Var. pedunculàta, Dewey. Spikes more or less scattered, some or all prominently peduncled; staminate spike usually conspicuous, often long-peduncled, very variable in size; perigynium more spreading. (C. gigantea, Rudge.)—With the species, but more common.
Var. polystàchya, Schwein. & Torr. Stouter, the leaves very broad (often ½´); bracts broad and far exceeding the culm; pistillate spikes 4–6, all long (3–4´) and cylindrical, more or less short-peduncled, somewhat scattered, becoming yellow; perigynium very large, ascending. (C. lupuliformis, Sartw.)—N. Y. and N. J.; not common.
C. lupulìna × retrórsa, Dudley. Distinguished from C. lupulina by its straw-colored perigynium, which is less inflated and more spreading, standing at nearly right angles to the axis of the spike; scales acute to short-awned, rough. (C. lurida × retrorsa, Bailey).—Ithaca, N. Y. (Dudley), and Lansing, Mich. (Bailey). Resembles n. 16.
8. C. grándis, Bailey. Distinguished from C. lupulina, var. polystachya, by its much more scattered and mostly shorter slim spikes, which are comparatively loosely flowered; perigynium swollen below but very abruptly contracted into a slender beak 3–4 times as long as the body, spreading at right angles or nearly so, never becoming yellow; scales narrow, smooth. (C. gigantea of previous editions.)—Swamps, Ky., Del., and southward; local.
[*] 1.—[+] 3. Vesicàriæ.
[++] Spikes very small, globular or short-oblong.
9. C. oligospérma, Michx. Very slender, but stiff, 18–30´ high; leaves and bracts very narrow, becoming involute; staminate spike single, peduncled; pistillate spikes 1 or 2, sessile or the lowest very short-peduncled, 3–8-flowered; perigynium turgid, short-ovoid, gradually contracted into a very short and minutely toothed beak, prominently few-nerved, yellow, nearly twice longer than the blunt scale.—Deep swamps and borders of lakes, N. Eng. to Penn. and Minn.; frequent.
10. C. miliàris, Michx. Culm very slender but erect, 12–18´ high, smooth, or slightly rough above on the angles; leaves almost filiform, mostly shorter than the culm; staminate spikes 1–2, exceedingly narrow, elevated an inch or two; pistillate spikes 1–3, the upper one sessile and the lowest very short stalked, 9´´ long or less, the lower subtended by a short leafy bract; perigynium very small, broad or round-ovate or ovate-oblong, thin but firm, bearing a nerve on each side but otherwise nerveless or very nearly so, rounded into a very short terete entire or somewhat erose beak; scales brown, lance-ovate, white tipped, about as long as the perigynium. (C. rotundata? of last ed.)—Outlet of Moosehead Lake, Maine, and northward.
Var. màjor, Bailey. Culm much stouter (often over 2° high), thick and very sharply angled; leaves stout and channelled or involute; staminate spikes short-stalked; the pistillate 1–5, darker, mostly longer and larger; scale varying from wholly obtuse to acutish.—Outlet of Moosehead Lake (Porter), and northward.
Var. (?) aùrea, Bailey. Taller and mostly stouter than the type; pistillate spikes one or two, often staminate at top, yellow or stramineous; perigynium longer, gradually produced into a conspicuous and more or less toothed beak, prominently few-nerved, yellow, broader and usually longer than the blunt scale. (C. pulla, and var. miliaris, last ed.)—Outlet of Moosehead Lake (Smith), and northward.