The Species of Texas and the Southwest 591 



Especially characterized by spreading habit, numerous narrow 

 stems and narrow leaves, relatively broad spathes with longer 

 inner bract, large capsules. 



24." Sisyrinchium flaccidum sp. nov. 



Forming small many-stemmed usually somewhat diffuse or 

 spreading tufts, or sometimes erect, 10-20 cm. high, rather deep 

 green and scarcely if at all glaucescent, turning dark when dry, 

 roots very slender. Basal leaves numerous, frequently equalling 

 the height of the plant, thin and lax with delicate well -separated 

 nerves, 1-3 mm. wide, tapering-acute, the edges smooth ; stem- 

 leaves elongated but not usually surpassing the terminal pedun- 

 cles ; stems weak, very slender, .5-1.5 mm. wide, two-edged or 

 narrowly thin-winged, the edges smooth or sometimes partially 

 denticulate-roughened, some of them usually outcurved or spread- 

 ing at least below and geniculate at the nodes ; nodes mostly two 

 the lower one often subbasal, but sometimes high up ; peduncles 

 very straight and slender, often appearing filiform, usually only one 

 from the lower node and two or three from the upper one, erect 

 or nearly so, 4-9 cm. long, spathes narrow, somewhat tapering to 

 the base, straight or deflected; bracts membranous, delicately 

 many-nerved, acute to narrowly acuminate, subequal or the outer 

 one slightly prolonged, 13-20 mm. rarely 25 mm. long, the outer 

 one narrowly white-hyaline on the edges, united at base for 3-5 

 mm. ; inner scales %-% the length of the bracts, silvery and 

 brownish tinged; flowers bright purplish-blue, the segments 8-10 

 mm. long, mucronate-aristulate, mostly not emarginate ; stammeal- 

 column 5 mm. high, the anthers 1.5 mm. long; ovary strictly 

 glabrous. 



Eastern Texas in rich woods and on prairies, beginning to 

 flower before the end of March. Common about Columbia, the 

 only locality from which I have received it. 



Columbia, Brazoria county, April 6-7, 1899, March 26-28, 

 1900, no. 466 type, B. F. Bush ; March 25, 1900, Wm. M. Canby. 



A small, thin-leaved species of lax habit apparently nearest to 

 5. furcatum but differing in weaker stems, thinner longer leaves, 

 almost perfect smoothness, duller green color and glabrous ovary. 



J 



5: 263. 1845 



Diffusely spreading or ascending in loose tufts, green or sligntiy 

 glaucescent, usually turning very dark when dry ; roots weak and 



