vol. viii JANUARY, 1922 No*- !-12 i ERYTHEA A JOURNAL OF BOTANY WEST AMERICAN AND GENERAL EDITED BY WILLIS LINN JEPSON PROFESSOR OF BOTANY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA CONTENTS PAGE Historical Note on Carex Collection in California, Willis Linn Jepson 5 A Monograph of the California Species of the genus Carex, Kenneth K, Mackenzie 7 Index 93 BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA ERYTHEA A JOURNAL OF BOTANY WEST AMERICAN AND GENERAL EDITED BV WILLIS LINN JEPSON PROFESSOR OF BOTANY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA VOLUME VIII L1BKAKT NEW YORK L \ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY 1922 COPYRIGHT, 1922 BY Willis Linn Jepson and Kenneth K. Mackenzie Issued February 2, 1922 A MONOGRAPH OF THE CALIFORNIA SPECIES OF THE GENUS CAREX BY KENNETH K. MACKENZIE ILLUSTRATED WITH FIFTY-ONE DRAWINGS AND ACCOMPANIED BY A NOTE ON THE HISTORY OF CAREX EXPLORATION IN CALIFORNIA BY W. L. JEPSON THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1922 CONTENTS PAGE Carex Exploration in California, an historical- note 5 A Monograph of the California Species of the genus Carex 7 Index 93 CAREX EXPLORATION IN CALIFORNIA AJjfi HISTORICAL NOTE By Willis Linn Jepson. The earliest botanical explorers in California, beginning with Haenke and Menzies (1791 to 1794) and coming down to the time of Nuttall and Hartweg (1835 to 1845), either gave little attention to the collection of Carex or the records of their work are inadequate. The great folio work, the Reliquia; Haenkeanae of Presl, in which Haenke's California collections were described, does not record a single species of Carex from California. The indefatigable Douglas did not neglect Carex, but so far as the California supplement is concerned the order Cyperaceae is not mentioned in Hooker and Arnott's Botany of the Beechey. Bentham's Plantae Hartwegianae records two species as collected by Hartweg in the Sacramento valley. The decades since the American occupation of California may be divided into three periods: the early or gold- discovery- period (1848 to 1874), in which the in- fluence of the Pacific Railroad-Surveys and the California Geological Survey pre- dominated; the middle period from 1875 to 1899, when members of the California Academy of Sciences took the lead in collecting; and the period of the botanical departments of the universities, during which time university-activities became enlarged and stabilized, that is, from 1900 to the present time. During the gold-period resident botanists entered the field, and it is due to the exertions of these early explorers, that the knowledge of California Carices began to develop. Albert Kellogg, resident in the San Francisco bay region from 1849 until his death in 1887, devoted his leisure to the study and collection of the native flora. Among numerous other genera, Carex claimed his interest, and he collected many specimens of this genus. Geo. Thurber, attached to the Mexican Boundary Survey, collected at scattered points in the state in 1851 and 1852. As botanist of the Pacific Railroad Survey under Capt. Whipple, J. M. Bigelow traveled through the San Francisco bay region and the northern Sierra Nevada in 1854. A few Carices are found in his general collection. During the four years from 1861 to 18G4 W. H. Brewer, botanist of the California Geological Survey, worked throughout the state. Specimens of Carex formed a substantial part of his collections, and Carex Breweri, a characteristic High Sierran species, was named for him by Boott. In 1861 there arrived in California from Ohio the young botanist, Henry N. Bolander. Bolander was an unusual type of collector, both in method of collecting and in breadth of interests. He had a superior capacity for collecting seed-plants and at the same time was gifted with a keen eye for mosses and other cryptogams. In particular he was possessed of an unflagging interest in Graminales and was especially devoted to the sedges. While he collected widely through the state, his Carices were gathered mainly in Mendocino County, the San Francisco bay region and the central Sierra Nevada. His Carex specimens were excellent and will remain classical. The work that he did was commemorated by Olney in naming for him Carex Bolanderi, a species of the Yosemite region, where he worked so effectively. Bolander was active from the period of his arrival until about 1873, and succeeded Brewer as botanist of the California Geological Survey. Although Bolander pub- lished new species of Californian grasses, neither he nor Kellogg ventured to give names to any of their new species of Carex. In his " Catalogue of the plants growing in the vicinity of San Francisco" (1870), Bolander 's special interest in Carex is, however, evident for he lists with habitat and locality thirty-five species. 6 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA During the middle period there were many collectors. J. S. Rothrock was attached to the Wheeler Survey as botanist and explored the region between Santa Barbara and Mt. Whitney in 1875. His gatherings included sedges. J. G. Lemmon made general collections (which included Carices) in the northern Sierra Nevada from 1875 to about 1882, and also in Southern California. Boott named Carex Lemmoni in his honor. S. B. Parish explored Southern California more thoroughly than any other botanist and always gave attention to Carex, both in the field and in the printed results of his studies. His activities date from about 1876 and have continued without interruption to the present time. Others to be named are E. L. Greene, T. S. Brandegee, and Alice Eastwood. W. R. Dudley stands out prom- inently, since he gave especial attention to Carex, both in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada. In the latter part of this period M. S. Baker collected zealously in northeastern California, expecially in Shasta and Modoc counties, and found not a few sedges. During the third period, H. M. Hall, L. R. Abrams and W. L. Jepson, in the course of general field work, collected Carex in various parts of California. In addi- . tion there have been many local resident collectors. J. P. Tracy has worked suc- cessfully in the Humboldt County area; B. C. Goldsmith made a collection in Siskiyou County especially for the research on this paper; L. S. Smith gathered a small collection in northeastern California; while A. L. Grant collected a considerable number of specimens in the Tuolumne and Fresno regions of the Sierra Nevada. A. A. Heller has collected with great zeal in many parts of California and has accum- ulated valuable material. Ezra Brainerd visited the Tahoe and Shasta regions in 1896 and collected good material in and around Strawberry Valley on the Placer- ville-Tahoe road and at Sisson. Five new species have been described from his collections. The limits imposed by space do not permit the mention of the names of all who have contributed material to the preparation of Mr. Mackenzie's monograph, but the extent and success of their cooperation are revealed by the great additions which the author has made to our knowledge of the genus. William Boott, in volume two of the Botany of California, published in 1876, described seventy-eight species as occurring in California, while the present paper describes one hundred twenty- three. This increase in the number of known representatives of the genus does not, however, tell the full story. Knowledge of the forms is at present very much greater and the species here described are more accurately delimited than formerly. This increase in knowledge is directly related to the more abundant and more carefully prepared material which collectors now make it their object to secure, for it is only with long series of superior specimens that the labors of the monographer in so critical a genus may come to their full fruition. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA A MONOGRAPH OF THE CALIFORNIA SPECIES OF THE GENUS CAREX BY KENNETH K. MACKENZIE CAREX L. Sedge. Grass-like sedges, perennial by rootstocks. Culms mostly triangular, often strongly phyllopodic or aphyllopodic. Leaves 3-ranked, the upper (bracts) elongate or short, and subtending the spikes of flowers or wanting. Plants monoecious or sometimes dioecious; flowers solitary in the axils of scales (glumes). Spikes one to many, either wholly pistillate, wholly staminate, androgynous or gynaecandrous, sessile or peduncled, the base of the peduncle often with a perigynium-like or spathe- like organ (clado-prophyllum) surrounding it. Perianth none. Staminate flowers of three (or rarely two) stamens, the filaments filiform. Pistillate flowers of a single pistil, with a style and two or three stigmas. Style either (1) jointed with the apic- ulate-tipped or rounded achene and withering and at length deciduous, or (2) con- tinuous with achene, persistent, indurated and not withering. Achene 3-angled, lenticular or plano-convex, completely surrounded by the perigynium or rarely rupturing it in ripening. Rhacheola occasionally developed. Species more than 1000, all continents, but least developed in the tropics. (The classical Latin name, sometimes derived from the Greek, to cut, referring to the sharp leaf-blades of some species.)* *A11 specimens cited have been examined. They are to be found in one or another of the following collections: Smithsonian Institution; University of California; Stanford University (including herbaria of S. B. Parish and W. R. Dudley) ; New York Botanical Garden; Harvard University; Ezra Brainerd; K. K. Mackenzie. Much work remains to be done before there can be a full or complete understanding of the genus as developed in California. At the present time out of the 123 species recorded from the state 24 are known from but one collection and 5 more from but two collections. And in addition there is a considerable number of species recorded from adjoining states which have not yet been recorded from California. In the bibliography will be found references to the papers of authors who have given any particular attention to Carex in California and also to a few general articles of special value. The drawings are all original and were prepared under the direction of W. L. Jepson. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA Bibliography Bailey, L. H.— Untenable Names of Carices in Bull. Torr. Club 11: 18-19—1884; Carex Catalogue 1-4—1884; Notes on Carex I in Bot. Gaz. 9: 117-122—1884; II in Bot. Gaz. 9: 137-141— 1884; III in Bot. Gaz. 10: 203-208—188.5; IV in Bot. Gaz. 10: 293-296—1885; V in Bot. Gaz. 10: 317- 319 — 1885; VI in Bot. Gaz. 10: 379-382 — 1885; VII (Preliminary synopsis of North American Carices) in Proc. Am. Acad. 22: 59-157—1886; VIII in Bot. Gaz. 11: 328-330—1886; IX in Bot. Gaz. 13: 82- 89 — 1888; X in Jour. Bot. 26: 321-323—1888; XI (Studies of the types of various species of the genus Carex) in Mem. Torr. Club 1: 1-85—1889; XII in Bull. Torr. Club 16: 218-220—1889; XIII in Bull. Torr. Club 17: 61-64—1890; XIV (Carex rigida Gooden. and its varieties) in Jour. Bot. 28: 171-173— 1890; XV in Proc. Cal. Acad. (ser. 2) 3; 104-6—1891; XVI in Bot. Gaz. 17: 148-153—1892; XVII in Bull. Torr. Club 20: 417-429—1893; XVIII in Bot. Gaz. 21: 1-8—1896; XIX in Bot. Gaz. 25: 270- 272—1898; Carex in Coulter, Manual of the Plants of Western Texas in Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 2: 476-484—1894; Carex in A. Gray Manual 6th ed. 587-622—1890; Carex in Coulter, Manual of the Botany of Rocky Mountain Region 370-397 — 1885; Carex Notes from the British Museum in Jour. Bot. 26: 321-323—1888; Untenable names of Carex in Bull. Torr. Club 11: 18-19—1884. Boott, Francis — Carex in Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 207-228 — 1839; Articles on Carex in Lin- naean Trans. 19: 215-220—1843; Jour. Bost. Nat. Hist. Soc. 5: 112-116—1845; Linnaean Trans. 20 115-147—1845-6; Hooker's Jour. Bot. 5: 67-74—1846; Richardson's Arctic Expedition 463-471—1852 Pac. R. R. Rep. 4: 153-154 — 1856 (Bigelow collection); Illustrations of the Genus Carex, 1 — 1858 II— 1860; III— 1862; IV— 1867. Boott, William— Carex in Wheeler's Survey 6: 276-281—1878; Carex in S. Wats. Bot. Cal. 2: 224-253—1880; articles in Proc. Am. Acad. 18: 172—1883 and in Bot. Gaz. 9: 85-94—1884. Boeckler, Otto von— Articles in Flora 41: 649-651—1858; Linnaea 39: 14-152—1875; Linnaea 40: 327-452—1876; Linnaea 41: 145-339—1877; Flora 61: 39-41—1878; Flora 65: 59-64— 1882; Engler's Bot. Jahrb. 7: 277-280—1886. Brown, Robert — Carex in Supp. Appendix Parry's Voyage — 1823; Carex in Bot. Appendix Richardson's Jour. — 1823. Carey, John— Carex in A. Gray Man. ed. 1, 535-567—1848; ed.2, 507-535—1856; ed. 5 (with A. Gray) 571-602—1867. Dewey, Chester — Carex in Wood's Class Book of Bot. — 1845 and revised in subsequent editions; Carex in Bot. Mex. Bound. 229-232—1858; Caricography — Am. Jour. Sci., ser. 1, 7: 264-278— 1824, (nos. 1-11); 8: 93-99— 1S24 (nos. 12-19); 8: 264-266—1824 (nos. 20-23); 9: 60-73—1825 (nos. 24-38); 9: 257-262—1825 (nos. 39-46); 10: 30-48—1826 (nos. 47-66); 10: 265-284—1826 (nos. 66-84); 11: 147-167—1826 (nos. 85-108); 11: 304-325—1826 (nos. 109-124); 12: 296-297—1827; 14: 351-354— 1828 (nos. 125-126); 25: 140-146—1834 (nos. 127-129); 26: 107-108—1834 (nos. 130-131); 26: 376- 378—1834 (nos. 132-136); 27: 236-241— 1S35 (nos. 137-144); 28: 270-276—1835; 29: 245-253—1836 (nos. 145-158); 30: 59-64—1836 (nos. 159-168); 39: 50-53—1840 (nos. 169-172); 43: 90-92—1842 (nos. 173-176); 48: 140-144—1845 (nos. 177-183); 49: 42-48—1845 (nos. 184-198); Am. Jour. Sci., ser. 2, 2 245-249—1846 (nos. 199-205); 3: 171-173—1847 (nos. 206-208); 3: 354-356—1847 (nos. 209-212) 4: 343-350—1847 (nos. 213-226); 5: 172-176—1848 (nos. 227-234); 6: 244-245—1848 (nos. 234-236) 8: 348-350—1849 (nos. 237-240); 9: 29-30—1850 (nos. 241-242); 18: 102-104—1854 (nos. 243-245) 19: 252-256—1855 (nos. 246-249); 24: 46-48—1857 (nos. 250-253); 27: 78-81—1859 (nos. 254-256) 28: 231-232—1859 (nos. 257-259); 29: 346-348—1860 (nos. 260-264); 31: 23-26—1861 (nos. 265-270) 32: 38-41—1861 (nos. 271-276); 35: 57-60— 1S03 (nos. 277-280); 39: 69-73—1865 (nos. 281-285) 41: 226-230—1866 (nos. 286-292); 41: 326-331— 1866 (nos. 293-298); 42: 243-245—1866 (nos. 299-303) 42: 325-334— 1866 (Index). Fernald, M. L. — Carex Blankinshipii in Erythea 7: 121-122—1899; Northeastern Carices of the Subsection Vesicarise in Rhodora 3: 43-56 — 1901; Northeastern Carices of the Section Hypar- rhena3 in Proc. Am. Acad. 37: 447-514 — 1902; various notes on Carex in Rhodora 2: 170-171 — 1900; Rhodora 3: 170-172—1901; Rhodora 4: 218-230—1902; Rhodora 5: 247-251—1903; Rhodora 8: 45- 47; 73-77; 165-167; 181-184; 200-202—1906; Rhodora 9: 159-160—1907; Rhodora 10: 47-48—1908 Rhodora 12: 135-136—1910; Rhodora 13: 130, 243-248—1911; with K. M. Wiegand, Rhodora 14 115-116—1912; Rhodora 15: 92-3; 133-134; 186-1S7— 1913; Rhodora 16: 213-214—1914; Rhodora 17 158-159—1915; Carex in A. Gray Manual (ed. 7), with B. L. Robinson, 204-256—1908. Holm, T.— Studies in the Cyperacete I, Am. Jour. Sci. (4) 1: 348-350—1896; II (4) 2: 214- 220—1896; III (4) 3: 121-128—1897; IV (4) 3: 429-437—1897; V (4) 4: 13-26—1897; VI (4) 4: 298- 305—1897; VII (4) 5: 47:52—1898; VIII (4) 7: 5-12—1899; IX (4) 7: 171-183—1899; X (4) 7: 435- 450—1899; XI (4) 8: 105-110—1899; XII (4) 9: 355-363—1900; XIII (4) 10: 33-47—1900; XIV (4) 10: 266-284—1900; XV (4) 11: 205-223—1901; XVI (4) 14: 57-63—1902; XVII (4) 14: 417-425—1902; XVIII (4) 15: 145-152—1903; XIX (4) 16: 17-44—1903; XX (4) 16: 445-464—1903; XXI (4) 17: 301-317—1904; XXII (4) 18: 12-22—1904; XXIII (4) 18: 301-307—1904; XXIV (4) 20: 301-306— 1905; XXV (4) 23: 422-432—1907; XXVI (4) 26: 478-492—1908; Genus Carex in Northwest America in Bot. Centralbl. Beihefte, bd. 22, abt. 2, 1-29—1907. Kukenthal, Georg— Carex in Engler, Pflzr. 42»: 1-824—1909. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 9 Mackenzie, Kenneth K— Notes on Carex I in Bull. Torr. Club 33: 439-443—1906; II in Bull. Torr. Club 34: 151-155—1907; III in Bull. Torr. Club 34: 603-607—1907; IV in Bull. Torr. Club 35: 261-270—1908; V in Bull. Torr. Club 36: 477-484—1909; VI in Bull. Torr. Club 37: 231-250—1910; VII in Bull. Torr. Club 40: 529-554—1913; VIII in Bull. Torr. Club 42: 405-422—1915; IX in Bull. Torr. Club 42: 603-621—1915; X in Bull. Torr. Club 43: 423-434—1916; XI in Bull. Torr. Club 43: 601-620—1916; also articles in Muhlenborgia 5: 53-58—1909; Torreya 13: 14-16—1913; 14: 125-127; 155-159 — 1914; Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 25: 51-52—1912; Smithsonian Misc. Collections 657: 1-3 — 1915; Carex in Rydberg, Rocky Mt. Flora 111-142—1917; Carex in Brit. & Brown, 111. Flora (ed. 2) 1: 352-441 — 1913; Carex in Tavlor, Flora of the Vicinity of New York 173-212 — 1915; Carex in Small & Carter, Flora of Lancaster Co., Pa. 47-64 — 1913. Olney, Stephen T. — Carices Novas in Proc. Am. Acad. 7: 393-396 — 1868; Carices Bor. Am. distributed in five fascicles with printed notes— 1870; Carex in Hayden's Rep. 482-483—1871; Carex in Bot. King 361-375—1871; Carices collected by E. Hall in Proc. Am. Acad. 8: 406-407—1872; Carex in Hall's Plants: Texan®, 25-27—1873; Carices collected by Parry in Wyo. in Am. Nat. 8: 214—1874. Parish, S. B. — Carex in Preliminary Synopsis of the Southern California Cyperacea?, Bull. S. Cal. Acad. 4: 51-52; 66-6S; 80-84; 106-114—1905; 5: 20-28; 36-37; 47-54—1906. Schkdhr, Christian — Riedgraser — 1801; Nachtrag oder die zweite halfte der Riedgraser —1806. Schweinitz, Lewis D. von — Analytical Table in Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. 1: 62-71 — 1824; Monograph of N. Am. Sp. of Carex (with J. Torrey) 1: 283-373—1825. Torret, John — Carex in Flora of Northern and Middle States 333-349 — 1826; Carex in Monograph of North American Cyperacese in Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. 3: 386-427, 443 — 1836. 10 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA SYNOPSIS OF THE SPECIES A. SPIKE ONE, ANDROGYNOUS, BRACTLESS; PERIGYNIA GLABROUS, BEAKED, THE BEAK WITH CLOSED SUTURE AT APEX DORSALLY. Achenes triangular; stigmas three. Pistillate scales persistent; perigynia inflated, sessile, not becoming reflexed 1. Inflatm. Pistillate scales deciduous; perigynia not inflated, stipitate, at least the lower reflexed at ma- turity 2. Athrochlamce. Achenes lenticular; stigmas two 3. Capitatce. B. SPIKES ONE TO MANY; IF ONE, NOT AS IN A. 1. ACHENES LENTICULAR AND STIGMAS TWO; LATERAL SPIKES SESSILE; TER- MINAL SPIKE PARTLY PISTILLATE, OR IF STAMINATE THE LATERAL SPIKES SHORT OR HEADS DIOECIOUS. Perigynia not white-puncticulate. Rootstocks long-creeping, the culms arising singly or few together; perigynia with beak obliquely cut, at most bidentulate. Spikes densely aggregated into a globose or ovoid head, appearing like one spike. ...4. Fwtidce. Spikes, at least the lower, distinct 5. Divisce. Cespitose or rootstocks short-creeping; perigynia obliquely cut to deeply bidentate. Spikes androgynous (i. e., staminate flowers uppermost). Perigynia abruptly contracted into the beak. Spikes few (usually ten or less); perigynia green or tinged with reddish-brown 6. Muhlenbergiance. Spikes numerous; perigynia yellowish or brownish at flowering. Perigynia yellowish; opaque part of leaf-sheath usually transversely rugulose. 7. Multiflorm. Perigynia brownish; opaque part of leaf-sheath not transversely rugulose. 8. Paniculatce. Perigynia tapering into the beak 9. Stenorhynchce. Spikes gynaecandrous (i. e., pistillate flowers uppermost). Perigynia at most thin-edged. Perigynia spreading or ascending at maturity 10. Stellulatw. Perigynia appressed 11. Deweyance. Perigynia narrowly to broadly wing-margined 12. Ovales. Perigynia white-puncticulate 13. Canescentes. 2. ACHENES TRIANGULAR AND STIGMAS THREE, OR LENTICULAR AND STIGMAS TWO; IF LENTICULAR, LOWER LATERAL SPIKES CONSPICUOUSLY PEDUNCLED, OR TERMINAL SPIKE STAM- INATE AND LATERAL SPIKES ELONGATED. Staminate and pistillate spikes on different culms 17. Scirpinm. Staminate and pistillate spikes on the same culms. Spike solitary. Perigynia many-nerved, rounded and beakless at apex 14. Polytrichoideae. Perigynia 2-keeled, not rounded at apex, beakless or beaked. Perigynia glabrous 15. Firmiculmes. Perigynia pubescent or puberulent 16. Filifolice. Spikes more than one. Perigynia closely enveloping the achene, strongly tapering at base, pubescent or puberulent; bracts sheathless or nearly so 18. Montana. Perigynia not as above; or if so, at least the lowest bract strongly sheathing. Bracts (at least lowest) long-sheathing, more or less purplish-tinged, the blades absent or rudimentary 19. Digitatce. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 11 Lowest bract sheathless or long-sheathing; if long-sheathing its blade well-developed. Lowest bract strongly sheathing; perigynia never strongly bidentate with stiff teeth. Achenes lenticular; stigmas two 20. Bicolores. Achenes triangular; stigmas three. Scales greenish or light reddish-brown or purplish tinged. Rootstocks long-creeping; scales purplish tinged 21. Panicem. Rootstocks not long-creeping; scales greenish to reddish-brown tinged. Perigynia glabrous or hispidulous; leaves not pubescent. Pistillate spikes erect on stiff peduncles 22. Laxiflorm. Pistillate spikes slender on slender peduncles, the lower droop- ing 24. Debiles. Perigynia or leaves or both strongly pubescent 23. Triquetrce. Scales dark reddish-brown to blackish tinged 25. Frigidw. Lowest bract sheathless or sheathing; if sheathing, perigynia strongly bidentate with stiff teeth. Perigynia or leaves or both pubescent 31. Hirtm. Neither perigynia nor leaves pubescent. Style jointed with the achene, deciduous. Achenes triangular; stigmas three. Lowest bract sheathless; perigynia not bidentate. Pistillate spikes narrowly cylindric, elongated. 26. Anomalce. Pistillate spikes ovoid, oblong or linear 27. Atratm. Lowest bract sheathing; perigynia bidentate 32. Extensa. Achenes lenticular; stigmas two. Achenes not constricted in the middle 28. Acutw. Achenes constricted in the middle; scales sharp-pointed, three- nerved 29. Cryptocarpce. Style persistent, continuous with the achene. Perigynia nerveless, except for the marginal nerves.. .30. Trachychlmnce. Perigynia several-many-nerved. Perigynia coarsely ribbed 33. Physocarpce. Perigynia finely and closely ribbed 34. Pseudo-cyperew. 1. In flat ae. Scales 1-nerved; perigynia ovoid, inflated, tapering at apex; staminate part of spike scarcely con- spicuous; achenes 1.25 mm. long 1. C. Engelmannii . Scales 3-nerved; perigynia broadly ovoid, strongly inflated, very abruptly short-beaked; staminate part of spike conspicuous; achenes 2 mm. long 2. C. Breweri. 2. Athrochlaenae. Represented by one species in our range 3. C .nigricans. 3. Capitatse. Represented by one species 4. C. capitata. 4. Fcetidas. Represented by one species in our range 5. C. vernacula. 5. Divisae. Rootstocks slender, light brownish; culms obtusely triangular, normally smooth; leaf-blades narrow, involute 6. C. Douglasii. Rootstocks stout; culms acutely triangular, normally rough above. Perigynia chestnut, thick, the beak about one-fifth as long as the body 7. C. simulala. Perigynia blackish in age, the beak one-third to one-half as long as the body. Scales very dark chestnut-brown, shining; perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm. long, polished, scarcely hyaline at orifice 8. C. pansa. Scales lighter colored, dull; perigynia 3-4 mm. long, dull, strongly hyaline at orifice 9. C. prccgracilis. 6. Muhlenbergianae. Densely cespitose; head orbicular or oblong-ovoid 10. C. Hoodii. Rootstocks elongate; head linear, interrupted 11. C. tumulicola. 12 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 7. Multiflorae. Scales strongly hyaline-margined; sheaths normally not cross-rugulose. Perigynia lanceolate-ovate, sharp-margined to base, membranaceous, straw-colored 12. C. stenoptera. Perigynia ovate, truncate at base, short-beaked, sharp-margined above, not membranaceous, brownish-black at maturity 13. C. alma. Scales not strongly hyaline-margined; sheaths normally more or less cross-rugulose; perigynia straw- colored, yellowish or tawny at maturity, sharp-margined to base. Perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm. long, the beak much shorter than the body; pistillate scales (except low- est) acute or cuspidate. Scales brownish-tinged; perigynia ascending at maturity, stramineous or brownish-tinged, the ventral face low convex, strongly nerved, more or less abruptly beaked 14. C. densa. Scales reddish-brown tinged; perigynia spreading at maturity, reddish tinged, the ventral face flat, nerveless or nearly so, less abruptly beaked 15. C. vicaria. Perigynia 2.25-3.25 mm. long, the beak about length of the body; pistillate scales strongly awned 16. C. Dudleyi. 8. Paniculatse. Leaf-blades 1.25 mm. wide; head little interrupted; perigynia 2-2.75 mm. long, shining, not concealed by the scales 17. C. diandra. Leaf-blades 2.5-6 mm. wide; head interrupted, compound; perigynia 3-4 mm. long, dull, concealed by the scales 18. C. Cusickii. 9. Stenorhynchae. Perigynia 3-4 mm. long, the beak much shorter than the body; scales strongly dark-tinged. Leaves clustered at base; sheaths not cross-rugulose ventrally; culms slender 19. C. Jonesii. Leaves not clustered at base; sheaths cross-rugulose ventrally; culms stout 20. C. nervina. Perigynia 4-6 mm. long, the beak longer than the body; scales not dark-tinged 21. C. stipata. 10. Stellulatae. Spikes more or less widely separate, not brownish-black. Body of perigynium broadest near middle; beak with few weak serrulations 22. C. Iceviculmis. Body of perigynium broadest near base; beak strongly serrulate. Beak of perigynium bluntly bidentate, \i-x/i length of body, the ventral suture obsolete or inconspicuous; scale obtuse, M length of body of perigynium 23. C. interior. Beak of perigynium sharply bidentate, the ventral suture conspicuous. Beak of perigynium chestnut-brown tipped; culms obtusely triangular; pistillate scales obtuse or obtusish, chestnut-brown tinged with broad shining margins and apex, rounded and not keeled, the midvein obscure at apex. Spikes widely separate, the terminal long-clavate; perigynia 3.5-4 mm. long 24. C. ormantha. Spikes approximate, the terminal short-clavate; perigynia 3.75-4.5 mm. long 25. C. phyllomanica. Beak of perigynium reddish-brown tipped; culms sharply triangular; pistillate scales obtusish to cuspidate, yellowish-brown tinged, the margins and apex narrow, opaque or dull whitish, keeled with the sharp midvein which is prominent to apex 26. C. angustior. Spikes in a small (6-10 mm. long), densely capitate, brownish-black head 27. C. illota. 11. Deweyanse. Perigynia shallowly bidentate, 3.5-4 mm. long, the beak about \4. length of body 28. C. leptopoda. Perigynia deeply bidentate, 4-4.5 mm. long, the beak about Yt length of body 29. C. Bolanderi. 12. Ovales. Sheaths green-striate opposite blades, except at mouth 30. C. feta. Sheaths white hyaline opposite blades. Sheaths strongly prolonged upward at mouth opposite blade in a very membranaceous appendage; perigynia and scales greenish 31. C. fracta. Upper sheaths (at least) concave or truncate at mouth opposite blades. Beak of perigynium flat and serrulate to strongly bidentate tip. Perigynia 3.5-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. wide. Perigynia thin with margins conspicuously wrinkled dorsally; culms 1-4 dm. high; spikes ovoid, densely capitate 32. C. straminiformis. Perigynia thick with margins not wrinkled dorsally; culms 3-9 dm. high; spikes oblong in an oblong bead 33. C. multicostata. Perigynia 3-3.5 mm. long, 1-1.5 mm. wide 34. C. subfusca. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 13 Beak of perigynium terete toward apex, the upper 1-3 mm. smooth or nearly so. Perigynia appressed, nearly or entirely covered by scales, the beaks not conspicuous in the spikes. Culms slender; spikes in a flexuous nodding head 35. C. praticola. Culms stiff; spikes approximate in an erect head. Culms 1-6 dm. high, the leaves not bunched near base; blades 2-3 mm. wide, flat; beak of perigynium not hyaline at orifice. 36. C. Tracyi. Culms 1-3 dm. high, the leaves bunched near base; blades 1.5-2 mm. wide, more or less involute; perigynium beak hyaline at orifice. Perjgynia oblong-ovate, rather strongly margined 37. C. phceocephala. Perigynia linear-lanceolate, very narrowly margined, boat-shaped 38. C. leporinella. Upper part of perigynia conspicuous in the spikes, not covered by scales. Perigynia lanceolate, 5.5-8.5 mm. in length, 3-5 times as long as wide. Spikes about three, not capitate; scales little more than J^ length of perigynia. 39. C. Davyi. Spikes 6-12, capitate; scales equaling bodies of perigynia 40. C. specified. Perigynia ovate or if lanceolate shorter than 5.5 mm. in length. Lower bracts leaflet-like, much exceeding head. Perigynia strongly nerved ventrally, the beak ferruginous at orifice, bidentate 41. C. unilateralis. Perigynia obscurely nerved ventrally, the beak hyaline at orifice, bi- dentulate 42. C. athroatachya. Lower bracts scale-like, much shorter than or slightly exceeding head. Perigynia with membranaceous or submembranaceous walls. Perigynia thin and flat save where distended by achene. Perigynia 3.5-5 mm. long; culms slender 43. C. festuella. Perigynia 4.5-6 mm. long; culms low, ascending or decumbent 44. C. nubicola. Perigynia strongly plano-convex at maturity. Perigynia nerveless ventrally or with impressed nerves 45. C. pachystachya. Perigynia with conspicuous raised nerves on inner face. Perigynia conspicuously hyaline-tipped; spikes densely capi- tate..... 46. C. abrupta. Perigynia reddish-tipped; spikes more or less strongly sep- arate 47. C. mariposana. perigynia with thick, firm walls. Perigynia very small (2.25-3.5 mm. long). Margins of perigynia entire (or very obscurely subserrulate) 48. C. Integra. Margins of perigynia strongly serrulate 49. C. tenerce/ormis. Perigynia longer (3.5 mm. long or more). Lower biacts (at least) strongly amplectant; beaks of perigynia and scales little reddish-tinged 50. C. amplectens. Bracts not amplectant; beaks of perigynia and scales strongly reddish-tinged. Perigynia strongly nerved ventrally, the nerves prominent.... 51. C. Harfordii. Perigynia nerveless or very obscurely nerved ventrally. Perigynia with a few raised nerves dorsally; coastal species. Spikes strongly capitate; leaf-blades averaging 2.5-3 mm. wide; culms 3.5-12 dm. high 52. C. sub-bracteata. Spikes not capitate, the head slender; leaf-blades averaging 1.5-2 mm. wide; culms 1-6 dm. high 53. C. gracilior. Perigynia many-striate or with impressed nerves dor- sally; species of the Sierra Nevada. Spikes not few-flowered; culms slender; leaves not clustered, the blades elongated 54. C. pachycarpa. Spikes 6-12-flowered; culms stiff; leaves clustered, the blades short 55. C paucifructus. 14 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 13. Canescentes. Spikes androgynous; perigynia unequally biconvex 56. C. disperma. Spikes gynsecandrous; perigynia plano-convex. Perigynia broadest near middle, short-beaked, smooth or little roughened 57. C. canescens. Perigynia ovate, broadest near the base; beak conspicuous, strongly serrulate 58. C. arcta. 14. Polytrichoideae. Represented by one species 59. C. leptalea. 15. Firmiculmes. Not stoloniferous; culms smooth, terete; leaf-blades 1.5 mm. wide; bracts long-awned ...60. C. multicaulis. Stoloniferous; culms very rough, triangular; leaf-blades 2-3.5 mm. wide; bracts not long-cuspidate 61. C. Geyeri. 16. Filifolise. Represented by one species in our range 62. C. exserta. 17. Scirpinee. Represented by one species in our range 63. C. gigas. 18. Mont an ae. Basal spikes not developed 64. C. inops. Basal spikes present. Perigynia finely many-ribbed as well as strongly 2-keeled. Scales purplish-tinged, obtuse to cuspidate; body of perigynium globose; staminate spikes many-flowered; basal pistillate spikes on elongated very slender peduncles 65. C. globosa. Scales reddish-brown tinged, cuspidate or long-awned; body of perigynium oval; staminate spikes few-flowered; basal pistillate spikes on short, erect peduncles. .66. C. Brainerdii. Perigynia strongly 2-keeled, otherwise nerveless. Bract of lowest non-basal pistillate spike leaflet-like, exceeding culm, if at all colored, pur- plish-brown tinged at base. Perigynia 2.5-3 mm. long, the beak 0.25-0.75 mm. long, shallowly bidentate 67. C brevipes, Perigynia 3-4.5 mm. long, the beak 0.75-1.50 mm. long, bidentate 68. C. Rossii. Bract of lowest non-basal pistillate spike squamiform and shorter than culm or, if longer, auriculate and strongly reddish-brown tinged at base 69. C. brevicaulis. 19. Digitatse. Represented by one species in our range 70. C. concinnoides. 20. Bicolores. Perigynia short-tapering at apex, straw-colored, 2.5-3.75 mm. long 71. C. salinceformis. Perigynia rounded or truncate at apex, orange-colored or white-pulverulent, smaller. Mature perigynia whitish, ellipsoidal, not fleshy or translucent 72. C. Hassei. Mature perigynia orange or brownish, broader, fleshy or translucent 73. C. aurea. 21. Paniceae. Perigynia beakless or nearly so; bract sheaths short; plant glaucous; leaf-blades narrow, involute 74. C. livida. Perigynia strongly beaked; bract sheaths long; plant not glaucous; leaf-blades broad, flat 75. C. calif ornica. 22. Laxifiorae. Represented by one species in our range 76. C. Hendersonii. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 15 23. Triquetrse. Lowest bract sheathless or very short-sheathing; spikes approximate; perigynia glabrous, strongly ribbed or nerved 77. C. Whitneyi. Lowest bract long-sheathing; lower spikes more or less strongly separate; perigynia hairy, faintly nerved or nerveless. Leaf-blades hairy: spikes oblong or short-oblong, the upper approximate. Perigynia 4-5 mm. long, round-tapering at base, finely many-nerved 78. C. gynodynama. Perigynia 3.5-4 mm. long, tapering at base, 2-keeled, obscurely striate 79. C. hirtissima. Leaf-blades not hairy; pistillate spikes linear, widely separate 80. C. triquetra. 24. Debiles. Represented by one species in our range 81. C. mendocinensis. 25. Frigidse. Perigynia triangular or slightly flattened, the beak bidentulate; scales obtusish, the midvein not prominent at apex. Spikes widely separate, the staminate one strongly overtopping the uppermost pistillate one; perigynia triangular, 3.5 mm. long or less; lower bracts with conspicuous blades 82. C. Lemmonii. Uppermost pistillate spikes bunched, little exceeded by the staminate one; perigynia compressed- triangular, longer; bracts with rudimentp.ry blades. Pistillate spikes oblong; scales reddish-brown 83. C. luzulina. Pistillate spikes linear-oblong; scales dark-tinged 84. C. ablata. Perigynia strongly flattened, the beak bidentate; scales sharp-pointed with midvein prominent to apex. Perigynia glabrous; scales smooth; bract sheaths strongly enlarged upward; leaf-blades very leathery 85. C. luzulcefolia. Perigynia sparsely hairy; scales more or less hairy; bract sheaths scarcely enlarged upward; leaf- blades not leathery 86. C. fissuricola. 26. Anomalse. Represented by one species in our range 87. C. amplifolia. 27. Atratae. Terminal spike staminate or sometimes with perigynia in the middle. Basal sheaths not filamentose. Culms few-leaved, strongly aphyllopodic 88. C. spectabilis. Culms many-leaved, clothed at base with dried-up leaves of previous year. ...89. C. Raynoldsii. Basal sheaths filamentose 90. C. bifida. Terminal spike gynsecandrous; i. e., the terminal flowers pistillate. Culms aphyllopodic, strongly purplish-red at base, the lower sheaths filamentose 91. C. Buxbaumii. Culms phyllopodic. Spikes 3-5, not oblong-cylindric; perigynia walls not papery; perigynia 2.5-4.5 mm. long, nerveless or obscurely nerved on face, dull green to brownish-black. Perigynia not papillate-roughened. Spikes contiguous, sessile or nearly so, forming a dense head; scales lanceolate, strongly exceeding perigynia; culms stiff, erect 92. C. Helleri. Lower spike or spikes more or less peduncled, usually distant, erect or nodding; scales wider, shorter than or about equaling perigynia; culms more slender. Scales with midvein largely obsolete; mature perigynia 3.5-4.5 mm. long, wider on either side than achene, the latter on stipe of nearly its own length; sheaths not purplish-tinged ventrally 93. C. epapillosa. Scales with prominent midvein; mature perigynia 3.5 mm. long, narrower on either side than achene, the latter much longer than its stipe; sheaths normally purplish-tinged ventrally 94. C. heteroneura _ Perigynia papillate-roughened, especially on upper margins 95. C. albo-nigra. Spikes 6-10, oblong-cylindric; perigynia 5 mm. long, lightly 3-nerved, light green, the walls papery; scales much shorter than perigynia 96. C. Mertensii. 16 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 28. Acutae. I. Flowering culms arising from the center of previous year's tuft of leaves and surrounded at base with dried-up leaves of previous year. A. Lower sheaths of flowering culms not breaking and becoming filamentose. Strongly stoloniferous, the culms arising one-few together, low; lowest bract normally much shorter than inflorescence; scales with obsolete or slender midvein. Dried first year leaf-blades at base of fertile culms stiff, rigid and conspicuous, concealing the culms; fertile culm leaves all blade-bearing, the lower sheaths not purplish or his- pidulous dorsally 97. C. scopulorum. Dried first year leaf-blades at base of fertile culms much desiccated, not stiff, rigid or con- spicuous, and not concealing the culms; lowest fertile culm leaves not blade-bearing, the lower sheaths purplish and more or less strongly hispidulous dorsally 98. C. gymnoclada. Culms taller, less stiff, in larger clumps; lowest bract equaling or exceeding inflorescence; scales with slender midvein or broader light colored center. Perigynia strongly nerved ventrally, the nerves raised. Perigynia coriaceous, sessile or nearly so. the beak bidentate; strongly stoloniferous 99. C. nebraskensis. Perigynia membranaceous, more or less slenderly stipitate, the beak entire; cespitose. Perigynia substipitate, orbicular, minutely papillate-roughened; scales deciduous. 100. C. paucicostata. Perigynia strongly stipitate, ovate. Perigynia yellowish-green, ribbed, papillate-roughened; scales deciduous 101. C. Hindsii. Perigynia light green or in age glaucous green, nerved, very minutely granular; scales long persistent 102. C. Kelloggii. Perigynia nerveless ventrally or with obscure impressed nerves. Sheaths colored ventrally at mouth; lower pistillate spikes subcernuous on long peduncles; scales in age whitened at tip 103. C. sitchensis. Sheaths not colored ventrally at mouth; lower pistillate spikes not nodding; scales not whitened at tip 104. C. aquatilis. B. Lower sheaths of flowering culms breaking and becoming filamentose. Beak of perigynium bidentate, hispidulous between teeth; scales strongly rough-awned *. 105. C. barbarm. Beak of perigynium entire or emarginate, not hispidulous between teeth; scales not rough-awned. Lower culm sheaths strongly yellowish-brown tinged, sharply keeled; culms stout, the leaf- blades 6-12 mm. wide 106. C. Schottii. Lower culm sheaths purplish-tinged, not sharply keeled; culms more slender, the leaf-blades narrower 107. C. senta. II. Some or all of the flowering culms arising laterally and not enveloped at base by previous year's tuft of leaves. Culms very densely cespitose, forming dense stools; lowest sheaths strongly filamentose; lowest bract little developed, usually much exceeded by inflorescence 108. C. nudata. Culms much less densely cespitose, forming beds, conspicuously stoloniferous; lowest bract well- developed from somewhat shorter-than to exceeding inflorescence. Perigynia orbicular or nearly so 109. C. eurycarpa. Perigynia oblanceolate 110. C. oxycarpa. 29. Cryptocarpae. Perigynia dull, straw-colored or light brown, slightly granular; lower sheaths of sterile shoots not filamentose 111. C. Lyngbyei. Perigynia shining, brown, smooth; lower sheaths of sterile shoots strongly filamentose. 112. C. obnupta. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 17 30. Trachychlaenae. Represented by one species in our range 113. C. spissa. 31. Hirtse. Beak of perigynium obliquely cut, shallowly bidentate at maturity; foliage pubescent; staminate scales long ciliate 114. C. yosemitana. Beak of perigynium deeply bidentate; staminate scales at most erose. Foliage not pubescent; teeth of perigynium beak short. Lowest bract strongly sheathing; fertile culms phyllopodic with many leaves, the sheaths not breaking and becoming filamentose 115. C. oregonensis. Lowest bract not sheathing; fertile culms aphyllopodic with few leaves, the sheaths breaking and becoming filamentose 116. C. lanuginosa. Sheaths and under surface of leaf-blades hairy; teeth of perigynium beak conspicuous 117. C. Sheldonii. 32. Extensae. Represented by one species in our range 118. C. viridula. 33. Physocarpae. Perigynia ascending; lower sheaths more or less strongly filamentose; culms sharply triangular. Perigynia 5-8 mm. long, abruptly contracted into beak 119. C. vesicaria. Perigynia 7-10 mm. long, tapering into beak 120. C. exsiccata. Perigynia spreading at maturity; lower sheaths not filamentose; culms bluntly triangular below spikes. 121. C. rostrata. 34. Pseudo-Cyperese. Perigynia suborbicular in cross-section, more or less inflated; teeth of perigynium beak 0.5-1 mm. long. 122. C. hystricina . Perigynia obtusely triangular, scarcely inflated, closely enveloping achene; teeth of perigynium beak 1.5-2 mm. long, recurved or spreading * 123. C. comosa. 18 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA DIAGNOSES OF THE SPECIES WITH INDICATIONS OF RANGE, CITATIONS OF LOCALITIES, AND REFERENCES TO THE LITERATURE I. Inflate Kiik. Cespitose, the rootstocks elongate. Leaf-blades filiform. Spike solitary, ovoid, androgynous, densely flowered, bractless. Perigynia inflated, the walls very thin, slightly nerved, sessile, the smooth beak hyaline-tipped, obliquely cut, in age bidentulate. Achenes triangular. Style very slender, straight, jointed with achene, deciduous. Stigmas 3. 1. C. Engelmannii Bailey. Rootstocks slender, tough, elongate, the culms 5-20 cm. high, smooth, brownish tinged at base; leaf-blades filiform, 0.3-0.5 mm. wide, 3-15 cm. long, smooth or nearly so, the sheaths loose, many-striate; spike 10- 15 mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, the lower % pistillate with 15-40 ascending perigynia; scales 1 -nerved, acute to cuspidate, all except lower shorter than perigynia; perigynia ovoid, 4.5-5 mm. long, 2.25 mm. wide, rounded at base, inflated, nerveless, glabrous, chartaceous, tapering at apex into a minute smooth beak, 0.5 mm. long; achenes 1.25 mm. long. Type Locality: Colorado, probably near Colorado Springs (Engelmann). Southern Sierra Nevada. Colorado to Washington. Locs.: Kaweah Peaks, Dudley 2215; Kokopo Creek, Dudley 2447; Chagoopa Meadows, Dudley 2272; Camp Alta, DudUy 989. Refs.: Carex Engelmannii Bailev, Proc. Am. Acad. 22: 132 (1886); Kiik. in Engler, Pflzr. 420; 96 (1909). C. paddoensis Suksdorf, Allg. Bot. Zeit Schr. 12: 43 (1906), type from Mt. Paddo (Adams), Washington. 2. C. Breweri Boott. (Fig. 1). Rootstocks tough, elongate, the culms 1-2.5 dm. high, smooth, brownish tinged at base; leaf-blades filiform but rigid, 5-10 cm. long, less than 1 mm. wide, the sheaths loose, many striate and scarious; spike 10-15 (or 20) mm. long, 6-10 mm. wide, the upper third staminate; scales ovate, short- acuminate, 3-nerved, narrower and shorter than perigynia; perigynia broadly ovoid, 5 mm. long, 3.5 mm. wide, rounded at base, strongly inflated, nerveless, glabrous, the walls very thin, abruptly beaked, the smooth beak 0.5-1 mm. long, obliquely cut, at length bidentulate; achenes 2 mm. long. Type Locality: Mt. Shasta, California (Brewer 1422). High Alpine peaks, Washington and Oregon, and south as far as Mt. Whitney on the higher summits of the Sierra Nevada in California. Locs.: Mt. Shasta, Brewer 1391, 1392, 1422, Hooker & Gray, Pringle, Goodale, Copeland 3517, Jepson; Mt. Dana, Brewer 1863, Bolander 2176, Congdon; head of San Joaquin, Brewer 2831; James Peak, Brewer 2176; Sawtooth Peak, Tulare Co., Hall & Babcock 5680; Mt. Whitney, Coville & Funston 1669, Jepson 1085; Alta Meadows, Tulare Co., Geo. B. Grant; Alta Peak, Tulare Co., Dudley 1532 (in part), 1536. Refs.: Carex Breweri Boott, 111. Carex 4: 142, pi. 455 (1867); W. Boott in Bot. Cal. 2: 229 (1880); Kiik. in Engler, Pflzr. 420; 96 (1909). II. Athrochl^n^: Holm. Cespitose or with creeping rootstocks. Leaf-blades nar- row. Spike solitary, androgynous, bractless, narrow, densely many-flowered. Pistillate scales soon falling. Perigynia slenderly strongly stipitate, widely spreading or the lower reflexed, obscurely triangular, nerveless, membranaceous, long-beaked, the beak obliquely cut, becoming bidentulate. Achenes usually tri- angular, slightly apiculate. Style very slender, straight, slightly enlarged upward, jointed with achene, deciduous. Stigmas 3 or occasionally 2. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 19 Fig. 1. Carex Breweri Boott. a, habit, X 2lz\ b, scale, X 5; c, perigynium, X 5. 20 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA Fig. 2. Carex nigricans Meyer. a, habit, X 2lz; b, inflorescence, X 2/3; c, scale, X 4; d, perigynium, X 4. THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 21 Fig. 3. Carex capitata L. a, habit, X 1;1, scale, X 8; c, perigynium, X 8. 22 THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 3. C. nigricans C. A. Meyer. (Fig. 2.) Rootstocks stout, lignescent, creep- ing, the culms 5-20 cm. high, stiff, firm, smooth, exceeding leaves, brownish tinged at base; leaves 4-9 to a fertile culm, the blades 4-10 cm. long, 1.5-3 mm. wide, flat, or channeled at base, attenuate at apex; spike 8-15 mm. long, 6-9 mm. wide, the upper half staminate, the lower with 10-25 perigynia; scales ovate, obtuse to acutish, dark-brown tinged with hyaline margins, 3^ to nearly as long as perigynia; perigy- nia 4 mm. long, 1 mm. wide, compressed-orbicular in cross-section, brownish, nerve- less, glabrous, rounded and strongly stipitate at base, at maturity deflexed, tapering into a smooth beak with obliquely cut hyaline orifice. Type Locality: "Habitat in Unalaschka." Arctic alpine from Colorado and California northward to Alberta and Alaska. In California it is confined to the Sierra Nevada, where it is known to extend from Tulare Co. to Lake Tahoe. Locs.: Minarets, Congdon; Devil Basin, El Dorado Co., Brainerd; Lake Lucille, Hall & Chandler 4664; Brewer 1379 (referred to C. pyrenaica Wahl. in Bot. Cal.); Tuolumne, Dudley; Marble Canon, Tulare Co., Dudley 1281; Black Peak, Tulare Co., Dudley 2131, 2133; Mt. Silliman, Tulare Co., Dudley 1503; Lake Tahoe, Abrams 4862; Vogelsang Pass, Jepson 3238. Ref.: Carex nigricans C. A. Mey. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 1: 211, pi. 7 (1831); Kiik. in Engler, Pflzr. 420: 106 (1909). "C. pyrenaica Wahl." W. Boott in Bot. Cal. 2: 228 (1880). In Bot. Cal., Brewer 1379 was erroneously referred to C. pyrenaica Wahl., a species which may possibly yet be found in California. C. pyrenaica has densely cespitose culms, each with but 2 or 3 leaves with involute blades 1 mm. wide or less; the staminate flowers are few and the perigynia are erect until full maturity. III. Capitate Christ. Cespitose, the rootstocks somewhat elongate. Leaf-blades filiform. Spike solitary, ovoid, androgynous, densely flowered, bractless. Perigynia plano-convex, sharp edged, not inflated, essentially nerveless, sessile, the walls thinnish, the smooth terete beak conspicuously hyaline-tipped, in age bidentulate. Achenes lenticular, apiculate. Style straight, slender, jointed with achene, at length deciduous. Stigmas 2. 4. C. capitata L. (Fig. 3.) Rootstocks slightly elongate, the culms cespi- tose, 1-3.5 dm. high, erect, roughish above, the basal sheaths purplish, sparingly filamentose; leaf-blades about 0.5 mm. wide, rigid, stiff, shorter or longer than culm; spike orbicular or oblong-orbicular, 4-8 (or 10) mm. long, 3-6 mm. wide, with 6-25 ascending perigynia below and a short but conspicuous cone of staminate flowers above; scales ovate-orbicular, obtuse, shorter and narrower than perigynia, chestnut- brown with broad hyaline margins; perigynia 2-2.5 mm. long and rather narrower, ovoid, plano-convex, pale green, smooth, nerveless, rounded at base, abruptly beaked, the beak smooth, slender, dark-colored, less than 1 mm. long, at length bidentulate. Type Locality: Northern Europe (Fl. Dan. pi. 372). An arctic-alpine species found from Greenaland to Alaska and also occurring very locally on mountain summits southward: New Hampshire, Alberta, Nevada, California, Mexico. In California it is reported only from the Sierra Nevada at altitudes of 6500 feet and more, in Tulare and Fresno counties. Locs.: Mt. Goddard, Hall c£ Chandler 673; Kaweah Meadow, Tulare Co., Dudley 2216; Chagoopa Creek Meadow, Tulare Co., Dudley 2275. Refs. : Carex cai itata L. Syst. Nat. (ed. 10) 1261 (1759); Kiik. in Engler Pflzr. 420 : 70 (1909). THE GENUS CAREX IN CALIFORNIA 23 IV. Fcetid^e Tuckerm. Rootstocks elongate, dark-colored, the culms arising singly or a few together. Leaf-blades narrow. Spikes few to several, androgynous, aggregated into a dense subglobose or ovoid head. Perigynia spreading, plano- convex, membraneous, usually obsoletely nerved, loosely enveloping the achene, rounded at base, stipitate, the beak obliquely cut, at times bidentulate. Achenes lenticular. Style slender, jointed with achene, deciduous. Stigmas 2. 5. C. vernacula Bailey. (Fig. 4.) Rootstocks creeping, lignescent, the culms in small clumps 1-2 dm. high, usually exceeding leaves, smooth; leaf-blades 5-12 cm. long, 2-4 mm. wide, stiff; head very dense, orbicular, about 1 cm. in dia- meter, the spikes not distinguishable, the staminate flowers inconspicuous; scales ovate, brown, sharp-pointed, rather wider and from shorter to longer than perigynia; perigynia ovoid, 3.5-4 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, scarcely inflated, not margined, rounded and short stipitate at base, more or less nerved, tapering into the smooth bidentate beak Yz length of body. Type Locality: "Mountains from Colorado and Wyoming westward." Alpine slopes from Washington to California and east to Wyoming and Colorado. In California it extends from Mt. Whitney north in the Sierra Nevada, and also occurs in the northeastern part of the state. Locs.: Ebbets Pass, Brewer 2066; Summit Camp, Kellogg; Big Trees, Calaveras Co., Hillebrarvl 2304; Tulare Co., Hall & Babcock 5545; Modoc Co., Manning 433; Mt. Goddard, Hall