ORDER 262. CYPERACEA1. T he S edge T ribe.
This is an extensive assemblage of plants, out of the tropics
especially, which flourish greatly in the temperate regions. A
considerable number is found in this State, being those which are
common to the Northern States.
Glume or bract commonly solitary, imbricated with perfect
flowers, sometimes monoecious, rarely dioecious ; stamens vary
from 1 — 12 ; ovary 1-seeded, often with bristles rising from its
base ; style single, 2 or 3-divided ; stems with joints, also many
without joints. •
The Cyperacese have the general appearance of the grasses,
and are usually confounded with them. In the young state,
some of them are food for cattle, though they contain much less
nutritious matter than the proper grasses. They are found in
every variety of situation.
Of the 247 species, credited to North America by Dr. Tor-
rey, 125 are credited to this State in the “ Geology I ; though
some, perhaps, of the latter, are considered not distinct species
in the former enumeration.
Besides the elucidation of the grasses by Dr. Muhlenberg,
there has been an elaborate Monograph of the Rhynchospora by
Dr. Gray, in the “ Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of
New York,” and also of the Cyperacese by Dr. Torrey, in the
same work. The value of these works can be appreciated only
by the systematic botanist. Several genera have been more or
less changed ; but in this Report the older divisions will be retained.
Some new species have been found.
D dlichium. Richard. 3. 1.
Spike's somewhat branched, axillary ; spikelets linear-lanceolate
; glumes 2-rowed, sheathing, with a long style ; nut with
bristles at the base.
D. spathaceum. Pers. Galingale. Leaves spreading in three
directions, on a roundish culm, and somewhat tapering, and with
spreading spikelets from sheaths which are spathe-like, and end in
short leaves ; a common, large, leafy, tough grass, abounding
about pools and sluggish waters ; August ; scarcely eaten by
cattle.
C t p e r u s . L. 3. 1.
A genus of plants of little beauty or apparent utility, though
the species are pretty numerous. Eleven species are found in
this State.
Spikelets compressed, distinct, 2-rowed ; style falling off early ;
nut 1, without bristles.
C. Jlavescens. L. Yellow Sedge Grass. Culm 4 — 10 inches
high, with upper leaves tall as the culm ; flowers umbel-like with
short and unequal rays ; grows about marshes in this country and
Europe ; plant yellowish.
C. strigosus. L. Grows in low grounds, often more than a
foot high, and with an umbel nearly simple ; spikelets of many
flowers ; August and September.
C. mariscoides, Ell., in Bigelow’s Flora. Considered to
be C. filiculmis, Vahl., by Dr. Torrey ; and C. castaneus, Big.,
to be a variety of C. Jlavescens.
C. poceformis. Ph. Abounds in cold, wet, sandy places, on
the declivities of elevations, and beside roads, with a stem 3 - 6
inches high, with reddish-brown, flat spikelets ; forms a dense,
close-matted covering of the earth, preventing the washing of the
Sand.
C. Grayiij Tor., in Mon. Cyp., sp. 21. Was found by Mr.
Oakes in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Torrey.
C. diandrus, T ., C. Nuttalii, T ., C. dentatus, T ., C. injlex-
us, Muhl., are also found.
The species of Cyperus are far more numerous at the South,
and are generally not employed in agriculture or the arts. The
roots are rather succulent, and contain a pleasant mucilage. Lind.