357 



the base; Scapes clustered, numerous, 4 to 6 lines high, 

 smooth, four-angled, the angles often separated by finer inter- 

 mediate stris. Sheaths shorter than the leaves, rather obtuse at 

 the point. Heads globular, about i line in diameter. Involu- 

 cral scales broadly obovate, entire or denticulate, very light 

 straw-colored, smooth or sometimes scantily fimbriate at the 

 apex. Receptacle smooth. Bracts obovate, acute or obtuse, 

 longer than the flowers, bearded at the apex. Flowers trimerous. 

 a little more than i line high. Staminate flow^ers pedicellate ; 

 exterior perianth segments sometimes two only, obtuse, the pos- 

 terior ones connate in a keeled hood and white pilose at the top ; 

 interior segments white, tubular below, three-lobed above, the 

 lobes fimbriate, rounded, denticulate or entire at the apex. Sta- 

 mens six. Fertile flowers sessile, exterior perianth segments 

 often two only ; fuscous above and pilose, the interior more deli- 

 cate and longer, white, spatulate, obtuse, pilose internally and on 

 the margin. Ovary sessile, three-celled. Style three-parted; 

 stigmas three. 



This species has found its way from Jalisco, Mexico, where 

 it is common, to Fort Tejon, California, at which place it was 

 collected by Xantus in the expedition of 1857-8, although it is 

 not enumerated in Dr. Gray's list of Xantus' plants. I find spec- 

 imens of it without a name in the Torrey Herbarium. 

 8. Eriocaulon Benthami, Kunth. 



E. Benthami, Kunth. Enum. 3, 545 (1841), originally pub- 

 lished by Bentham in his PI. Hart., p. 28, as " Eriocauli, 

 sp. nov ? " 



Leaves i to 3 inches long, smooth, about the same length as 

 the sheaths or longer ; eight to twelve-nerved, obtuse and cal- 

 lous at the apex. Scapes 4 to 15 inches high, smooth, six or 

 seven-sulcate. Roots thick, nodose. Heads very white-woolly, 

 globose, 2 to 3 lines in diameter. Involucral scales smooth, 

 obtuse, somewhat longer than the bracts, straw-colored. Recep- 

 tacle pilose. Bracts spatulate, fuscous, abruptly acute, woolly on 

 the back and coarsely white-bearded on the apical margins. 

 Flowers i ^ line high ; perianth six-parted, the three exterior 

 segments free, white below, fuscous above and bearded at the 

 apex. In the staminate flower the interior perianth is stipitate 



