pubescent; spikes all sessile, very short; perigynium obovate, very
strongly many-nerved, retuse, the beak short and straight, equalling or
exceeding the mostly cuspidate scale.--Supposed to have been collected,
a half-century ago, in N. Y. by Torrey, and in Penn. by Schweinitz. It
occurs in the Rocky Mountain region, and high northward.
[*] 6. DACTYLOSTACHYAE.--[+] 1. _Oligocarpae_.
[++] _Sheaths smooth._
65. C. conoidea, Schkuhr. Slender but strict, 1--11/2 deg. high; staminate
spike long-peduncled or rarely nearly sessile; spikes 2--3, scattered,
short-stalked or the upper one sessile (the lowest frequently very
long-stalked), oblong (rarely 1' long) and rather loosely flowered,
erect; perigynium oblong-conical, impressed-nerved, gradually narrowed
to a point, the orifice entire; scale loosely spreading and rough-awned,
equalling or exceeding the perigynium.--Moist grassy places, N. Eng. to
Ill., and southward; rare westward.
66. C. oligocarpa, Schkuhr. Diffuse, 10--18' high; bracts flat and
spreading; staminate spike sessile or stalked; spikes 2--4, scattered,
stalked or the uppermost sessile, loosely 2--8-flowered, erect;
perigynium small, hard, finely impressed-nerved, abruptly contracted
into a conspicuous mostly oblique beak, the orifice entire; scale very
loosely spreading and rough-awned, longer than the perigynium.--Dry
woods and copses, W. New Eng. to Mo., and southward; rare westward.
Often confounded with small forms of n. 58.
[++][++] _Sheaths pubescent._
67. C. Hitchcockiana, Dewey. Erect, 11/2--2 deg. high; spikes 2--4, all more
or less peduncled, very loosely few-flowered, erect; perigynium
triangular-ovate, many-striate, the strong beak prominently oblique,
shorter than the rough-awned scale.--Rich woods, W. New Eng. to Ill.,
and southward to Penn. and Ky.; frequent.
[*] 6.--[+] 2. _Laxiflorae_.
[++] _Sheaths green._
[=] _Perigynium mostly obscurely triangular, the beak very prominent._
68. C. laxiflora, Lam. Slender but mostly erect, 1--2 deg. high; leaves
rarely over 2'' wide, rather soft; staminate spike peduncled or at least
conspicuous; pistillate spikes 2--4, scattered, peduncled or the upper
one sessile, loosely flowered, cylindric or sometimes reduced to
short-oblong, erect or the lower loosely spreading; perigynium obovate,
conspicuously nerved, the short entire beak much bent or recurved; scale
thin and white, blunt or cuspidate, mostly shorter than the
perigynium.--Grassy places, throughout; common. Exceedingly
variable.--Var. VARIANS, Bailey. Mostly stouter than the type, the
leaves broader; pistillate spikes 1/2--1' long, the two upper more or less
contiguous to the staminate spike and sessile or nearly so; bracts leafy
and prolonged.--Copses and grassy places, throughout; common.
Counterfeits var. patulifolia.--Var. STRIATULA, Carey. Diffuse;
pistillate spikes rarely over 1/2' long, the upper sessile and aggregated
about the inconspicuous staminate spike, the lowest usually
long-exserted. Grassy places, throughout; very common.--Var. LATIFOLIA,
Boott. Rather low; leaves 1/2' broad or more; staminate spike sessile or
very nearly so; pistillate spikes cylindric and loose, the upper one or
two contiguous; bracts very broad. Deep rich woods, E. Mass. (_Deane_)
to Penn. and Mich.; common westward.--Var. PATULIFOLIA, Carey. Glaucous;
leaves 3'' broad or more; staminate spike prominent, mostly stalked;
pistillate spikes long and alternately flowered, scattered and
peduncled; perigynium (as in the following varieties) elliptic,
attenuate at both ends, mostly less prominently nerved, and the beak not
strongly recurved. Open places, N. Eng. to Mich., and southward;
frequent.--Var. DIVARICATA, Bailey. Tall and stout; leaves narrower;
staminate spike large and stalked; pistillate spikes scattered, all but
the upper one prominently peduncled, long; perigynium very large,
divaricate, triangular, contracted into a stipe-like base at least half
as long as the body. Near Washington, _Vasey_.--Var. STYLOFLEXA, Boott.
Very weak and slender; leaves 2'' wide or less; staminate spike usually
peduncled; pistillate 2--3, scattered, few-flowered, lowest drooping;
perigynium very long-pointed. S. E. Penn., and southward; frequent.
[=][=] _Perigynium sharply triangular, short, and mostly not prominently
beaked._
[a.] _Spikes drooping or flexuose._
69. C. digitalis, Willd. Very slender, bright green, tufted, 6--18'
high; leaves very narrow (1--2'' wide); staminate spike short stalked;
pistillate spikes 2--4, all on filiform stalks and all but the upper
widely spreading or drooping, linear, alternately flowered; perigynium
very small, impressed-nerved, longer than the acute whitish
scale.--Dryish woods and glades, N. Eng. to Mich., and southward;
frequent.--Var. COPULATA, Bailey. Leaves much broader, and the culms
weak and reclined; spikes heavier and mostly shorter; perigynium larger,
very sharp. Rich woods, central Mich., and probably elsewhere westward.
70. C. laxiculmis, Schwein. Differs from the variety of n. 69 chiefly in
its more cespitose habit, its densely glaucous-blue covering, very
slender culm, and very long and filiform peduncles. (C. retrocurva,
_Dewey_.)--Glades, N. Eng. to Mich. and Va.; rare westward.
[b.] _Spikes erect._
71. C. ptychocarpa, Steudel. Low, glaucous, 3--10' high; leaves flat and
rather broad (2'' or more), much exceeding the culm; bracts leafy and
much prolonged; staminate spike very small and sessile, mostly
overtopped by the upper pistillate spike; pistillate spikes 2--3,
sessile or short-stalked or rarely the lowest long-peduncled, erect;
perigynium tawny, much as in n. 69, twice longer than the very thin
obtuse scale.--Low grounds or swamps, E. Mass., N. J., Del., and
southward; local.
72. C. platyphylla, Carey. Low, spreading, glaucous, 6--12' high; leaves
1/2' broad or more, mostly shorter than the culms; bracts with thin and
sharp-pointed leaf-like tips 1--2' long; staminate spike stalked;
pistillate spikes 2--3, scattered, all more or less peduncled,
alternately 2--10-flowered; perigynium short, strongly many-striate,
about the length of the acute or cuspidate scale.--Rich shady woods and
banks, N. Eng. to Mich., and southward to Va.; mostly local.
73. C. Careyana, Torr. Tall and slender, mostly erect, 1--2 deg. high;
leaves bright green, firm, 3--4'' wide or more, shorter than the long
culm; bracts leafy, longer than in the last; staminate spike heavy and
stalked; pistillate spikes 2--3 (mostly 2), the upper usually near the
terminal spike, and nearly sessile, the other remote and long-peduncled,
loosely 2--8-flowered; perigynium very large and very sharply angled,
the beak oblique, finely many-nerved, twice longer than the sharp
scale.--Rich woods, N. Eng. to Mich., and southward to Washington; rare.
[++][++] _Sheaths usually purple._
74. C. plantaginea, Lam. Slender but erect, 1--2 deg. high; leaves 1/2--1'
broad, very firm, appearing after the flowers and persisting over
winter, shorter than the culm; staminate spike purple and clavate,
stalked; pistillate spikes 3--4, scattered, loosely few-flowered, erect,
the peduncles included in the leafless sheaths; perigynium smaller than
in n. 73, prominently beaked, about as long as the sharp scale.--Rich
woods, N. Eng. to Wisc., and southward; local.
[*] 6.--[+] 3. _Paniceae_.
[++] _Beak cylindrical and prominent; plant not glaucous._
75. C. Saltuensis, Bailey. Very slender and more or less diffuse,
strongly stoloniferous, 1--11/2 deg. high; leaves narrow and soft, shorter
than the culm; spikes 2--3, scattered, all peduncled and more or less
spreading, loosely 3--10-flowered; perigynium small, nearly nerveless,
thin, the beak straight and sharply toothed; scale loose, acute, shorter
than the perigynium. (C. vaginata, last ed.)--Deep swamps, Vt. to Minn.;
local.
76. C. polymorpha, Muhl. Stout, 1--2 deg. high; leaves rather broad, short;
spikes 1--2, short-stalked, erect, compact or rarely loose, usually
staminate at the apex, 11/2' long or less; perigynium long-ovate,
obscurely nerved; the very long and nearly straight beak oblique or
lipped at the orifice; scale reddish-brown, obtuse, shorter than the
perigynium.--Moist meadows, Mass. to N. C.; local.
[++][++] _Beak short or none; plant often glaucous._
[=] _Plants of ordinary habit._
77. C. tetanica, Schkuhr. Rather slender, rarely glaucous, somewhat
stoloniferous; culm scabrous, at least above; spikes all peduncled, the
upper one very shortly so, pale, all more or less attenuate below, the
lower borne in the axils of bracts 3' long or more; perigynium not
turgid, greenish, prominently many-nerved, the beak strongly bent; scale
obtuse or abruptly mucronate, all except the lowest mostly shorter than
the perigynium.--Meadows and borders of ponds from W. Mass. westward;
common westward.--Var. WOODII, Bailey. Very slender and strongly
stoloniferous; leaves narrow, very long and lax; spikes mostly
alternately flowered throughout; scales often sharper. (C. Woodii,
_Dewey_.) Rich woods, N. Y. to Mich., and south to Washington;
frequent.--Var. MEADII, Bailey. Stiffer; leaves mostly broader and
stricter; spikes thick and densely flowered, not attenuate at base, the
upper one often sessile; perigynium larger. (C. Meadii, _Dewey_.) R. I.
to Neb., and southward; rare eastward.--Var. CANBYI, Porter. Stout and
stiff; leaves still broader (about 2'' wide) and flat; spikes thick,
often 1/4' wide; perigynium long, straight or very nearly so; scale large,
nearly equalling or exceeding the perigynium. E. Penn. (_Canby_); Ill.
and Wisc.; little known.
[C.] PANICEA, L. Strict, often stiff, glaucous-blue 1--2 deg. high; culm
smooth; bracts 1--2' long; spikes 1--3, scattered, colored, peduncled,
erect, rather compact or loose below, seldom 1' long; perigynium ovoid,
yellow or purple, somewhat turgid, scarcely nerved, the point usually
curved, mostly longer than the purple-margined scale.--Fields, E. Mass.
and R. I. (Nat. from Eu.)
[=][=] _Very strict, densely glaucous._
78. C. livida, Willd. Culms 18' high or less; leaves narrow, often
becoming involute; spikes 1 or 2 and aggregated or approximate, or
rarely a third nearly radical, sessile or nearly so, erect, narrow;
perigynium ovoid-oblong, nerved, granular, beakless, the point straight
or nearly so, orifice entire; scale obtuse, mostly a little shorter than
the perigynium.--Pine-barrens of N. J., and sphagnum swamps northward to
N. Eng. and L. Superior; local. (Eu.)
[*] 6.--[+] 4. _Bicolores_.
79. C. aurea, Nutt. Low and slender, 1 deg. high or less; bracts exceeding
the culm; spikes 2--4, all but the lowest usually approximate, peduncled
or the upper one or two sessile, erect, loosely few-flowered or
sometimes becoming 3/4' long, at maturity yellow or brown, the terminal
one frequently pistillate above; perigynium fleshy at maturity, nerved,
longer than the blunt scale.--Wet meadows and springy banks, throughout;
rather common.
[*] 6.--[+] 5. _Digitatae_.
[++] _Spikes two or more._
80. C. eburnea, Boott. Exceedingly slender and capillary, erect, 4--12'
high, stoloniferous; leaves shorter than the culm; staminate spike very
small and very short-peduncled, overtopped by the two upper pistillate
spikes; pistillate spikes 2--4, approximate or the lowest remote, all
stalked, erect, 2--6-flowered; perigynium very small, almost nerveless,
smooth and becoming black and shining at full maturity; scale white and
thin, obtuse, shorter than the perigynium.--Tufted in sandy or light
soils from N. Eng. to Ky. and Neb.; frequent.
81. C. Richardsoni, R. Br. Rather stiff, 4--9' high, stoloniferous;
sheaths short, purple or brown; staminate spike stout and mostly
short-peduncled; pistillate spikes 1--2, approximate, the very short
stalks included, erect, compact, less than 1/2' in length; perigynium
obovoid, firm, hairy, the very short beak entire or erose; scale brown
with a conspicuous white-hyaline margin, obtuse or pointless, and longer
than the perigynium.--Dry ground, western N. Y. to Ill., and
northwestward; rare.
82. C. pedunculata, Muhl. Low and diffuse, 3--10' high, forming mats;
leaves abundant, very green, flat and firm, longer than the weak culms;
staminate spike very small, with the uppermost pistillate spike sessile
at its base; pistillate spikes 2--4 on each culm, scattered and
long-peduncled from green sheaths, erect or spreading, many other spikes
nearly or quite radical and very long-stalked, all 3--8-flowered;
perigynium triangular-obovate, smooth or very slightly pubescent above,
the short and nearly entire beak somewhat oblique; scale green or
purple, truncate and cuspidate, mostly a little longer than the
perigynium.--Dry woods and banks, N. Eng. to Va. (_Kennedy_) and Minn.;
frequent northward.
[++][++] _Spike one or rarely a rudiment of a second; plant dioecious._
83. C. picta, Steudel. Rather weak, 1 deg. high or less; leaves flat and
firm, persisting through the winter, at least twice longer than the
culm; a sheathing purple scale at the base of the spike; staminate spike
about 1' long, clavate in anthesis, the purple scales ending in a very
short and blunt whitish tip; pistillate spike narrower and mostly
longer, the scales more abruptly contracted into a colored cusp and at
length deciduous; perigynium obovate, much contracted below into a
stipe-like base, very strongly nerved, entirely pointless, hairy above,
covered by the scale. (C. Boottiana, _Benth._)--In a wooded ravine with
Hepatica and Epigaea, near Bloomington, Ind. (_Dudley_); also Ala. and
La.
[*] 7. SPHAERIDIOPHORAE.--[+] 1. _Scirpinae_.
84. C. scirpoidea, Michx. Strict, the pistillate plant mostly stiff,
6--18' high; leaves flat, shorter than the culm; spike 1' long or less,
densely cylindrical, very rarely with a rudimentary second spike at its
base; perigynium ovate, short-pointed, very hairy, about the length of
the ciliate purple scale.--Mountains of N. New Eng.; Drummond's Island,
L. Huron. (Norway.)
[*] 7.--[+] 2. _Montanae_.
[++] _Some or all of the culms longer than the leaves (or in the type of
n. 85 frequently shorter)._
[=] _Staminate spike minute, wholly or partially concealed in the head;
leaves always very narrow; radical spikes often present._
85. C. deflexa, Hornem. Diffuse and low, tufted; culms 1--6' high,
setaceous, more or less curved or spreading, little exceeding or shorter
than the leaves; staminate spike exceedingly minute and nearly always
entirely invisible in the head; pistillate spikes 2--3, 2--5-flowered,
green, or green and brown, all aggregated into a head, the lowest one
always more or less short-peduncled and subtended by a leafy bract 1/2'
long or less; radical spikes few; perigynium very small and much
contracted below, sparsely hairy or nearly smooth, the beak flat and
very short, mostly longer than the acutish scale. (C. Novae-Angliae, last
ed., mostly.)--High mountains of N. H. and Vt.
Var. Deanei, Bailey. Taller and lax, the culms 6--12' high and some or
all prominently longer than the longer and loose leaves; staminate spike
much larger (2--3'' long), erect or oblique, sessile; pistillate spikes
larger (4--8-flowered), less aggregated or the lowest usually separated,
though rarely more than 1/4' apart; radical spikes usually numerous; bract
mostly longer.--Swales or dryish places, high or subalpine regions, Mt.
Desert, Maine (_Rand_); Essex, Mass.; N. H., Vt., and N. Y.; scarce. In
aspect like n. 86.
Var. media, Bailey. Rather stiff, 4--12' high, in dense tufts; most of
the spikes equalling or exceeding the leaves, the staminate prominent,
erect (3--5'' long), sessile or very short-peduncled; pistillate spikes
2--3, all scattered, the uppermost at or near the base of the staminate
spike, the lowest usually very prominently peduncled and subtended by a
conspicuous bract which surpasses the culm, all rather compactly
3--8-flowered, green, or brown and green; radical spikes several;
perigynium larger, much like that of short-beaked forms of
n. 90.--Keweenaw Co., Mich. (_Farwell_); also far westward.
86. C. varia, Muhl. Erect, mostly strict, 6--15' high, tufted and
somewhat stoloniferous; culms variable in length, often twice longer
than the leaves; staminate spike 3'' long or less; pistillate spikes
closely aggregated, or rarely somewhat loosely disposed but never
scattered, all strictly sessile, green; radical spikes none; lower bract
usually present; perigynium longer-pointed than in the last, about the
length of the sharp scale. (C. Emmonsii, _Dewey_.)--Banks and dry woods;
frequent.--In var. COLORATA, Bailey, the scales are purple. Mostly
southward.
[=][=] _Staminate spike very prominent (or in the variety of n. 89 very
small, but the leaves broad); radical spikes none._
[a.] _Scales smooth._
87. C. Novae-Angliae, Schwein. Very slender and soft, erect,
stoloniferous, 6--8' high; culms little longer than the very narrow
leaves; staminate spike exceedingly narrow (3--8'' long by about 1/2''
wide), mostly minutely peduncled; pistillate spikes 2, or rarely 3, the
upper one near the base of the staminate spike, the lower very
short-peduncled and removed 1/2--1' and subtended by a leafy bract which
nearly or quite equals the culm, both rather loosely 3--6-flowered;
perigynium very narrow, often nearly oblanceolate, small, very thinly
hairy, the beak sharp and prominent; stigmas often 2.--Mountain swamps
of W. Mass., and Mt. Desert, Maine (_Rand_); rare.
88. C. Pennsylvanica, Lam. A foot high or less, erect, strongly
stoloniferous, forming large patches; leaves narrow and more or less
involute, dark or dull green, mostly nearly as long as the culm;
staminate spike 1/2' (rarely 3/4') long, usually dull brown or brown-purple,
sessile or very nearly so; pistillate spikes 1--3, contiguous or the two
lower rarely 1/2' apart, all sessile and usually dark-colored, the lowest
bract very short or at least rarely prominent; perigynium short- or
round-ovate, hairy.--Dry fields; our commonest species.
89. C. communis, Bailey. Habitually taller and stricter, 8--18' high, in
small tufts, never stoloniferous; leaves proportionately shorter, broad
(about 2''), flat and pale; staminate spike mostly longer, often
short-peduncled and usually paler; pistillate spikes 2--4, scattered on
the upper part of the culm, green or tawny, the lowest one or two
sometimes peduncled and often with prominent leafy bracts. (C. varia,
last ed.)--Dry hill-sides; common.
Var. Wheeleri, Bailey. Mostly greener, 3--14' high; leaves soft and flat
and much shorter than the culm; staminate spike 1/4' long or less, very
narrow, sessile and oblique; pistillate spikes mostly closer
together.--Knolls in woods, Ionia Co., Mich. (_Wheeler_), and Alcona Co.
(_Bailey_); Middletown, Conn. (_Barratt_), and Cheshire Co., N. H. It
has much the aspect of n. 86, but is readily distinguished by the broad
leaves and more scattered spikes.
[b.] _Scales rough-cuspidate._
C. PRAECOX, Jacq. Rather stiff, the culm sometimes curved, 3--10' high;
leaves flat, shorter than the culm; staminate spike prominently clavate,
mostly sessile; pistillate spikes 2--3, all contiguous, sessile or the
lowest very short-peduncled and subtended by a bract scarcely as long as
itself, all oblong or short-cylindric, the lowest about 6'' long;
perigynium triangular-obovoid, the very short beak entire or erose,
thinly hispid-hirsute, about the length of the scale.--Fields, E. Mass.
(Nat. from Eu. early in the century.)
[++][++] _Part or usually all of the culms much shorter than the
leaves._
90. C. umbellata, Schkuhr. (Pl. 6, fig. 11--14.) Low, growing in small
and dense mats (1--3' across); leaves short and often stiff (2--6'long),
flat, the earliest very narrow but the later often 2'' broad; spikes all
on separate scapes which rarely exceed 1--2' in length (or rarely one or
two short true culms), usually densely aggregated at the surface of the
ground and hidden by the leaves, the pistillate spikes green or tawny
and rather loosely few-flowered; perigynium slenderly beaked, toothed,
very lightly pubescent, about the length of the acute and often
rough-tipped scale.--Dry banks and knolls, N. Eng. to N. J. and N. Y.,
and perhaps farther westward; infrequent.--Var. VICINA, Dewey. Tufts
looser and larger; leaves longer (often 1 deg. or more) and laxer, sometimes
broader; some pistillate spikes borne near the base of the staminate on
a true culm which is 3--8' high, one or two on each culm. With the
species and farther westward; infrequent.
91. C. nigro-marginata, Schwein. Leaves mostly stiffer than in n. 90,
often broader, and some of the culms prolonged; perigynium smooth or
nearly so, shorter beaked; scales purple-margined, giving the spikes a
very dark or variegated appearance, considerably larger and longer than
in the last.--Dry hillsides, N. J., and southward; local.
[*] 7.--[+] 3. _Triquetrae._
92. C. pubescens, Muhl. Strict, 1--2 deg. high, pubescent throughout; leaves
flat and soft, shorter than the culm; spikes 2--4, the lower 1 or 2
short-peduncled, and about {1/2}' long, loosely flowered, erect;
perigynium very hairy, conspicuously beaked and minutely toothed,
straight, about the length of the truncate and rough-cuspidate thin
scale.--Copses and moist meadows, N. Eng. to Ky., and westward;
frequent.
[*] 8. PHYLLOSTACHYAE.
93. C. Jamesii, Schwein. (Pl. 5, fig. 17--21.) Diffuse, 6--10' high;
leaves very narrow (1'' or less), much surpassing the culm; spike very
small, the staminate portion inconspicuous, the pistillate flowers 1--3
and loosely disposed; perigynium globular, produced into a very long and
roughened nearly entire beak; scale narrow, the lowest often 1--2' long,
the upper often shorter than the perigynium. (C. Steudelii,
_Kunth._)--Woods, N. Y. to Ill., and southward; frequent.
94. C. Willdenovii, Schkuhr. Lower, stiffer, the leaves broader and
pale; spike larger, the pistillate flowers 3--9, compact; perigynium
bearing a prominent two-edged very rough beak; scales chaffy, nerved, as
broad as and somewhat longer than the perigynium, or the lowest rarely
overtopping the spike.--Copses, Mass. to Mich., and southward; rare.
95. C. Backii, Boott. Forming dense mats; leaves still broader (2'' or
more), very abundant; staminate flowers about 3; pistillate 2--5;
perigynium more gradually beaked, smooth throughout; scales very broad
and leaf-like, all exceeding the culm and entirely enveloping the
spike.--W. Mass. to Ohio, and far westward; local and rare, especially
eastward.
[*] 9. LEPTOCEPHALAE.
96. C. polytrichoides, Muhl. Capillary, erect or slightly diffuse,
6--18' high; leaves mostly shorter than the culm; spike 2--4'' long,
linear, the staminate portion very small; perigynium thin and green,
nerved, about twice longer than the obtuse caducous scale.--Bogs;
common.
[*] 10. PHYSOCEPHALAE.
97. C. Fraseri, Andrews. Cespitose; culm 6--15' high, naked or the lower
portion included in loosely sheathing abortive leaves, smooth and stiff;
leaves 1' broad or more, destitute of midrib, very thick and persistent,
pale, 1--2 deg. long; spike whitish; perigynium ovoid, faintly nerved, much
longer than the scale.--Rich mountain woods, Va. and southward; very
local and rare. A most remarkable plant.
Sec. 2. VIGNEA.--[*] 11. ACROARRHENAE.--[+] 1. _Foetidae_
98. C. chordorhiza, Ehrh. Very extensively stoloniferous; culm mostly
erect, 1--1{1/2} deg. long; leaves involute, shorter than the culm;
perigynium globular, very strongly nerved, short-pointed and entire,
about the length of the acute scale.--Cold bogs and soft lake-borders,
Vt. to Iowa, and northward; infrequent. (Eu.)