of the Galapagos Archipelago. 1 79 



1^ lin. diam., sulcati, simplices. Folia bipedalia, 3 lin. lata, numerosa, pleraque radicalia 

 basi vaginantia; vaginis pallide rufis, membranaceis, ad basin fissis, lineari-oblongis, 

 truncatis, 1 unc. longis, compressis, ^ unc. latis ; lamina longissime linearis, flexuosa, 

 plana, nervosa, dorso acute carinata, striata, flexuosa, marginibus minute et remote 

 denticulatis : folia caulina vaginis integris, 2-3-uncialibus, antice membranaceis, ore 

 integerrimo truncate; lamina longissima, ut in foliis radicalibus. Involucri foliola 

 4-5, basi imbricata, evaginata, foliis caulinis sequilonga et iis subsimilia. Umbella 

 longiradiata, radiis 8-10, quorum 1-2 sessiles, cseteri longepedunculati, solitarii, v. 

 2-5, pedunculis basi vaginis cylindricis f unc. longis inclusis. Spicae terminates, elon- 

 gato-oblongae, cylindraceae, ad apices rotundata:, | unc. longae, ^ latae laterales. Spiculae 

 80-100, erecto-patentes, 1 lin. longae, pallide fuscescentes ; squama inferiore basi ple- 

 rumque involucellis aequilongis subulatis ciliatis suffulta, enervi, late ovata, secundi 

 subsimili ^ breviore, tertia hermaphrodita, sub 7-9 nervi ; infima ter longiore convolutd, 

 ad apicem obtusum oblique truncata, dorso scaberula ; rachis ultra squamam fertilem 

 dilatata, marginibus membranaceis hyalinis ; squama quarta parva, exserta, late ovata, 

 obtusa, naviculari, sub 5-nervi, squamula aucta. Stamina 3 ; filamentis planis, line- 

 aribus ; antheris inclusis, subulatis, stramineis. Ovarium elongato-obovatum, trialatum ; 

 stylo basi incrassato, trifido, ramis flexuosis exsertis. Achaenium trigonum. 



In this and the following species the 4th scale is much reduced, forming an 

 appendage at the summit of the dilated rachis, and having a small membra- 

 nous lanceolate scale at its base, between which is an abortive flower. The 

 leaves are longer than in the specimen figured by Kunth. 



57. Mariscus brachystachys. Hook. jil. ; culmo erecto basi repente, foliis 

 elongatis suberectis rigidis carinatis marginibus denticulatis, involucri 

 foliolis 3-5 striatis, spicis cylindraceis umbellatis, radiis brevissimis, 

 squama hermaphrodita infima bis longiore lat^ ovata basi convoluta, 

 lamella squamae superioris elongate. . 



Hab. James Island, Dr. Scouler. Charles Island, Charles Darwin, Esq, 



Very distinct from the last in the smaller size, the very rigid and more 

 strict leaves, the almost sessile spikes, and especially in the very abbreviated 

 spikelets of red-brown scales, with the scale of the hermaphrodite flower 

 much shorter, broader, and more open. 



COMMELINE^. 

 68. COMMELINA AGRARIA, Kwith. 

 Hah. James and Charles Islands, Charles Darwin, Esq. 

 VOL. XX. 2 b 



