3HU 



3. LACHNOCAULON, Kunth, Enum. iii. 497 (1841). 



Very similar to Eriocatilon in general appearance and habit, 

 but distinguished by having the outer perianth only, the flowers 

 always three-parted, three stamens which coalesce in a tube be- 

 neath, and one-celled anthers. The staminal tube appears to 

 take the place of the sterile outer perianth segments of Eriocau- 

 lon and PcepalantJms, and the place of the inner segment of the 

 fertile flower is occupied in this genus by a loose mass of hairs, or 

 sometimes by three rows of hairs. Style club-shaped, dividing 

 Into three bifid stigmas which alternate with three appendices. 



The genus is confined to the Southern United States, in 

 which four species occur. 



I. LACHNOCAULON ANCEPS (Walt) 



Eriocatilon anceps, Walt. Fl. Car. 83 (1788). 



E. villosiini, Mx. Fl. ii. 166, (1803) Pursh, Fl. i. 92, (1814). 



L. Michauxii, Kunth, Enum. iii. 497, (1841) Chap. Fl. 504, 

 (i860). 



Leaves i to 3 inches long, tapering to an obtuse callous point, 

 smooth or sparingly hairy, seven to twelve-nerved or often appar- 

 ently nerveless. Scapes slender, 2 to 20 inches high, two to four- 

 ribbed, the ribs themselves often with intermediate striae, clothed 

 with long, soft, appessed, upwardly-pointed hairs. Sheaths as 

 long as or shorter than the leaves, hairy like the scape, and 

 pointed like the leaves. Heads globose, i to 3 inches in diame- 

 ter. Involucral scales ovate or oblong, obtuse or pointed, 

 smooth or hairy, shorter than the flowers, usually fuliginous. 

 Flowers about i line high, bracts fuliginous, spatulate, often 

 keeled, surrounded at base by the yellowish, silky hairs of the 

 villose receptacle and white bearded at the apex. Perianth seg- 

 ments in the sterile flower on a short stipe which is hairy at the 

 base, spatulate, fuliginous and fimbriate at the apex. Those of 

 the fertile flower white, smooth, oblong, obtuse ; ovary sessile, 

 densely villous around the base ; style threcTdivided ; stigmas 

 bifid, seeds strongly costate. Roots finely fibrous. The white 

 segments of the fertile perianth mingled with the fuliginous 

 woolly segments of the sterile flowers impart a mixed gray and 

 dark appearance to the heads. 



Low pine barrens, So. Va. to Florida. March-June. 



