54 TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



Species. 1. S. setaceus.2. hispiduhis. 3.efusvs. This re- 

 markable grass, discovered in the West India islands by 

 Swartz, extends a considerable distance northward beyond 

 Wilmin^^ton, (North Carohna) often almost exclusively oc- 

 cupying considerable ponds. The leaves are almost as 

 sharply serrate as those of a Bromelia, and hence it is very 

 properly called saiv-grass. The genuine species of this ge- 

 nus are principally confined to Europe and northern Afri- 

 ca (Barbary). Of the Rhynchospora there are many species 

 at the Cape of Good Hope as well as in North America 

 and the West India islands; scarcely more than 1 or 2 

 distinct species in Europe, none in the East Indies, Aus- 

 tralia, Northern Asia, and Northern Africa. 



51. MARISCUS. VahL 



Spikelets few-flowered, almost imbricately 

 agc:regated in roundish or subcylindric lieads. 

 — Common caiix of the spikelets 2-vaIvcd, (3 

 to 6, or 8-fl;)\vered). Flowers 1-valved, sub- 

 imbricate. Style trifid. Seed triquetrous. 



Culm triquetrous, leafy at the base, terminating in an in- 

 volucrate umbell; capitulum, ovate, roundish, or cylindric, 

 composed of aggregated compressed or subcyhndric spi- 

 culi, trom 3 to 8-flowered, the spikelets generally squar- 

 rose or reflected when in fruit. The involucelfate fila- 

 ments appear to be wanting. This genus, confined to 

 America, seems to be very nearly allied to Cyperus, dif- 

 fering principally in habit. 



Species. l.M. retrofractus.2. cylindricus. 3. echinatits, 

 4. umbelluius, 



52. CYPKRUS. Lin. (Cyprus-grass.) 

 Spikelets compressed, distinct. Calix scales 



imbricated in two rows. Corolla Stigmata 

 mostly 3. Seed 1, naked. (Stamina 2, and 3.) 



Culm usually triquetrous, rarely terete, terminating in 

 an involucrate umbell; spikes many-flowered, distinct, 

 fasciculate, and generally pedunculate. The lower calix 

 scalt s are sonietimes empty or sterile. The roots of 

 some of the species possess an aromatic odour, (particu- 

 larly the C lo7ig-iis.) and a few others produce tubers at 

 their extremities, said to be esculent. From the integu- 

 inenis of the C. PapT/rw* of Egypc the ancients first obtain- 

 ed Ji conveaient substitute for skins, to write upon, since 



