[+] Culm bearing a single spikelet; involucre none.
4. E. vaginàtum, L. Culms in close tufts (1° high), leafy only at the base, above with 2 inflated leafless sheaths; root-leaves long and thread-form, triangular-channelled; scales of the ovate spikelet long-pointed, lead-color at maturity.—Cold and high peat-bogs, N. Eng. to Penn., Mich., Minn., and northward. May, June. (Eu.)
[+][+] Culm leafy, bearing several umbellate-clustered heads, involucrate.
5. E. Virgínicum, L. Culm rigid (2–4° high); leaves very narrowly linear, elongated, flat; spikelets nearly sessile, crowded in a dense cluster or head; wool rusty or copper-color, only thrice the length of the scale; stamen 1.—Bogs and low meadows, Newf. to Fla., west to Minn. and Neb. July, Aug.—Var. álbum, Gray, has the wool white. N. New York.
6. E. polystáchyon, L. Culm rigid (1–2° high), obscurely triangular; leaves linear, flat, or barely channelled below, triangular at the point; involucre 2–3-leaved; spikelets several (4–12), on smooth nodding peduncles, some of them elongated in fruit; achene obovate; wool white, very straight (1´ long or more).—Bogs, Newf. to Ga., Minn., and westward. June, July. (Eu.)—Var. latifòlium, Gray; peduncles rough; leaves sometimes broader and flatter.
7. E. grácile, Koch. Culm slender (1–2° high), rather triangular; leaves slender, channelled-triangular, rough on the angles; involucre short and scale-like, mostly 1-leaved; peduncles rough or roughish-pubescent; spikelets 3–7, small, when mature the copious white wool 6–9´´ long; achene elliptical-linear.—Cold bogs, Newf. to N. J., west to Minn. and Mo. Scales in our plant mostly light chestnut and about 3-nerved. June–Aug. (Eu.)
10. FUIRÈNA, Rottboell. Umbrella-Grass. ([Pl. 2.])
Spikelets many-flowered, terete, clustered or solitary, axillary and terminal. Scales imbricated in many ranks, awned below the apex, all floriferous. Perianth of 3 ovate or heart-shaped petaloid scales, mostly on claws, and usually with as many alternating small bristles. Stamens 3. Style 3-cleft. Achene triangular, pointed with the persistent base of the style. Culms from a perennial root, obtusely triangular. (Named for G. Fuiren, a Danish botanist.)
1. F. squarròsa, Michx., var. híspida, Chapm. (Pl. 2, fig. 1–7.) Stem (1–3° high) leafy; leaves and sheaths usually densely hairy; spikelets ovoid-oblong (4–6´´ long), clustered in heads, bristly with the spreading awns of the scales; perianth-scales rhombic or deltoid-ovate, with a short thick awn or point, the interposed mostly barbed bristles shorter than the achene.—Sandy wet places, N. J. to Fla., west to Ky. and Tex.
Var. pùmila, Torr. Usually low (1–6´ high or more), with 1–6 spikelets; perianth-scales narrowly to broadly oblong or ovate, long-stipitate and attenuate to a long awn; barbed bristles usually exceeding the achene.—Mass. to N. J., Fla., and La.; Mich. The commonest form.