NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 9 



which, when later with mature fruit, are of a light straw color ; seeds ovate, 

 with reddish brown points ; heads of flowers about 5 lines in diameter ; radi- 

 cal leaves 3 5 inches long. 



Juncus d iffusis simus, s. n. Culmo erecto 2 3 pedali, foliato, foliis 

 oblongo linearibus acutis, septis transversis inconspicuis, vaginis compressis 

 acutis 1 3-policaribus, anthela terminali decomposita et lato filamento-ramo- 

 sissima, fasciculis 5 7-floris, foliis floralibus ovatis membranaceis acutis, se- 

 palis sequalibus lineari-lanceolatis, acutis, margine membranaceis, capsula 

 oblonga trigona subacuta, perigonio fere duplo longiore, semina ovoidea 

 utrinque subobtusa. 



Northwestern Texas. 



Panicle widely diffused, some of its filiform brandies being more than a 

 foot in length ; heads subhemispherical, yellowish brown and 1 2 inches 

 apart from each other. Whole plant weak and not rigid ; capsules 4 lines 

 long, gradually attenuated to a blunt or subacute point, and nearly double 

 the length of the si-pals ; seeds ovoid, tailless, subobtuse, yellowish brown, 

 with the ends dark brown. 



COMMELYNACEJE. 



Tradescautia speciosa, s. nov. Caule erecto simplici vel subramoso, 

 glabro, foliis ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis, acutis margine ciliatis, subamplexi- 

 caulibus, radicalibus petiolatis, umbellis terminalibus, ad basin pilosis sessili- 

 bus, pauciHoribus breve pedicellatis, sepalis lanceolatis subacutis margine 

 membranaceis, petalis lato-ovatis roseis. 



Corpus Cbristi. May. 



Plant 4 6 inches high, smooth, excepting the margins of the leaves, the 

 pedicels and the base of the calyx. Radical leaves, including the petioles, 

 3 4 inches long and 1 inch wide ; petioles 6 12 lines in length ; stem leaves 

 1 2 inches long and 1 inch broad ; the upper pair of leaves inclosing the 

 umbel about an inch long and nearly an inch in width, acute ; flowers ex- 

 panded 4 6 lines in diameter, rose colored ; pedicels 1 3 lines in length. 



CYPERACE.E. 



Cyperus retroflexus, n. s. Rhizomate bulboso ; culmis erectis triquetis 

 1J 2^-pedalibus basi foliatis ; foliis 12 15-policaribus margine et carina gla- 

 briusculis ; involucre 5 7-phyllo ; foliis 2 inferioribus umbella longioribus ; 

 umbella5 7-radiata ; radiis insequalibus, exterioribus 2 3-policaribus; spicu- 

 lis congestis tarde reflexis teretibus acuminatis 2 3-floris basi bracteatis ; brac- 

 teis ovatis albo-hyalinis obtusis ; squamis oblongo-obovatis vel lanceolatis acutis 

 lateralibus membranaceis ; carinis viridiscentibus ; caryopsi elongata trigona 

 3 lin. longa, breve apiculata glabra ; stylo 3-fido. 



Northern Texas. June. 



Spikes green ; scales 3 4, the lower pair unequal, one being about one- 

 third longer than the other, and clasping the middle of the spikelet, which 

 is commonly 2-seeded ; spikelets 34 lines long ; terminal scale long, acu- 

 minate. 



Cyperus ruficomus, n. s. Culmis erectis triquetis 2 3-pedalibus basi 

 foliatis ; foliis culmo brevioribus ; umbella 5 9-radiata ; radiis insequalibus 

 1 5-policaribus involucro 5 7-phyllo ; phyllis linearibus planis insequalibus, 

 longioribus 7 9-policaribus ; spiculis 7 9 lin. longis, remotiusculis 20 30 ; 

 inferioribus 2 3-congestis et pedicellatis circum 20-squamatis ; squamis ovatis 

 acutis marginibus albo-rufescentibus carinis viridiscentibus ; caryopsi lineari 

 trigona apice acuta. 



San Saba County. June. 



Spikelet subterete and little more than a line in diameter. The long leaves 

 of the involucre 34 lines wide. A linear setaceous leaf 5 6 lines long at 

 the base of three or four of the lower spikelets. Interior bracts none. 



1862.] 



