34 TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA, 
Srecizs. 1. S. setaceus, 2. hispidulus. 3. effusus. This te 
markable grass, discovered in the West India islands by 
Swartz, extends a considerable distance northward beyond 
Wilmington, (North Carolina) ofien almost exclusively 0¢- 
cupying considerable por.ds. The leaves are almost a 
sharply serrate as those of a Bromelia, and hence it is very 
properly called saw-grass. Vhe genuine species oi this ge- 
nus are principally confined to Europe and northern Afri 
ca (Barbary). Of the Rhynchospora there are many species 
at the Cape of Good Hope as well as in North America 
and the West India islands; scarcely more than 1 or 2 
distinct species in Europe, none in the East Indies, Aus- 
tralia, Northern Asia, and Northern Africa. 
51. MARISCUS. Vahl. 
Spikelets few-flowered, almost imbricately 
aggregated in roundish or subcylindric heads. 
—Common calix of the spikelets 2-valved, (3 — 
to 6, or 8-flowered). Flowers 1-valved, sub- 
imbricate. Style trifid. Seed triquetrous, 
Culm triquetrous, leafy at the base, terminatingin anine 
volucrate umbell; capitulum, ovate, roundish, or cylindric, 
composed of aggregated compressed or subcylindric spi- 
culi, from 3 to 8-flowered, the spikelets generally squar? 
rose or reflected when in fruit. The inyolucellate fila- 
_ Ments appear to be wanting. This genus, confined to 
America, seems to be very nearly allied to Cyperus, dif- 
fering principally in habit. 
Species. 1. M. retrofractus. 2. eylindricus. 3. echinatus 
4. umbellatus < 
52, CYPERUS. Lin. (Cyprus-grass.) 
_ Spikelets compressed, distinct. Calia scales 
_ Ambricated in two rows. Corolla 0. Stigmata 
mostly 5. Seed i, naked. (Stamina 2, and 3-) 
Culm spanlty trique 
_ an involucrate umbell; spikes many-flowered, distinct, 
ae _ fasciculate, and generally Meddhieubass The lower 
= gotbe of the stees mes empty or sterile. The roots 
Species possess an aromatic odour, (particu- — 
ay _ SS tet: a few others produce tubers at 
Z vi ot > = } P 
: a eg so Said to be esculent. From the integue 
__ €d a convenient substit 
ee 
trous, rarely terete, terminating in 
