23. J. brachycárpus, Engelm. Stem erect (1–2½° high), bearing about 2 leaves and 2–10 densely flowered spherical heads (4–5´´ wide) in a slightly spreading crowded panicle much exceeding the involucral leaf; flowers pale green (2´´ long); sepals lance-linear, awl-pointed, the 3 outer much longer than the inner, and the ovoid pointed 1-celled capsule rather shorter; anthers much shorter than the filaments; style very short; seeds ({1/5}´´ long) abruptly apiculate.—Moist places in open woods and prairies, Ohio and Mich. to Mo., Miss., and Tex.
24. J. scirpoìdes, Lam. Stem erect (1–3° high), rather slender, bearing about 2 terete leaves with wide and open sheaths, and a panicle of few or many densely-flowered pale-green spherical heads, much longer than the involucral leaf, its branches erect and often elongated; heads (3–4´´ wide) 15–40-flowered; flowers 1¼–1½´´ long; sepals rigid, awl-shaped and (especially the outer) bristly pointed, at length pungent, as long as the stamens and nearly equalling the oblong-triangular taper-pointed 1-celled capsule; anthers very small; style elongated or very short, seeds ovoid, abruptly pointed at each end (¼´´ long).—Wet sandy soil, Mass. to N. J. and S. C., west to Ind., Mo., and Tex.
Var. echinàtus, Engelm. Stouter; leaves terete; branches of the compact panicle short; heads larger (5–6´´ wide), 40–80-flowered; flowers 1¾–2´´ long); sepals narrower and more sharply pointed, the outer a little longer than the inner; stamens shorter and anthers longer than in the preceding, and seeds rather smaller and more slender.—Md. to Fla.
Var. polycéphalus, Engelm. Much stouter; leaves laterally flattened (3–6´´ wide); panicle spreading, branched, bearing many distant heads as large as in the last; flowers 2–2½´´ long; the 3 outer sepals the longer; anthers about as long as the filaments; seeds larger ({1/3}´´ long).—S. Va. to Fla., west to Mo. and Tex.
[++][++] Stamens 6.
25. J. nodòsus, L. Stem erect (6–15' or 2° high), slender from a creeping thread-like and tuber-bearing rootstock, mostly with 2 or 3 slender leaves; heads few or several, rarely single, 8–20-flowered (3½–4´´ wide), overtopped by the involucral leaf; flowers brown (1½–2´´ long); sepals lance-linear, awl-pointed (the 3 outer mostly a little shorter), nearly as long as the slender triangular taper-pointed 1-celled capsule; anthers oblong, shorter than the filaments; style very short; seeds (about ¼´´ long) obovate, abruptly mucronate.—Swamps and gravelly banks, N. J. and Penn. to N. Ind. and Iowa, and northward.—July, Aug.—Var. MEGACÉPHALUS, Torr. Stem stout (1–3° high), with thick leaves; heads few and large (6–8´´ wide), 30–80-flowered; flowers pale green (2¼–2¾´´ long); outer sepals longest; anthers linear, shorter than the filaments.—Western N. Y. to Minn. and Mo., and westward.
[*][*] Seeds caudate.
[+] Stamens 3.
26. J. Canadénsis, J. Gay. Tufted stems erect, terete, smooth, bearing 2–3 leaves; heads few- or many-flowered, paniculate; sepals lanceolate, the 3 outer shorter than the inner, not much longer than the stamens, equal to or shorter than the triangular-prismatic almost 1-celled usually short-pointed capsule; style mostly short; seeds more or less distinctly tail pointed, delicately many ribbed.—Common almost everywhere. Aug., Sept. Easily distinguished by its late flowering from the similar n. 22. Very variable.
Var. longicaudàtus, Engelm. Stem stout and rigid (1½–3° high), bearing in a decompound somewhat spreading panicle the numerous 5–50-flowered heads; flowers greenish or light brown (1½–2´´ long); sepals awl-pointed, mostly shorter than the abruptly short-pointed capsule; seeds slender ({2/3}–1´´ long), conspicuously tail-pointed.—Mass. to S. C., west to Minn. and La. The most common form.