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C A R E X ftrida*
Glaucous Jlraight-leaved Carex.
MONOECIA Triandria.
Gen. Char. Male, Catkin imbricated. Cal. o f t
fcale. Cor. none. Female, Catkin imbricated.
Cal. of i leale. Cor. none. Stigmas 2, or 3. Seed
clothed with a fwelling tunic.
Spec. Char. Stigmas two. Bradteas not fheathing,
llightly auricled. Spikes nearly feffile, cylindrical,
elongated, acute. Fruit deciduous.
Sy n . Carex ftridta. Gooden. Tr. o f Linn. Soc. v. 1.
196. t. a i . f . 9. Sm. FI. Brit. 1000. With. 107.
Hull. 208.
C. casfpitota, Hudf. 412. Lightf. 561, (2.
Gramen cyperoides foliis caryophylleis, fpicis eredtis
feffilibus, e feminibus confertis compofitis. Rail
Syn. 418.
T h i s Carex, though known to Ray, has not been generally
diftinguifhed by modem botanifts from the cesfpitofa, till
Dr. Goodenough clearly difcriminated them in his excellent
paper. They agree in having only 3 ftigmas, no {heaths to
their bradtese, and fpikes nearly feffile ; but the flrida is twice
as large as the c<efpitofa, its leaves more glaucous (or pink-like,
as Ray expreffes it), capfules deciduous, more conftantly in
8 rows, and it flowers in April, a month before the cafpitofa.
The root is creeping. Stem about 3 feet high, fharply triangular,
rough upwards. Leaves eredf and ftraight, as are alfo
the fpikes. It often produces 3 male fpikes, and fhould then be
placed in the fame fedtion with C. acuta, which has alfo but
3 ftigmas, but which is diftinguifhed by its drooping fpikes,
3 or 3 of which are male.
C. JlriBa grows in marftiy places not unfrequently. Mr.
Pitchford found it near Norwich. We have received it from
Cambridge by favour of the Rev. Mr. Holme.