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Studies In Sisyrinchium, 



Four new Species from Michigan. 



By Eugene P. Bicknell 



As represented in Michigan the genus Sisyrincliiuni presents 

 some altogether unexpected features. As many as eight species 



I 



occur in the state, that is to say, eight species are included among 

 several small collections of Michigan Blue-eyed Grasses which 

 have been sent to me ; it is quite probable that the actual num- 



w 



ber of species belonging to the state flora is even in excess of 

 this. Two of the species are the now well know^n 6\ mignstifolhait 



w ' 



and S. grmninoides^ common in the eastern states ; two are long 

 discredited species which must be restored to good standing — the 

 S. mucronatioh of Michaux, described in 1803, and the 5. albidiiui 

 of Rafinesque, pubhshed in 1832 ; about these I shall have more 

 to say on another occasion ; the remaining four species are here 



described. 1, 



It does not yet appear which arc the prevailing species in the 

 state, 5. graminoidcs seems to have been the most frequently 

 collected, occurring both north and south, but it is apparently 

 quite wanting in certain sections. 5. albiduni^ which is common 

 further south, seems to prevail in the southern part of the state, 

 where it has been collected by Professor Wheeler, Mr. Farwell 

 and the Misses Camp ; 



M 



•weenaw County in the extreme north. 



ifoliu 



-eastward, and also to the north and west, appears to occur only 



ly. The four new species must be regarded for the pres- 



sparing 



ent as rare, each having been collected only at a single station. 



Sisyrinchium hastile] 



Very slender and rigidly erect, apparently little if at all tufted,' 



high, dull 



green becoming -brownish in dryin 





30-40 cm. 



Leaves very narrow and stiff, thickened, i mm. or less wide but 

 becoming over 30 cm. long, tapering into a very slender, obtusely 

 pointed, sometimes terete apex, very closely striate-nerved, granu- 

 lose-roughened throughout with minute whitish points, except the 

 broadened and membranous sheathing base ; stems resembling the 

 leaves, equally slender and granulose, rigid and very straight, or 



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