated or loosely investing the achene, commonly smooth and shining (hairy in n. 46, sometimes in n. 47), slender or oblong, attenuate to a distinct or long minutely toothed straight beak (or beakless or nearly so in [+] 1 and n. 55); pistillate spikes several or many, mostly loosely flowered and on filiform nodding or widely spreading peduncles; bracts leaf-like; terminal spike staminate or androgynous; stigmas 3. Mostly rather tall and slender upland species.

[+] 1. Virescentes. Terminal spike pistillate at top; pistillate spikes oblong or cylindrical, dense, erect; perigynium ovate or obovate, nearly or quite beakless, often hairy.—Sp. 46, 47.

[+] 2. Sylvaticæ. Terminal spike all staminate; pistillate spikes mostly long-exserted, slender; perigynium few-nerved, contracted into a cylindrical beak which is longer than the body.—Sp. 48.

[+] 3. Flexiles. Terminal spike all staminate; pistillate spikes rather thick (very small in n. 50), more or less drooping; perigynium beaked, few-nerved or nerveless, tawny or whitish.—Sp. 49, 50.

[+] 4. Debiles. Terminal spike all staminate (occasionally pistillate above in n. 53); pistillate spikes very narrow and slender, long-exserted and nodding, mostly very loosely flowered; perigynium rather small, not turgid, prominently beaked.—Sp. 51–53.

[+] 5. Gracillimæ. Terminal spike pistillate at top; pistillate spikes habitually thicker than in [+] 4; perigynium ovate-oblong, more or less turgid; the beak short or none.—Sp. 54–57.

[+] 6. Griseæ. Terminal spike staminate; perigynium more or less turgid or plump, often glaucous, scarcely beaked, finely striate; spikes erect.—Sp. 58, 59.

[*] 5. Spirostachyæ. Perigynium smooth or minutely granulated or rarely somewhat serrate on the margins, prominently nerved, mostly yellowish, squarrose, mostly beaked (entirely beakless in n. 63), the orifice entire; staminate spike mostly single; pistillate spikes 2–5, short (usually 1´ long or less), yellow or fuscous, compactly flowered; stigmas 3.—Medium-sized species, growing in meadows and grassy swales.

[+] 1. Granulares. Spikes scattered, cylindrical, the lowest long-stalked; bracts erect, long and leafy; sheaths short or nearly obsolete.—Sp. 60, 61.

[+] 2. Extensæ. Spikes mostly approximate or aggregated at the top of the culm (becoming remote in C. extensa), the lowest 1 or 2 subtended by a long and leafy mostly abruptly spreading and nearly or entirely sheathless bract. Terminal spike sometimes androgynous.—Sp. 62.

[+] 3. Pallescentes. Spikes globular or short-oblong, obtuse, sessile or short-peduncled, approximate at the top of the culm; bracts short, leaf-like, sheathless; perigynium entire at the orifice, the beak none or very short and stout.—Sp. 63, 64.

[*] 6. Dactylostachyæ. Perigynium mostly short and triangular, mostly with a short and straight or curved beak, green or greenish, scarcely inflated; scales of the pistillate spikes mostly whitish (sometimes dark-colored in the Digitatæ), often small; staminate spike mostly one; pistillate spikes short (seldom exceeding 1´), commonly rather loosely flowered and slender (spike single and plant diœcious in n. 83); bracts sheathing, the sheaths often conspicuous and colored.—Low and lax or slender species inhabiting meadows and copses.

[+] 1. Oligocarpæ. Slender and narrow-leaved, with leafy bracts and inconspicuous green sheaths; perigynium rounded on the angles, finely many-striate, often somewhat punctulate as in n. 58, to which the group forms a transition.—Sp. 65–67.

[+] 2. Laxifloræ. Slender and more or less broad-leaved, with mostly leafy bracts, green or purple sheaths, and loosely flowered spikes; perigynium mostly conspicuously three-angled, with a more or less curved beak.—Sp. 68–74.

[+] 4. Bicolores. Small species with a beakless, more or less round or pyriform perigynium, which is commonly glaucous; terminal spike androgynous or all staminate; stigmas mostly 2.—Sp. 79.

[+] 5. Digitatæ. Low species; sheaths membranaceous or hyaline and colored, either not prolonged into a bract or the bract very short and not foliaceous; perigynium more or less three-angled, often hairy, the beak straight or nearly so.—Sp. 80–83.

[*] 7. Sphæridiophoræ. Perigynium mostly short and rounded, three-angled in the Triquetræ, firm or hard in texture, not inflated, hairy or scabrous, the beak straight and usually bifid; staminate spike one; pistillate spikes short (1´ long or less), usually globular or short-oblong, more or less sessile and approximate or the longer ones radical (spike single in n. 84); bracts sheathless, short, or obsolete; stigmas rarely two.—Low species of dry ground, with leaves all radical.

[+] 1. Scirpinæ. Spike one, unisexual; plant diœcious.—Sp. 84.

[+] 2. Montanæ. Spikes two to several, the lowest occasionally long-peduncled and radical; perigynium rounded, contracted above and below, mostly bearing two prominent ribs, more or less hairy.—Low species of dry soils.—Sp. 85–91.

[+] 3. Triquetræ. Taller; spikes mostly approximate at the top of the culm, oblong or cylindrical; perigynium conspicuously 3-angled.—Sp. 92.

[*] 8. Phyllostachyæ. Perigynium much as in the Montanæ; spike one, staminate above; pistillate flowers few, often remote, usually on a more or less zigzag rhachis; scales prolonged and leaf-like.—Sp. 93–95.

[*] 9. Leptocephalæ. Perigynium thin in texture, green, oblong or lanceolate or linear in general outline, beakless; spike one, staminate above, thin and slender; stigmas mostly three.—Small, slender and grass-like.—Sp. 96.

[*] 10. Physocephalæ. Spike one, globular or short-oblong, staminate at the apex; perigynium straw-colored, paper-like, more or less inflated; stigmas three. Leaves remarkably broad in our species.—Sp. 97.

§ 2. VIGNEA. Staminate flowers few and inconspicuous, borne at the base or apex of the pistillate spikes. Pistillate flowers in short sessile spikes (or spike single in some cases), which are commonly more or less aggregated into heads or even panicled. Perigynium plano-convex. Styles two and achene lenticular.—The spikes, especially the uppermost, usually have contracted bases when the staminate flowers are borne below the pistillate ones, and empty scales at the top when the staminate flowers are borne at the summit.

[*] 11. Acroarrhenæ. Staminate flowers borne at the top of the spikes (or, in the Multifloræ and Arenariæ, spikes often wholly staminate and the plants occasionally diœcious).

[+] 1. Fœtidæ. Spikes tawny or brown, not elongated, very densely aggregated into a continuous globose somewhat chaffy head; perigynium ovate or ovate-lanceolate, nerveless or nearly so, mostly thin in texture.—Sp. 98, 99.

[+] 2. Vulpinæ. Spikes mostly yellow or tawny when mature, densely aggregated or sometimes somewhat scattered below or even panicled; perigynium thick in texture, spongy at base, mostly stipitate, bearing very conspicuous nerves, which converge below and are especially prominent on the outer side.—Sp. 100–102.

[+] 3. Multifloræ. Heads various, mostly loosely flowered, sometimes a panicle, yellow or tawny; spikes short (rarely longer than broad), staminate flowers sometimes occupying whole spikes in the middle or at the apex of the head; perigynium mostly small and short and nearly nerveless, or in some species becoming nearly lanceolate and more or less prominently nerved, firm in texture, usually numerous.—Sp. 103–108.

[+] 4. Arenariæ. Spikes longer than in the last section, linear or nearly so, aggregated into short, almost globose heads; perigynium lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, mostly larger and more delicate in texture; scales awn-pointed or very acute. Staminate flowers variously situated.—(C. arenaria.)

[+] 6. Dioicæ. Spike commonly one, small; plants small and slender, often diœcious.—Sp. 115–117.

[*] 12. Hyparrhenæ. Staminate flowers borne at the base of the spikes (or in n. 124 and 125 variously situated).

[+] 1. Elongatæ. Spikes silvery green or sometimes tawny when mature, distinct, mostly small; perigynium not wing-margined nor conspicuously broadened, mostly nearly flat on the inner surface.—Sp. 118–124.

[+] 2. Ovales. Spikes tawny or dark, rather large, sometimes crowded; perigynium with a more or less thin or winged margin, which is mostly incurved at maturity, rendering the perigynium concave inside.—Sp. 125–132.

[+] 3. Cyperoideæ. Spikes green, oblong, densely crowded into a short head subtended by two or three leafy bracts which are erect and prolonged from six inches to a foot; perigynium linear-lanceolate, scarcely margined.—Sp. 133.

Artificial Key.

Spike 1, staminate at top; scales of pistillate flowers leaf-like Sp. 93–95

Spike 1, scales not leaf-like.

Usually diœcious, stigma 2 115–117

Stigmas 3.—

Perigynium densely hairy 84

Spike staminate at base; perigynia squarrose 21

Spike staminate at top.—

Globose; leaves broad 97

Perigynium nearly linear, beakless 96

Perigynium long, spindle-shaped 1

Spikes several or numerous, sessile, spicate or capitate; stigmas 2.

All in a globose or ovoid uninterrupted head.

All staminate above.—

Usually green at maturity 112, 114

Usually yellow or tawny or brown 98, 99, 104, 105

All staminate below.—

Leafy-bracteate 133

Not leafy-bracteate.—

Green 118–120

Usually tawny or brown 125–132

Some or all of the spikes distinct or the head interrupted.

Staminate and pistillate flowers variously disposed, some of the spikes often unisexual.

Head large and long 108, C. arenaria

Head short or linear 124, 125

Spikes staminate above 100–114

Spikes staminate below 118–133

Spikes usually more or less pedicelled, the wholly or partially staminate spikes uppermost.

Terminal spike (rarely the 2 or 3 uppermost) staminate only at base.

Stigmas 2 34–38, 79

Stigmas 3; spikes erect,

Short and squarrose 20, 21

Not squarrose 22, 30, 32, 46, 47, 54, 79

Stigmas 3; spikes more or less drooping 31, 51–53, 55–57

Terminal spike or spikes staminate.

Stigmas 2.—

Spikes spreading or pendulous 34, 37, 40, 41

Spikes erect or nearly so 9–16, 34–41, 85–91, 79

Stigmas 3; spikes spreading or drooping.

Perigynium prominently 3-angled 68–74

Perigynium large, thin, much inflated 9–16

Perigynium firmer, not inflated.

Beakless 42–45

Beaked or prominently pointed.—

Teeth long, stiff and sharp 17–19

Teeth short and thin, or none 30, 31, 39, 48–53

Perigynium hairy.—

Spikes very large, globose 6

Spikes very small, sessile or nearly so 81–83, 85–92

Spikes cylindrical, heavy 24–28

Perigynium granular-roughened 23

Perigynium smooth,

Thin and turgid, loosely enclosing the achene.—

Beakless 58, 59

Beaked 5–17

Firm in texture, not inflated,

Long-beaked, deeply toothed 2–4, 26, 28

Less prominently beaked, short-toothed, sharply 3-angled 69–74

Wholly beakless and pointless 58, 59, 63, 78, 79

Very small, black and shining; leaves capillary 80

Culm and leaves thinly pubescent 64

Perigynium more or less pointed or beaked.

Spikes spreading or drooping 51–53, 68–70, 75

Spikes erect 60–62, 65–68, 71–78

[*] 1. Physocárpæ.—[+] 1. Pauciflòræ.

1. C. pauciflòra, Lightf. (Pl. 5, fig. 1–16.) Very slender but erect, 6–18´ high; leaves very narrow, much shorter than the culm; staminate and pistillate flowers 2–5; perigynium at maturity easily detached.—Cold sphagnum swamps, New Eng. to N. Penn. and Minn.; local. (Eu.)

[*] 1.—[+] 2. Lupulìnæ.

[++] Teeth of the perigynium strongly reflexed.

2. C. subulàta, Michx. Green, very slender but erect, 6´–2° high; leaves narrow, somewhat shorter than the culm; bracts leafy, sheathing; pistillate spikes 2–4, scattered, 2–6-flowered; perigynium deflexed.—Deep sphagnum swamps, R. I. to E. Penn., and southward; very local.

[++][++] Teeth erect or spreading.

[=] Whole plant yellowish; perigynium little or not at all inflated.

3. C. Michauxiàna, Boeckl. Slender but stiff and erect, 1–2° high; leaves narrow and firm, shorter than the culm; spikes 2–3, the lowest usually remote and short-peduncled, the remainder aggregated and sessile; staminate spike small, wholly sessile; perigynium not inflated, erect or spreading, twice longer than the blunt scale. (C. rostrata, Michx.)—Bogs and lake-borders, mountains of N. H. and N. Y., and westward to L. Superior; local.

4. C. folliculàta, L. Stout, 2–3° high; leaves very broad and flat, lax; pistillate spikes 3–4, scattered, all but the uppermost prominently peduncled; staminate spike short-peduncled; perigynium larger, inflated, the scale awned and nearly as long.—Cold swamps, New Eng. to N. J. and Penn., and west to Mich.; rather local.

[=][=] Plant green; perigynium much inflated.

5. C. intuméscens, Rudge. Slender, 18–30´ high; leaves narrow, pistillate spikes two, loosely 1–8-flowered, the perigynium erect-spreading, not prominently many-nerved.—Wet pastures and swamps; common.

7. C. lupulìna, Muhl. Very stout and leafy; leaves rather broad and loose; pistillate spikes 2–6, approximate at the top of the culm, all closely sessile or the lower sometimes short-peduncled, oblong or short-cylindrical, very heavy and densely flowered; staminate spike small and sessile; perigynium large and rather soft, erect or but slightly spreading, giving the spike a hop-like aspect (whence the name). (C. lurida, Bailey.)—Swamps and wet pastures; frequent.

Var. pedunculàta, Dewey. Spikes more or less scattered, some or all prominently peduncled; staminate spike usually conspicuous, often long-peduncled, very variable in size; perigynium more spreading. (C. gigantea, Rudge.)—With the species, but more common.

Var. polystàchya, Schwein. & Torr. Stouter, the leaves very broad (often ½´); bracts broad and far exceeding the culm; pistillate spikes 4–6, all long (3–4´) and cylindrical, more or less short-peduncled, somewhat scattered, becoming yellow; perigynium very large, ascending. (C. lupuliformis, Sartw.)—N. Y. and N. J.; not common.

C. lupulìna × retrórsa, Dudley. Distinguished from C. lupulina by its straw-colored perigynium, which is less inflated and more spreading, standing at nearly right angles to the axis of the spike; scales acute to short-awned, rough. (C. lurida × retrorsa, Bailey).—Ithaca, N. Y. (Dudley), and Lansing, Mich. (Bailey). Resembles n. 16.

8. C. grándis, Bailey. Distinguished from C. lupulina, var. polystachya, by its much more scattered and mostly shorter slim spikes, which are comparatively loosely flowered; perigynium swollen below but very abruptly contracted into a slender beak 3–4 times as long as the body, spreading at right angles or nearly so, never becoming yellow; scales narrow, smooth. (C. gigantea of previous editions.)—Swamps, Ky., Del., and southward; local.

[*] 1.—[+] 3. Vesicàriæ.

[++] Spikes very small, globular or short-oblong.

9. C. oligospérma, Michx. Very slender, but stiff, 18–30´ high; leaves and bracts very narrow, becoming involute; staminate spike single, peduncled; pistillate spikes 1 or 2, sessile or the lowest very short-peduncled, 3–8-flowered; perigynium turgid, short-ovoid, gradually contracted into a very short and minutely toothed beak, prominently few-nerved, yellow, nearly twice longer than the blunt scale.—Deep swamps and borders of lakes, N. Eng. to Penn. and Minn.; frequent.

10. C. miliàris, Michx. Culm very slender but erect, 12–18´ high, smooth, or slightly rough above on the angles; leaves almost filiform, mostly shorter than the culm; staminate spikes 1–2, exceedingly narrow, elevated an inch or two; pistillate spikes 1–3, the upper one sessile and the lowest very short stalked, 9´´ long or less, the lower subtended by a short leafy bract; perigynium very small, broad or round-ovate or ovate-oblong, thin but firm, bearing a nerve on each side but otherwise nerveless or very nearly so, rounded into a very short terete entire or somewhat erose beak; scales brown, lance-ovate, white tipped, about as long as the perigynium. (C. rotundata? of last ed.)—Outlet of Moosehead Lake, Maine, and northward.

Var. (?) aùrea, Bailey. Taller and mostly stouter than the type; pistillate spikes one or two, often staminate at top, yellow or stramineous; perigynium longer, gradually produced into a conspicuous and more or less toothed beak, prominently few-nerved, yellow, broader and usually longer than the blunt scale. (C. pulla, and var. miliaris, last ed.)—Outlet of Moosehead Lake (Smith), and northward.

[++][++] Spikes much larger, cylindrical.

[=] Scales all, or all but the very lowest, smooth.

11. C. utriculàta, Boott. Very stout and robust, 3–4° high; leaves broad (4–6´´) and flat, very prominently nodulose, particularly below; spikes 3–4, 3–6´ long, very thick and dense above but usually more or less attenuate below, erect or nearly so, all but the lowest sessile or very short-stalked; perigynium ovate, only moderately inflated, rather abruptly contracted into a short toothed beak, at maturity usually squarrose, rather prominently few-nerved, the upper longer than the sharp scale, the lower shorter than or only equalling the sharper or awned scale. (C. rostrata, Bailey, etc.)—Swamps, everywhere; common. Passes imperceptibly into var. mìnor, Boott, which is distinguished by its much smaller size, spikes 2½´ long or less, smaller perigynium, blunt scales, and narrower and little nodulose leaves. With the type.

12. C. monìle, Tuckerm. Rather slender but erect, 2–3° high, the culm sharply angled and usually rough above; pistillate spikes 2–3, the lowest one or two short-stalked, erect or spreading, 1–3´ long, narrowly cylindrical; perigynium turgid, prominently beaked, about 10-nerved, ascending, longer than the very sharp scale. (C. Vaseyi, Dewey.)—Meadows and swales; common.—In var. monstròsa, Bailey, the plant is very slender throughout, and the terminal spike more or less pistillate, while the remaining spikes are reduced to one or two which are very small and loosely flowered and usually on very long filiform peduncles. E. Mass. (Swan).

13. C. Tuckermàni, Dewey. Differs from the last chiefly in the comparatively shorter (1–2´ long) spikes, which are much thicker (usually ½´ or more); perigynium greatly inflated and very thin and papery, the body broader than long (about 3´´ thick); scale thin and narrow, acute, all but the very lowest less than half the length of the perigynium.—Swamps, W. New Eng. to N. J., and west to Minn.; frequent.

14. C. bullàta, Schkuhr. (Pl. 6, fig. 15–20.) Slender, 1–2° high; culm very sharply and roughly angled, thin but stiff; leaves narrow, rough-edged, stiff; spikes 1 or 2, remote, short and thick (rarely 1½´ long), sessile or the lower short-peduncled, more or less spreading; perigynium turgid but very firm, dull straw colored and shining as if varnished, prominently few-nerved, the long beak usually minutely roughened; scale membranaceous and blunt, about {1/3} as long as the perigynium.—Swamps from E. Mass, to N. J. and E. Penn., and southward; frequent.

15. C. retrórsa, Schwein. Stout, 2–3° high; culm obtusely angled and smooth or nearly so; leaves broad and soft, roughish, much longer than the culm; spikes 3–5, approximate near the top of the culm or the lowest remote, all but the lowest 1 or 2 sessile, 1–2´ long and very compactly flowered, erect or spreading; perigynium very thin and papery, much inflated, prominently nerved, strongly reflexed; scale very short and small.—Swamps, from Penn. northward; common.—In var. Hárth, Gray, a common monstrous form, the spikes are more or less scattered and peduncled, loosely flowered, and the perigynium less reflexed or spreading.

[=][=] Scales all rough-awned.

16. C. lùrida, Wahl. Variable in size, mostly ranging from 1½–3° high, stout; culm rather obtusely angled and smooth; leaves long and loose, rough; spikes 2–4, variously disposed, the 1 or 2 upper sessile, nearly erect or often drooping, very densely flowered; perigynium thin and turgid, often somewhat shining, rather lightly about 10-nerved, very long and slenderly beaked, ascending; staminate spike single, scales linear, half as long as the perigynium or more. (C. tentaculata, Muhl.)—Swamps, N. Eng. to S. Ill., and southward; abundant eastward. Very variable.—Var. grácilis, Bailey. Plant more slender; spikes 2–3, very small and narrowly cylindrical (1´ long or less, and 3´´ broad or less). Mts. of Vt., Penn., and Tenn.

Var. fláccida, Bailey. Lower, scarcely exceeding 12–15´ in height; spikes 2–4, all sessile and approximate at the top of the culm, small and straight (1´ long or less), dull brown or reddish-brown, loosely flowered and entirely lacking the dense and comose appearance of the type; perigynium very thin and much inflated, the body usually larger than in the type and more gradually contracted into the beak.—N. Y. to N. J.; apparently scarce.

C. lùrida × lupulìna, Bailey. Very like C. lurida, but the spikes usually all approximate or only the lowest separated, erect or spreading, all sessile, green or greenish, often curved; perigynium very long-beaked and ascending; staminate spike one, sessile or very nearly so, strongly resembling that of C. lupulina. (C. tentaculata, var. altior, Boott.)—Mass., Conn., and N. Y.; little known. C. lupulina × retrorsa is distinguished from this by its yellow or straw-colored more scattered spikes which are shorter and always straight, and the loose, larger and more inflated perigynia.

[*] 1.—[+] 4. Pseudocypèræ.

[++] Spikes all erect or ascending.

17. C. Schweinítzìi, Dewey. Soft but erect, 1–2° high, stoloniferous, yellowish-green and becoming straw-colored in drying; culm flattish and smooth; leaves broad (3–4´´), the radical longer than the culm, the others mostly short; spikes 3–4, the lower one or two short-peduncled, narrowly long-cylindrical (1½–3´ long, 4´´ broad); perigynium thin and somewhat inflated, prominently few-nerved, the long beak short-toothed, ascending; scale awned and commonly rough at the tip, a little shorter than the perigynium.—Swamps, W. New Eng. to N. J., and west to Mich.; local.

18. C. hystricìna, Muhl. Slender but erect, 1–2° high; culm very sharply angled and rough, at least above; leaves rather narrow, roughish; spikes 1–3, borne near the top of the culm, the upper one often sessile, the remainder on more or less filiform stalks, short (rarely 1½´ long) and compactly flowered; perigynium greenish, very strongly 15–20-nerved, the very slender beak strongly toothed; scale linear and rough-awned, nearly or quite as long as the perigynium.—Swales, throughout; frequent. Often confounded with n. 16.

Var. Dudlèyi, Bailey. Taller; spikes larger and slimmer (1½–2½´ long), light straw-colored, all secund and widely divaricate or nodding; perigynium stronger toothed; scales usually more prominent.—Swales, Conn. (Wright), Ithaca, N. Y. (Dudley), Wisc. (Lapham).

19. C. Pseùdo-Cypèrus, L. Tall and stout, 2–3° high; culm thick and very sharply triangular, rough throughout; leaves very long, rough-margined; spikes 3–5, all slenderly peduncled and more or less drooping, all somewhat contiguous, long (mostly 2–3´) and narrowly cylindrical, very compactly flowered; perigynium elliptic-lanceolate, more or less 2-edged, many-costate, the beak shorter than the body, with erect short teeth, strongly reflexed; scale very rough-awned, about the length of the perigynium.—Swamps and lake-borders, N. Eng. to Penn., and Mich.; rare. (Eu.)

Var. Americàna, Hochst. Mostly stouter, the leaves broader (about ¼´); spikes thicker and commonly more drooping; perigynium longer, the beak mostly longer than the body and the teeth long and prominently spreading. (C. comosa, Boott.)—Swamps; common.

[*] 1.—[+] 5. Squarròsæ.

20. C. stenólepis, Torr. Stout and very leafy, 1–2° high; culm obtusely angled, very smooth; leaves about 3´´ broad, rough on the nerves, the upper and the bracts very much longer than the culm; terminal spike often pistillate at top; other spikes 3–5, the uppermost sessile on the zigzag rhachis, short (1–1½´ or less) and evenly cylindrical, often staminate at top; perigynium very abruptly contracted into a short but slender toothed beak, shorter than the long-linear and rough scale.—Swamps and meadows, central Penn., to N. Ohio, west and southward; frequent.

21. C. squarròsa, L. Cespitose, 2–3° high; culm sharply angled, more or less rough above; leaves broad and weak, roughish, exceeding the culm; bracts much less prominent than in the last; spikes 1–3, thick, the terminal always two-thirds pistillate or more, the remainder more or less stalked, erect or slightly nodding, globular or oblong-cylindric, brown, exceedingly densely flowered; perigynium larger, the beak rough; scale short and usually invisible.—Bogs, throughout; infrequent.

[*] 2. Trachychlænæ.—[+] 1. Shortiànæ.

[*] 2.—[+] 2. Anómalæ.

23. C. scabràta, Schwein. Tall and rather stout, very leafy, 1–3° high, culm sharply and very roughly angled; leaves broad and flat, very rough; spikes 3–5, scattered, the upper 1 or 2 sessile, the remainder often long-peduncled and sometimes nodding, 1–2´ long, narrowly cylindrical and compactly flowered; perigynium broadly ovate, prominently few-nerved, rough, the beak nearly as long as the body and slightly toothed; scale acute and rough-tipped, green-nerved, about as long as the body of the perigynium.—Wet meadows and glades, as far west as Mich.; common eastward.

[*] 2.—[+] 3. Hirtæ.

24. C. vestìta, Willd. Stout and stiff, 2–3° high; culm sharply angled, smooth or somewhat rough; leaves narrow and rather short, roughish; staminate spike 1, rarely 2, sessile or nearly so; pistillate spikes 2–5, approximate and sessile, or rarely the lowest sub-radical, often staminate at top, oblong or short-cylindric (rarely 1´ long), compactly flowered; perigynium ovate, nerved, stiffly hairy, short-beaked, the beak often purple, and white-hyaline at the orifice, which becomes more or less split with age; scale thin and blunt or acute, shorter than the perigynium.—Tufted in sandy soils, from N. Eng. to N. Y., and southward; frequent.

25. C. striàta, Michx., var. brèvis, Bailey. Stiff, 1½–2½° high; culm sharply angled, smooth or slightly rough above, mostly exceeding the leaves; leaves narrow and stiff, becoming involute; spikes 1–2, mostly closely sessile, considerably separated when two, short (rarely 1½´ long) and rather thick, erect; perigynium broad-ovate with impressed nerves, smooth, ascending, short-beaked and very short-toothed; scale thin, obtuse or acutish, mostly about ½ as long as the perigynium.—Pine-barren swamps, N. J., and southward; local.

26. C. Houghtònii, Torr. Stiff, 1–2° high, extensively creeping; culm rather sharply angled, rough, exceeding the leaves; leaves flat and very sharp-pointed; spikes 1–3, sessile or the lowest short-stalked, erect, varying from nearly globular to cylindric (1½´ long), compact; perigynium short-ovate, stiffly pubescent, prominently nerved and toothed; scale thin-margined, acute or awned, shorter than the perigynium.—Sandy knolls and banks from Maine to Minn. along our northern borders, and northwestward; rather local.

27. C. filifórmis, L. Tall and very slender but erect, 2–3° high; culm obtuse, smooth; leaves very long, involute-filiform, rough; spikes 1–3, sessile, somewhat scattered, erect, short and thick (rarely over 1´ long); perigynium very short-ovate, the teeth very short, the few nerves obscured by the dense stiff hairs; scale thin and blunt, about as long as the perigynium.—Bogs, throughout, north of Penn.; frequent. (Eu.)

Var. latifòlia, Boeckl. Culm mostly rough above; leaves flat, 1–2´´ broad; spikes usually somewhat slimmer and scales often sharper and longer. (C. lanuginosa, Michx.)—Swales and low meadows, throughout; common.

[*] 2.—[+] 4. Paludòsæ.

[++] Teeth slender, mostly spreading.

28. C. trichocárpa, Muhl. Stout and tall, 2–3° high; culm sharply angled, rough above; leaves very numerous, flat and very rough, but not hairy, much exceeding the culm; spikes 2–5, scattered, the lower stalked and more or less spreading, long and heavy (1–4´) but loosely flowered at base; perigynium long-ovate, many-costate, sparsely short-hairy, about twice as long as the membranaceous, acute or acuminate scale.—Marshes; frequent.—Var. imbérbis, Gray. Mostly smaller throughout; perigynium smooth; scales usually sharper and longer. Drier places, N. Y. to Mo.; infrequent.

Var. Dewèyi, Bailey. Leaves narrower, often becoming somewhat involute, smoother; spikes short (seldom over 1½´ long), all but the lowest one sessile; perigynium smooth, thick in texture, becoming polished with age, the nerves impressed; scales sharp, mostly a little shorter than the perigynium.—Dakota (Seymour), and northwestward. Resembles small forms of n. 29.

Var. aristàta, Bailey. Mostly stouter; leaves more or less hairy on the under surface and sheaths; perigynium usually longer, smooth, the teeth longer and more spreading. (C. aristata, R. Br.)—N. Eng. to Minn.; rare eastward.

[++][++] Teeth short, erect or very nearly so.

29. C. ripària, W. Curtis. Very large and stout, 2–4° high, stoloniferous; leaves mostly broad, flat, rough, glaucous, much longer than the sharply angled culm; spikes 2–4, scattered and all more or less peduncled, the lowest often very long-stalked, varying from almost globular in starved plants to 3–4´ long, erect or the lower somewhat drooping, loosely flowered below; perigynium ovate-lanceolate, coriaceous, rather lightly many-nerved, becoming polished, the beak short and thick; scale varying from blunt to awned, shorter or longer than the perigynium.—Swales; common. (Eu.)

C. acutifórmis, Ehrh. Stout, 2–3° high; culm thick and sharp, mostly smooth; leaves broad, flat and glaucous, much prolonged; spikes 3–5, all but the uppermost peduncled, spreading or drooping, narrowly cylindric (2–3´ long), loosely flowered below; perigynium ovate, very strongly many-nerved, the short beak slightly toothed; scale rough-awned and longer than the perigynium. (C. paludosa, Gooden.)—Swales, Dorchester, and New Bedford, Mass. (Nat. from Eu.) The former station has been recently destroyed.

[*] 3. Microrhynchæ.—[+] 1. Atràtæ.

[++] Alpine; plant small.

30. C. alpìna, Swartz. Small and slender, ½–2° high; culm thin and obtuse, smooth or roughish, naked above; leaves narrow and flat, shorter than the culm; spikes commonly 3, sometimes 2 or 4, aggregated, globular and very small, all closely sessile or rarely the lowest exceedingly short-stalked; perigynium orbicular or obovate, nerveless or nearly so, the short beak slightly notched, a little longer than the ovate and black mostly obtuse scale.—Isle Royale, L. Superior. (Eu.)

[++][++] Paludose; plant larger.

32. C. fúsca, All. Rather slender but stiff, 1–3° high; culm sharp, roughish above; leaves very narrow, rough, mostly shorter than the culm; spikes 2–4, the terminal rarely all staminate, all sessile and approximate or the lowest sometimes very short-stalked, varying from globular to narrowly cylindric (often becoming 1½´ long), dark brown or variegated; perigynium elliptic and beakless, whitish and granular, nearly nerveless, the orifice entire; staminate scales very long-lanceolate, the pistillate lance-ovate and very sharp, conspicuously longer than the perigynium. (C. Buxbaumii, Wahl.)—Bogs, throughout; frequent. (Eu.)

[*] 3.—[+] 2. Rígidæ.

33. C. vulgàris, Fries. Low and stiff, about 1° or sometimes 18´ high; culm sharp, smooth or rather rough above; leaves narrow and stiff, shorter than the culm, glaucous blue; staminate spike sessile or nearly so; spikes 2–4, all sessile or rarely the lowest very short-stalked, short and erect (1´ long or less), very densely flowered or sometimes becoming loose below, the lowest subtended by a bract 1–3´ long; perigynium appressed, oval or round-ovate, mostly finely striate toward the base, the beak entire or very nearly so, bright green until over-mature; scale ovate and very obtuse, purple with a faint white nerve, conspicuously narrower and shorter than the perigynium, thus causing the spike in the growing plant to assume a characteristic green-and-black appearance.—Swales and low meadows along the sea-board, from Mass. northward; common. (Eu.)

Var. strictifórmis, Bailey. Taller (1½–2½° high) and looser; culms slender; leaves long and narrow, lax, scarcely glaucous; staminate spike longer peduncled; pistillate spikes looser and often longer, mostly brown or tawny-green. (C. limula, Man.)—Swales from E. Penn. northward, near the seaboard; frequent. Often confounded with n. 34, but easily distinguished by the non-cespitose habit, sheaths not fibrillose, and the short scales very obtuse.

Var. hyperbòrea, Boott. Somewhat stoloniferous, low, often smaller than the type; spikes shorter and mostly loosely flowered, often becoming very thin; scales generally longer, giving the spikes a darker color; stigmas often 3. (C. rigida, var. (?) Bigelovii, Tuckerm.)—Alpine summits of N. H., Vt., and N. Y. (Eu.)

[*] 3.—[+] 3. Acùtæ.

[++] Stigmas 2; scales not conspicuously acute, or if so, divaricate.

[=] Spikes erect, or rarely spreading in n. 34.

Var. angustàta. Stricter; spikes longer and narrower (3–4´ long about 1½´´ broad), never clavate, more approximate and always erect, the staminate portion usually much longer (often 1–2´), rust-colored; scales narrower and sharper, mostly longer than the perigynium. (C. angustata, Boott, in part.)—Same range as the type, but less common.

Var. decòra, Bailey. Usually smaller; basal sheaths rarely fibrillose; spikes shorter (seldom over 1´ long), sessile or very nearly so, rarely attenuate at base, spreading, the terminal staminate flowers few, rust-colored; bracts more spreading; scales very sharp and spreading, longer than the perigynium. (C. aperta, Man.)—N. Eng. to Wisc.; rather rare.

C. strícta × filifórmis. Leaves and culms very slender; spikes short (1´ long or less), sessile and compact, the upper 1 or 2 scarcely bracted, pallid; perigynium small, smooth.—Keweenaw Co., Mich. (Farwell.) Exactly intermediate between the two species.

35. C. aquátilis, Wahl. Large and stout, glaucous, 2–4° high; culm very obtuse and smooth; leaves exceedingly long, broader than in the last, the bracts broad and prolonged far beyond the culm; spikes 3–5, 1–2´ long, very compact or the lowest sometimes attenuate below, erect, thick (3´´ broad or less); perigynium round-ovate or broadly elliptic, nerveless, greenish, imbricated; scale obtuse and much shorter and narrower than the perigynium.—Swamps and lake-margins, N. Eng. to Minn.; not common. (Eu.)

36. C. lenticulàris, Michx. Rather slender but erect, pale throughout, 1–2° high; culm sharp, usually slightly rough above; leaves very narrow, numerous, much surpassing the culm; spikes 3–6, more or less aggregated or the lowest remote, the terminal androgynous or staminate, mostly sessile, erect; perigynium ovate, minutely granular, brown-nerved, the tip empty and entire; scale pale and obtuse, about ½ the length of the perigynium.—Gravelly borders of ponds and lakes, northern N. Eng. to Minn.; mostly local.

[=][=] Spikes widely spreading or drooping.

37. C. tórta, Boott. Slender but erect, 1½–2½° high, in clumps, with exceedingly tough and cord-like roots; culm rather sharp, smooth or roughish above; leaves flat and rather soft, those of the culm very short; spikes 3–5, mostly somewhat approximate or the lower remote, the upper sessile and ascending but the others drooping, long and slender (often 3´ long, 2´´ broad or less); perigynium lance-ovate, thin and green, nerveless, the slim upper half empty and more or less tortuous, the beak entire or erose; scale purple-margined and very obtuse, shorter than the perigynium.—Cold banks and swamps, Vt. to N. C.; infrequent.

38. C. salìna, Wahl., var. cuspidàta, Wahl. Rather stout, 1–2½° high; culm rather sharp, smooth; leaves narrow but flat; spikes 2–4, somewhat approximate, the lowest 1 or 2 very short-stalked, erect, short (1½´ or less) and rather thick, the lower subtended by leaf-like bracts 3–4´ long; perigynium elliptic, somewhat granular, marked with 2 or 3 nerves or nerveless, the minute beak entire; scale brown-margined, produced into a lighter and rough awn much exceeding the perigynium. (C. salina, Man.)—Salt marshes, Mass., and along the coast northward; rare in the United States. (Eu.) Anomalous forms, which appear to be hybrids, have been separated as

C. strícta × salìna, Bailey. Spikes thinner and more scattered, more inclined to be peduncled; scales blunt or short-awned, little exceeding the perigynium.—Near Boston, Mass., W. Boott, Morong.

[++][++][++] Stigmas 3.

39. C. prasìna, Wahl. Slender, somewhat flexuose, 1½–2½° high; culm rather sharp, smooth; leaves very narrow, soft and flat, rough; spikes 2–3, peduncled and spreading or drooping, somewhat approximate, green, 1–2´ long, narrow and loosely flowered; perigynium pale, narrowly triangular-ovate, thin, nearly nerveless, produced into a short but slender entire or minutely toothed beak; scale very thin and acute, nearly colorless, shorter than the perigynium. (C. miliacea, Muhl.)—Meadows and bogs, Vt. to Mich., and southward; infrequent.

[*] 3.—[+] 4. Cryptocárpæ.

40. C. marítima, O. F. Mueller. Mostly stout, 1–2½° high; culm sharp, smooth or rough above; spikes 2–6, scattered, all or all but the upper one on very long weak stalks and pendulous, 1–3´ long and thick and bushy, usually staminate at top; perigynium nearly orbicular, pale, few-nerved or nerveless, the beak very short and entire or nearly so; scale produced into a greenish rough awn 3–8 times as long as the perigynium.—Salt marshes of the coast, Mass., Maine, and northward; not common. Leaves smooth, broad and flat. (Eu.)

41. C. crinìta, Lam. Robust and mostly stout, 2–4° high; culm sharp and rough or sometimes smooth; leaves about 3´´ broad, flat, more or less rough on the nerves and margins; spikes 3–6, somewhat scattered, all variously peduncled, mostly secund, curved and drooping (or in small forms rarely nearly erect), 1–4´ long, narrowly and evenly cylindric, compact or attenuate below, often staminate at top; perigynium ovate, thin and puncticulate, obscurely nerved, the minute point entire; scale greenish-brown and rough-awned, 2–3 times as long as the perigynium. (C. gynandra, Schwein.)—Swales; common.—Var. mìnor, Boott. Much smaller in all its parts, 10–18´ high; leaves narrow; spikes 3–4, 1½´ long or less, less drooping; scales less prominent.—Maine to N. Y.; scarce. Somewhat resembles n. 39.

C. crinìta × tórta, Bailey. More slender than C. crinita, the leaves narrower; spikes nearly as slender as those of C. torta; scales blunt or simply acute and little longer than the perigynium, or sometimes very short-awned.—Moist meadows near the Glen House, White Mts. (Brainerd). Might be mistaken for drooping spiked forms of n. 34.

[++] Spikes narrowly cylindrical.

42. C. littoràlis, Schwein. Somewhat slender but erect, 1–2° high; leaves narrow and rather stiff, flat, glaucous, shorter than the sharp and nearly smooth culm; staminate spikes 1–3, dark purple, 1½´ long or less, the scales obtuse; pistillate spikes 2–4, somewhat approximate, on thread-like peduncles, 1–2´ long, usually staminate at top; perigynium lance-oval, faintly nerved, the minute beak entire, mostly longer than the obtuse purple scale; bracts prominently purple-auricled. (C. Barrattii, Schwein. & Torr.)—Marshes near the coast, N. J. and southward; rare.

[++][++] Spikes globular or oblong.

[=] Scales very sharp, prominently longer than the perigynium.

43. C. Magellánica, Lam. Slender but erect, 8–18´ high; leaves flat and lax, somewhat shorter than the culm; lowest bract as wide as the leaves or nearly so and exceeding the culm; spikes 2–3, approximate, all slenderly stalked and drooping; perigynium orbicular or broad-ovate, nerved in the centre, ½–{2/3} the length of the scale. (C. irrigua, Smith.)—Deep swamps, throughout, north of Penn.; local. (Eu.)

[=][=] Scales blunt, little exceeding the perigynium.

44. C. rariflòra, Smith. Very small but stiff, 4–10´ high, somewhat stoloniferous; culm obtuse and very smooth; leaves very narrow, becoming involute, shorter than the culm; spikes 1–2, only 3–10-flowered, drooping, borne in the axil of a minute awl-like and purple-auricled bract; perigynium ovate, nearly pointless, obscurely nerved, mostly a little shorter than the enveloping scale.—Mt. Katahdin, Maine (Goodale). (Eu.)

45. C. limòsa, L. Slender but rather stiff, 1–2° high, stoloniferous; culm sharp, rough above; leaves very narrow, strongly keeled or involute; spikes 1–2, nodding on short stalks or the upper one erect, oblong, springing from the axil of a very narrow bract which is nearly always shorter than the culm; perigynium very short-pointed, about the length of the broad scale.—Deep swamps, throughout, north of Penn.; local. (Eu.)

[*] 4. Hymenochlæ̀næ.—[+] 1. Virescéntes.

46. C. viréscens, Muhl. Slender, erect or spreading, 1–1½° high; leaves very narrow, more or less hairy; spikes 3–5, green, short-oblong, all somewhat stalked and often spreading, compact (1½´´ thick or less); perigynium ovate and costate, very hairy, longer than the thin and white acute scale.—Var. costàta, Dewey, usually the commoner form, is taller (often reaching 2½°), with spikes long-cylindric, ½–2´ long, and a stronger ribbed perigynium.—Banks and copses, N. Eng. to Mich., and southward; common eastward.

[*] 4.—[+] 2. Sylváticæ.

48. C. longiróstris, Torr. Very slender but erect, 1½–3° high, growing in stools; leaves narrow, flat, loose; spikes 3–5, 1–2´ long, loosely flowered, drooping; perigynium thin, slightly inflated, green, nearly nerveless, spreading, the beak longer than the body, about the length of the awned scale.—Shady banks from N. Eng. to Neb., and northward; frequent.—Var. mìnor, Boott. Smaller and slenderer; spikes 9´´ long or less, very narrow and very loosely or even alternately few-flowered; perigynium smaller. Neb. and westward.

[*] 4.—[+] 3. Fléxiles.

49. C. castànea, Wahl. Slender but erect, 1–2½° high; leaves broad and flat, hairy, much shorter than the rough culm; spikes 2–4, approximate, widely spreading or drooping on filiform stalks, 1´ long or less, rather dense, tawny; perigynium broad lanceolate, gradually narrowed into a beak ½ as long as the body, thin, with a nerve on each side, longer than the light brown or whitish acute thin scale. (C. flexilis, Rudge.)—Banks, Conn. to Minn.; local.

C. arctàta × castànea, Bailey. Leaves mostly narrower, less hairy or smooth; spikes very slender and loosely flowered (scarcely over 1´´ wide), erect or drooping, chestnut color; perigynium thin, long-ovate, shorter-beaked, lightly nerved, mostly surpassing the pointed whitish scale. (C. Knieskernii, Dewey.)—Oneida Co., N. Y.; Keweenaw Co., Mich. (Farwell); N. Minn.

50. C. capillàris, L. Very slender but erect, 2–12´ high; culm smooth, longer than the narrow flat or at length involute leaves; spikes 2–4, either scattered or approximate, all more or less long-peduncled and drooping, borne in the axils of conspicuous sheathing bracts, very small (3–12-flowered); perigynium thin, very small, oblong-ovoid, the beak hyaline-lipped, longer than the very obtuse white scale.—Alpine summits of the White Mts.; Cortland, N. Y., Alcona Co., Mich., and Point de Tour, L. Huron. (Eu.)

[*] 4.—[+] 4. Débiles.

[++] Perigynium thin, rarely with more than two prominent nerves.

51. C. arctàta, Boott. Slender, erect, 1–2° high; radical leaves much shorter than the culm and very broad (2½–5´´), flat; bracts broad and short, long-sheathing; spikes 3–5, all widely spreading or drooping on filiform stalks, 1–3´ long and exceedingly slender; perigynium short (2´´ long or less), abruptly and conspicuously stipitate and abruptly contracted into a beak, 3-cornered, prominently nerved, green, mostly spreading, scarcely longer than the very sharp or cuspidate scale.—Woods and copses, N. Eng. to Penn. and Minn.; common.

52. C. débilis, Michx., var. Rúdgei, Bailey. Very slender and diffuse, 1–2½° high (or rarely reduced to 3–4´!); leaves narrow and lax, longer than the culm; spikes mostly heavier than in the last; perigynium much longer, very gradually narrowed at each end, scarcely angled and not prominently nerved, rusty when ripe, erect, twice longer than the obtuse or acutish scale. (C. debilis, of last ed.)—Copses, N. Eng. to N. Mich., and southward; frequent east and southward.—Var stríctior, Bailey. Usually taller, strict; leaves broader (about 2´´ wide) and firmer; spikes stiffer, simply spreading or even erect; perigynium mostly shorter and greener, often little exceeding the scale. White Mts. (Faxon).—Var pùbera, Gray. Perigynium usually more slender, more nerved and minutely pubescent. Center and Lancaster Counties, Penn. (Porter, Lumsden), and Bedford Co., Va. (Curtiss).

C. débilis × viréscens, Bailey. Plant slender and very green; leaves flat, rough, mostly longer than the culm, spikes 2–3, 2´ long, thin and slender, erect or nearly so, the terminal one bearing a few pistillate flowers at top; perigynium exactly intermediate between the two species, lance-ovate, nerved and slightly hairy, short-beaked, thin, twice longer than the scale.—Revere, near Boston, Mass. (Faxon).

[++][++] Perigynium firm, prominently many-nerved.

53. C. venústa, Dewey, var. mìnor, Boeckl. Slender but strict, 1½–2° high; leaves narrow and strict, about as long as the culm; spikes 1–2´ long, scattered, the upper usually ascending, the terminal one sometimes staminate at top; perigynium ascending, the very short and stout beak prominently toothed, thrice longer than the rusty narrow scale. (C. glabra, Boott.)—Sphagnous swamps, Oneida Co., N. Y., N. J., and southward; local.