angles are occasionally slightly rough. Leaves rather broad,
flat, smooth, flaccid, their extreme point triquetrous vrith rough
angles. Spikes 4 or 5 ; the terminal one usually barren, but
occasionally having a few fertile flowers at its apex; the others
fertile, oblong, densely flowered, stalked, slightly pendulous,
not unfrequently having a few barren flowers at their base.
When such occur in C. limosa they are always at the apex.
Bracteas foliaeeous, auricled at the base, rather broad, nearly
flat. Glumes ovate-lanceolate, attenuated, acute, usually longer
than the fruit, purple. Fruit (utriculus) roundish-ovate,
broadest below the middle, narrowed at the base, compressed,
at length lenticular, faintly ribbed, pale brown when ripe,
beak very short and entire. Nut pale brown, elliptical, triangular,
narrowed below, beaked. Stigmas 3.
This plant has usually been considered as a variety of C.
limosa (t. 2043.), but is assuredly a distinct species. It inhabits
deep peaty bogs in the North, and is stated by Fries to
be “gramen ceconomico respectu summopere insigne, in pratis
palu dosis sylvaticis Sueciae occidentalis prcestantissimum fcerium
offerens it is therefore deserving the attention of possessors
of deep bog land in situations where drainage is difficult. It
was first discovered on the Muckle Moss, near Ridley Hall,
Northumberland, by Mr. John Thompson of Crow Hall Mill,
■ who kindly forwarded the specimens figured. It has been
found also at Terregles near Dumfries, and by Professor
Balfour, on a mountain towards the head of Loch Lomond.
It flowers in June.—C. C. B.