503 
position of /. polycephalus has been to treat it as a synonym of /. 
scirpoides Lam., a species published in 1789; but upon examina- 
tion of Michaux’s work it is found that he described two varieties 
of /. polycephalus, variety crassifolius and variety tenutfolius, re- 
spectively, giving to the former the diagnosis: « Major, foliis 
multo crassioribus et conspicue compressis.” It is clear that this 
variety, which is the type form of /. folycephalus, is one of the 
two plants known at the present time as /. Enge/manni Buch. and 
J. crasstifolius Buch. Since the latter species, however, is a plant 
of the Arkansas-Texas region there can be no doubt that 
Michaux’s /. polycephalus, accredited to Georgia and the Caro- 
linas, is the species now known as /. Engelmanni, which is abundant 
in these States, and it is necessary, therefore, to so treat it. 
Michaux’s second variety, Zenuifolius, was diagnosed simply as 
“foliis subfiliformibus.” Dr. Buchenau, examining a flower from 
Michaux’s specimen! of this variety, has pronounced it true Juncus 
Scirpottes. 
Key to the Species. 
Capsule with a true beak, the valves in dehiscence united above by the beak, their 
margins usually involute. . 
Uppermost cauline leaf with an almost obsolete blade rarely exceeding I or 2 cm. 
in length. 1. F. megacephalus, 
Uppermost cauline leaf with a normal blade, few to several cm. in length. 
Stamens as long as the inner perianth parts, the anthers exserted between 
them ; leaf-blades slender and terete. 2. F. scirpotdcs. 
Stamens considerably shorter than the inner perianth parts, their anthers in- 
cluded; leaf-blades usually stout and laterally compressed or even gladiate. 
3. F. polycephalus. 
Capsule without a true beak, the valves in dehiscence flat and separating throughout, 
their apices spreading or rarely loosely attached. 4. F. validus. 
I. JUNCUS MEGACEPHALUS M. A. Curtis.* 
Funcus megacephalus M. A, Curtis, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1: 
092, '1835. 
1 Buchenau, Monog. Junc. 325. 1890. 
* After examining a large number of herbarium specimens and observing both 
plants in the field for several years, I am convinced that Torrey’s Funcus nodosus 
megacephalus does not intergrade with ¥. zodosus proper. In view of the earlier 
Funcus megacephalus of Curtis, Torrey’s plant is named as follows: 
Juncus Torreyi nom. nov. 
Funcus nodosus var. megacephalus Torr. Fl. N. Y. 2: 326. 1843 
Funcus megacephalus Wood, Classbook Bot. Ed. 2: 724. 1861. Not Curtis. 
