The following is the arrangement of the British species of this order, according to the recent investigations of Professor Nees von Esenbeck.

I. CYPEREÆ.

Hermaphrodite. Spikelets imbricated in two rows, 1- or manyflowered, generally naked, occasionally collected in a regular imbricated spike, each under a single scale. Perianth 0, or setaceous, like a cup. Interior scalelets adnate to the rachis, or wanting. Caryopsis not beaked with a distinct style, pointless, or occasionally having a beak-like point.

I. Cyperus 1. longus.

2. fuscus.

II. SCIRPEÆ.

Hermaphrodite. Spikelets imbricated in all directions.

Scalelets

of the perianth either wanting, or separate, narrow, bristle-like, or filiform, surrounding the floret, or forming a short membranous

cup.

a. Perianth 0.

II. Isolepis. Style trifid, nearly equal at base, deciduous. Caryopsis three-cornered, or plano-convex.

1. Isolepis setacea.

2.

Holoschoenus = Holoschoenus vulgaris, p. 283.

III. Heleogiton. Style bifid, continuous with the point at the base, leaving a little point after its fall. Caryopsis compressed, stalked. Spikelet solitary, terminal.

1. Heleogiton fluitans.

b. Perianth like threads, bristles, or hairs.

IV. Blysmus. Divisions of the perianth thread-like, soft, downy, permanent. Style bifid. Spikelets supported by a scale.

V. Eriophorum. Divisions of the perianth very numerous, permanent, capillary, very long, collected at the base into bundles, and forming a long silky plume.

All the species.

Style trifid.

VI. Scirpus. Divisions of the perianth stiff permanent bristles. Style 2-3-fid, equal, deciduous.

plano-convex, with a little point.

All the species.

Caryopsis double-convex, or

VII. Scirpidium. Divisions of the perianth 1-3 slender, stiffish, fugacious bristles. Style 3-fid, with a bulbous permanent base. Caryopsis double-convex, smooth. Spikelet solitary, terminal.

1. Scirpidium aciculare Heliocharis acicularis, p. 280.

VIII. Heliocharis. Divisions of the perianth stiff permanent bristles. Style trifid or bifid, with a corky, wrinkled, bulbous base, which is permanent in the fruit. Caryopsis obovate, double-convex. Spikelet solitary, terminal.

Hermaphrodite, or with different sexes in the same spikelet. Spikelets two-rowed, very rarely with more florets than one; the lower empty scales smaller. Perianth generally present and permanent, in the form of bristles or a cup. Caryopsis beaked, regularly sculptured; the rostrum, in most species, separate.

IX. Rhynchospora 1. alba. A

2. fusca.

IV. CLADIEÆ.

Hermaphrodite. Spikelets two-rowed, or imbricated in three or four rows, containing one only, or a small number of florets; the lower scales empty. Perianth either absent, or like a cup, or in the form of bristles. Caryopsis nut-like, smooth or wrinkled irregularly, pointless, or with one uninterrupted beak.

a. Scales in 2 or 3 rows.

X. Schoenus. Perianth 0. Style trifid.

with a very little point.

1. Schoenus nigricans.

Nut either pointless or

b. Scales in many rows.

XI. Cladium. Perianth 0. Style bifid, with its arms bifid or trifid. Nut pointleted, with a shell which is thickened and corky towards the point. Seed smooth.

1. Cladium germanicum Cladium Mariscus, p. 283.

=

V. ELYNEÆ.

Florets unisexual. Spikelets compound, with the scales imbricated either in two rows, or equally, covering a single unisexual floret, or two monoecious ones, which are generally valvular. Perianth

0. Caryopsis mostly beaked.

Style trifid.

Scales of the female

XII. Kobresia. Spikelets aggregate, monoecious.

floret two, of the male absent.

1. Kobresia caricina.

VI. CARICEÆ.

Monœcious. Caryopsis entirely enclosed within an envelope.

XIII. Carex, all the species.

Page 284.

CAREX.

4. C. Vahlii Schkuhr.

E. B. Suppl. 2666.

Spikes 3-4, roundish or oblong, aggregated; the terminal one with barren flowers at its base. Stigmas 3. Fruit obovate, scabrous above, with minute crystalline prickles, shortly beaked, longer than the ovate-obtuse glume. Stem triangular, rough at the edges. Greville.

Scotch mountains.

Page 291.

51.* C. aquatilis Wahlenb. E. B. Suppl. 2758. Fertile spikes 3-4, linear, elongated, attenuated downwards, somewhat distant; the lower ones stalked. Stigmas 2. Bracts long, Fruit roundish, obovate, with a very short Stem smooth, obtusely triangular. Sheaths of the

leafy; sheaths none.
entire point.

leaves never fibrous.

Greville.

Clova mountains. - Perennial.

Page 292.

60. C. stictocarpa.

E. B. Suppl. 2772.

This is reduced to a variety of C. recurva by Mr. D. Don.

Page 292. 61. C. angustifolia.

Mr. Don reduces this to C. cespitosa.

2. D. humifusa Pers.

E. B. Suppl. 2770.

E. B. Suppl. 2613.

Leaves and sheaths glabrous. Florets ovate, downy. Hooker.
Sandy fields. Annual. July, August.

5. A. planiculmis Schrad.

E. B. Suppl. 2684.

Panicle erect, compound. Spikelets erect, linear, oblong, of from 5 to 7 florets, much longer than the glumes. Leaves rough, broadly linear, suddenly acute, minutely serrated. Sheaths sharply keeled, rough. Lower part of the stem slightly compressed, 2-edged. Hooker.

A. latifolia Hort.

Isle of Arran. - Perennial. July.

INDEX

OF

THE ORDERS, GENERA, AND SPECIES.

Exclusive of the Supplement.