CYPEllUS AND KYLLINGIA. 171 



culm, and sometimes very long, expanded or reflexed. 

 Heads sometimes an inch in length, and of a hrown colour. 

 The exterior bract is ovate, acute, and longer than the inte- 

 rior, which is much liroader, and obtuse. 



There is a small variety from 3 to 6 inches higii, with 

 Iieads from 2 to 3, not differing materially in other respects. 



Common at Rio de Janeiro, and also in the Banda Orien- 

 tal on the Rio dc la Plata. Flowers, Januanj — .Ipril. 



Observations. 

 The genus Kyllingia appears to abound beyond the southern tropic, on the 

 American continent. But three cpcrina are yet known within the limits of tlie 

 United States. Neither of these agree exactly with (l.o gonnlr rharacter given 

 to the genus. The K. monoccphala of Muhlenberg, and the ptcnila of Michaux, 

 have neither bracteas nor corollas.' The flowers of the K maculata of Mi- 

 chaux are furnished with a single braclea, which has been called a \-vcdved ca- 

 lyx by Mr. KUiott. The flowers of the K. hucocrphala and squarrosa have 

 each two bracteas. Perhaps the flowers of the foreign species which have been 

 described as furnished with both calyx and corolla, may merely be bracteated. 

 The bracteas are so situated as to appear like a C-valved calyx ; but on exami- 

 nation, they will be found in the species I have examined, unconnected with 

 the fructification, and remain, after the seed with its two glumes falls off, at- 

 tached to the rachis. 



• It will be perceived that I have adopted ccdyx instead of corolla in those 

 species, I have described, which are not furnished with both. 



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