^1^ Bicknell: Studies in Sisvrixciiium 



leaves : inflorescence more or less dichotomous from 2-4 scries of 

 nodes, the. primary node often below the middle of the plant ; 

 leaves of the lower nodes very prominent, elongated and acumi- 

 nate, nianifestly broadened about the middle, sometimes even 

 wider than the basal leaves ; branches slightly diverging, usually 

 only one of each pair forked, at least above the first or second 

 node, the lower nodes usually bearing also 2-3 slender, often 

 curved peduncles sometimes over ]o cm. long; u])pcrmost 

 peduncles 3-5 cm. long, often very slender and curved ; lower 

 branches 6-12 cm. long, broadly winged, the upper series increas- 

 ingly shorter and more slender: .spat lies green, very small, often 

 scarcely broader than the peduncles and keeled on either side of 

 the narrow-ed base by its ascending wings, straight, the bracts very 

 narrow, tiiin and weakly few-nerved, sharp edged, more or less un- 

 equal ; outer bract slenderly attenuate, mostly prolonged beyond 

 the inner one for 2-7 mm., the edges very narrowly white-hyaline 

 below, united-cla.sping for 2-3 mm. at base; inner bract 8-15 mm. 

 long, slender-pointed ; flowers 3-9, while in the only specimens 

 seen, very small, perianth about 5 mm. long, stamineal-column 

 2-3 mm. high : capsules rather pale and thin-walled, trigonous- 

 subglobose or obovoid, about 3 mm. high on very slender, flexu- 

 ously-erect, exserted pedicels 15-23 mm. long; 'seeds only 1-2 

 In each cell, large, 1.5-2 mm. in diameter, soniuwhat flattened- 

 subglobose or obovoid, ofLen bluntly angled, strongly umbilicate, 

 black, at first rugulose, but becoming smooth or nearlv so and 

 even somewhat shining. 



North C.vkolina : Chimney Rock, Rutherford Co., May 11, 

 1899, fruit mature and only a few flowers remaining. Riltmorc Herb- 

 A rather remarkable species, especially noteworthy by reason 

 of its successively dichotomous sy.stem of branching, ample stem- 

 leaves, very small white flowers, small capsules and (cw large 

 seeds. Apart from its much greater amount of branching its gen- 

 eraljispect is perhaps most like that of S. ^i^n-aiui/ioidcs or forms of 



h it may be more nearly related to the fol- 

 lowing species. It has smaller flowers, broader stem-leaves and 

 fewer larger seeds, than any other eastern species known to me. 



Sisyrinchium tenellum 



Growing in loose often leafy tufts 15-30 cm. high, not fibrose- 

 coated at base, rather dark dull green, apparently not even glauces- 

 ccnt, usually turning dark in drying; roots soft and slender. 

 Leaves often equaling the stems though sometimes only half as 

 high, very thin and grass-like, soft and openly erect or sometimes- 



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