r 



^>08 • Bick.nell: Studies in Sisyrinchium 



long; bracts of spathes subequal, 10-16 mm.' long, distinctly 

 nerved, glabrous or slightly roughened with minute often purplish 

 points, abruptly scarious obtuse and apiculate to attenuate ■ innei 



bract of outer spathe equaling or mostly exceeding tlie outer one ; 



/ 



mterior scales silvery white, from half to three quarters the length' 

 of the bracts; Howers on hair-like cxserted pedicels usually sub- 

 spreadmg from the top of the spathe ; perianth deep violet-blue 

 10 mm. long, stamineal column 4-5 mm. high: fruit not seen. 



North Carolina: Salisbury, Rowan Co., A])ril 28, 1897, in 

 wet meadows. Biltmore Herbarium. 



Intermediate in appearance ^vith ^. mun'onatnm and .9. scabrd- 

 lum and related also to 5. albidum and S. capillarc. From 5-. 

 mucronatum it is distinguishable at once by its geminate spathes 

 without regard to other characters. 5. albidum differs in brighter 

 green color, broader, softer and less striate leaves and stem, larger 

 spathes with the broader base passing more abruptly across the 

 sides of the stem and with the bracts greener and more herbaceous 

 and attenuate, less exsertcd pedicels, paler or white and larger 

 flowers. S. capUlarc is altogether more slender and delicate, a'iid 

 differs further in fibrillose-coated base, merely margined stem', and 

 smaller spathes having narrower more attenuate bracts broadly 

 white hyaline on the margins. 



5. Ashdanum clearly bears a very close relationship to S. sca- 

 brdlum but is mostly a much Io\ver plant with narrower leaves and 

 stem, less slender roots, more higlily colored bracts which arc 

 much less herbaceous and attenuate, and smaller, deeper blue 

 flowers ; it is moreover either quite glabrous througliout or with 

 only obscure indications of the scabrellous in^-eslitul•e of bracts and 

 leaves which is so noteworthy a character of 5. scabrdlnm. The 

 latter, as recorded on collectors' labels, is a plant of dry wood- 

 lands, S. AsJidanuui of wet meadows. 



Named for Mr. W. Willard Ashe, whose collection of southern 

 Sisydndiia\i^?> furnished several new species and who was himself 

 about to publish as new the plant here described. 



Sisyrinchium capillare 



Extremely slender and delicate, growhig in erect thin tufts 2C^ 

 45 cm high, closely erect-fibrillose at base ; glaucesccnt, drying a 

 du ohve-green, the spathes and leaf-bases often tinged with pale 

 dull purple ; roots slender and wiry. Leaves from half to three 



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