which the terminal one is much the largest, linear-oblong,
and in the lowest spikelet almost wholly composed of fertile
florets even when the general character of the spike is barren;
as is the case at other times with the second and third spike-
lets also. Barren florets in general wholly above the fertile
in the same ultimate spikelet; though rarely one or two barren
florets are found mixed with the fertile. Scales of the
barren florets closely imbricated, obtuse, persistent, brown
with a broad scarious border and green nerve vanishing below
the summit: those of the fertile florets more lax, narrower
and more acute, the nerve often excurrent, pale brown with
a white border. Fruit nearly erect: perigynium Jk in. long
and 2V in. broad, plano-convex, ovate, acuminate, slightly cleft
at the point, opake, pale brown and often dotted; about
8-nerved in front, with the exterior nerves converging; 3-5-
nerved at the back; all the nerves vanishing above: its edges
blunt at the base, serrated from below the middle nearly to
the point. Achenium attenuated below and tipped with the
base of the style. Stigmas 2, more than half included within
the perigynium. Stamens 3, their anthers tipped with a
corona.
Our figure is taken from a specimen gathered in Balls
Wood, two miles south-west of Hertford, in July 1843. For
the chief part of the character we are indebted to Dr. Boott,
who has also furnished us with much valuable assistance in
the synonymy and description.—W. H. C o l e m a n .