60 TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNTA. cyperus. 



Allied to Cyperus aristatus and sguarrosus of the East- 

 Indies. 



2. C, fiavescens L. : spikelets linear-lanceolate, in fas- 

 cicles of 3 — 4; glumes obtuse ; iiy\e 2-cleft; seed lenticular; 

 involucrum 3-leaved, longer than the spikes. Sp. pi, 68. 

 Willd. Spec.\.^.21d. FaA/ £HMm. 11. p. 335. Pursh 

 FL\,p.52. Elliott Sk. \. p. 67. M uhL Gram, p, ]6. 

 Roem. ^ Schult, II. p. 191. 



Moot perennial. Culm about a span high, triquetrous, leafy. 

 Leaves few (2 — 3,) slieatiiing the base of the culm, narrow, 

 smooth. Involucrum about 3-leaved, unequal, spreading. 

 Sfiikelets 3 — 4, about 18 flowered (14 — 20) alternate on pe- 

 duncles, which are sometimes elongated inio distinct rays, 

 but generally short, so that the spikelets appear sessile. 

 Glumes ovale ; sometimes with a short, abrupt point, shiping ; 

 sides yellowish ; carina green. Stamens 3. Style 2-cleft, 

 Seed dark brown, oval, mucronate, a Utile wrinkled. 



Hab. Borders of salt-marshes, and in low boggy grounds. 

 August — September. 



The North-American plant appears to resemble the Euro- 

 pean in every essential character. 



3. C Nutlallii^: culm acutely triangular ; umbel radi- 

 ated, or nearly sessile, loose ; rays short ; involucrum 4-leaved, 

 two of the leaves very long; spikelets linear-lanceolate, com- 

 pressed, acute; stamens 2; style 2-cleft; seed oblong, ob- 

 tuse, compressed. Torrey Cat. pi. N. York., p. 89. sub 

 C. ccBspiloso. Sp reng. neue Eutdeck. I. p. 240. 



Hoot fibrous, perennial. Culms cespllose, 5 — 12 inches high. 

 Leaves situated mostly at the base of the culm and nearly 

 equalling it in height, narrow-linear. Umbel sometimes very 

 distinctly rayed ; the rays about 3 in number. Involucrum of 

 2 short and 2 very Ions; leaves. Spikelets very acute, fascicu- 

 late on the rays. Glu7nes rather cartilaginous ; the carina 

 green and striated, the rest of a chesnut colour. Seed glabrous. 



Hab. On the borders of salt-marshes. It appears to be confined 

 to the vicinity of salt-water. August — September. 



The name of this species is changed, because there is a 

 Cyperus ccesjiitosus described by Poiret in the Encyc. 

 Meth. There is a variety of this plant, of more humble 

 growth, and with nearly filiform culms and leaves, and the 

 spikes fewer flowered. It may be C. Jlavesceus jS. castaneus 

 Pursh Fl. I. p. 53. and probably C drizceus of the same 

 author, though not oi P er s o o n. 



4. C . diandrm * : culm slender, obtusely triangular ; um- 

 bel sessile, or 1 — 2-rayed ; involucrum 3-leaved, two of the 

 leaves much longer than the umbel ; spikelets lanceolate- 

 oblong, much compressed, many-flowered (14— 16 ;) glumes 



