316 



Mexico, collected by Mr. Forrer in 1887. Specimens were sent 

 me by Prof. Greene. It occurs along the Andes of South Amer- 

 ica from Ecuador to Argentina. (Spruce, 5,904; Mandon, 

 1,394; Rusby, 100). 



CyperUS Blodgettii, n. sp. Section Mariscus. Perennial, 

 from a tuberous thickened base, 8'-9' high. Roots fibrous; 

 leaves linear, 3'-4' long, about 1" wide, glabrous, smooth on the 

 edges ; culm sharply triangular ; involucre of about three leaves, 

 i'—2}4' long; inflorescence of 1-3 dense globose heads, 5"-8" 

 in diameter; spikelets 20-40, 6-1 0-flowered, the lowest sjlume 

 empty, the others fertile ; glumes keeled, oval or ovate, obtusish, 

 strongly about 9-nerved, about }4" long ; achenium oblong, 

 about two-thirds the length of the glume, triangular ; falling 

 away with the glumes from the rachis at maturity ; rachis strongly 

 scarred with the bases of the flowers ; stamens three ? 



Key West, Mr. Blodgett (Herb. Torrey and Herb. Gray). 



I went over this species with Mr. Clarke at Kew in 1888 and 

 we decided that it must be new. Mr. Clarke, maintaining that 

 Mariscus is distinct as a genus from Cyperiis, proposed calling it 

 M. aveuicola, and if this view is to be adopted, the plant may 

 bear this name. But I have not been able to agree with him in 

 this respect. The species appears nearest to C. Grayii. 



