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C A R E X binervis.
Green-ribbed Carex.
MONOECIA Triandria.
Gen. Char. Male, Catkin imbricated. Cal. of one
scale. Cor. none. Female, Catkin imbricated.
Cal. of one scale. Cor. none. Stigmas 2 or 3.
Seed clothed with a swelling tunic.
Spec. Char. Sheaths elongated, shorter than the flower-
stalks. Spikes cylindrical, remote, often compound.
Scales pointed. Fruit with two principal ribs.
S yn. Carex binervis. Sm. Tr. o f Linn. Soc. v. 3. 2 6 8 .
FI. Brit. 993.
C. distans. Lightf. 5 6 1 .
W e have received this from Mr. Brunton, who gathered it
near Rippon, and from various parts of Britain. Prof.] Beattie
informs us that it is very common on the driest moors or heaths
about Aberdeen, flowering in June. From Lightfoot’s description
it appears to be his C. distans, and indeed the best botanists
have hitherto confounded it with that species.
It differs from C. distans in being larger in all its dimensions,
with a firmer stem, and a deeper green colour, with a glaucous
tinge. The spikes moreover are of a blackish hue. The lowermost
female spikes are generally branched or compound at the
base, and their stalk projects considerably beyond the sheath
of the bractea. Their scales are almost black, with a 3-ribbed
green rough keel and point. But the essential character resides
in the fruit, which has 2 principal ribs or nerves (besides several
small ones) greener than any other part, running longitudinally
at some distance from the margin, on the outer side
only. The inner side of the fruit is most stained with purple,
and has many uniform ribs. The stigmas are 3.