103 



SciRPUS Pringlei, n. sp. Annual, caespitose, i to 2 inches 

 high. Leaves capillary, all radical, about equalling the culm ; 

 spikes terminal and also radical, the latter surrounded and much 

 overtopped by the leaves ; terminal spikes oval, many-flowered, 

 the lowest bract resembling the leaves, and an inch or so in 

 length, the next 3-6 mm., the others lanceolate, very acute, 

 about 2 mm. long, midribs slightly darker than the margins, 

 every bract fertile ; achenia sharply trigonal, broadly obovoid, 

 the angles slightly ridged, the summit truncate, style three-cleft, 

 its base persistent, stamens two. Basal spikes fewer flowered, 

 otherwise nearly as the upper ones. Whole plant yellowish 

 green. 



Chihuahua, near Guerrero, C. G. Pringle, 1887, Nos. 1400 

 and 1399, the latter specimens without terminal spikes. 



An interesting little species related to 5. heterocarpus, S. 

 Wats., which was also collected by Mr. Pringle at the same 

 place (No. 1398), and in aspect resembling Fimbristylis apus 

 (Gray), Wats. 5. heterocarpus, is, however, coarser, its terminal 

 spikes longer and narrower and dark brown ; the achenia of its 

 basal spikes twice as large as those of the upper. The two spe- 

 cies form a marked group of the genus. .S". heterocarpus is also 

 now to be admitted into the United States lists, having been col- 

 lected by Mr. Pringle, Aug. 29, 1884, on sandy plains south of 

 Tucson, Arizona, near the Mexican boundary. Its range is also 

 to be extended to the Bolivian Andes, Mandon's No. 1410 being 

 referable to the species, differing only in the slightly coarser sur- 

 face markings of the achenium. 



Explanation of Plate LXXX. 



Fig. I. Scirpus Pringlei, Britton, plant natural size; Fig. 2. Upper spikelet, 

 X 2; Fig. 3. Pistil, X 8; Fig. 4. Achenium, X 8. 



Fig. 5. Scirpus heterocarpus, Watson, plant natural size. Fig. 6. Upper spike- 

 let, X 2. Fig. 7. Achenium, lower spikelet, X 8, swollen in water; when dry it is 

 slightly shorter and broader. Fig. 8. Style and stigma, upper spikelet, X 8. Fig. 9. 

 Achenium, upper spikelet, X 8. Fig. 10. Scale, upper spikelet, X 8. 



Scirptis ntucronatus, L. This old world species was collected 

 over twenty years ago in Delaware County, Penn., by Mr. C. E. 

 Smith and Dr. Geo. Smith, and appears to have since lain un- 

 noticed in our herbaria, which is to a certain degree my own 



