ni'C) XVKIDACK.E. (VKM,0\V-KYKI) fJUASS KAMII.V.) 



Oki.kk 1.j8. MAYACACE^l^:. (Mavaca Family.) 



Creeping moss-like marsh herbs, with very inuiierons narrow and 

 pclhicid leaves, and solitary axillary flowers. Represented only by 



1. MAYACA, Aul.let. 



Flowers regular, perfeit. S(|);ils .{, liiiireolate, herbaceous, persistent. 

 Petals 3, ohuvate, deciduous or witlieringiiersisteiit. Stamens .'3, free, inserted 

 on the base of tlie sepals, persistent: anthers erect, sjwon-sliaped, imperfectly 

 2-celled, emarginate at the apex, introrse. Ovary l-celled. Ovules few, or- 

 thotropous, fixed to three parietal placentaj. Style siugle, terminal, persist- 

 ent : stigma minutely S-lobed. Capsule rugose, 3-valved ; the valves l^earing 

 the placeutiE in tlie middle. Seeds globose, furrowed and pitted, pointed at 

 the apex. Embryo minute at the apex of the albumen. — Stems branching, 

 tender. Leavos alternate, linear, emarginate. Flowers white or purjile. 



1. M. Michauxii, Schott & Endl. Fruiting peduncles longer tlian the 

 leaves, recurved; capsule few-seeded; flowers (3" -4" wide) white or pale 

 purple. — Springy places, Florida to North Carolina. June -July. — Stems 

 2' - 6' long. Leaves 3" - 4" long. 



Order 159. XYKIDACE^. (Yellow-eyed Grass 

 Family.) 



Perennial stemless marsh herbs, with fibrous roots, sword-shaped 

 equitant leaves, and perfect irregular fugacious flowers, collected in 

 a dense imbricate-bracted spike. Sepals 3 ; tlie two lateral ones glu- 

 maceous, keeled, persistent; the inner one hyaline, enfolding, in the 

 bud, the petals and stamens. Petals 3, rounded, distinct, or united by 

 their long claws. Stamens 3, and inserted on the summit of the claws 

 of the petals, or 6, and the alternate ones sterile, hypogynous, and 

 commonly bearded with jointed hairs : anthers erect, 2-celled, extrorse. 

 Ovary free, 1 - 3-celled. Style single, 3-parted. Capsule 3-valved, 

 many-seeded. Seeds minute, orthotropous. Embryo minute, at the 

 apex of the albumen. — Scape commonly twisted or spiral, 2-edged 

 near the summit, with a spathe-like sheath at the base. Spikes 

 mostly solitarj'. 



1. XYRIS, L. Yellow-eyed Grass. 



Petals distinct. Stamens 6, the alternate ones hypogynous, sterile, com- 

 monly bearded at the summit, and slightly cohering with the claws of the 

 contiguous petals. Stigmas entire. Capsule l-celled, 3 valved, the valves 

 bearing the placentae in the middle. Seeds very numerous, finely ribbed. — 

 Spikes ovoid or oblong. Bracts coriaceous or somewhat crustaceous, rounded, 

 closely imbricated, convex and discolored on the back ; the lower ones empty. 

 Keel of the lateral sepals mostly winged and variously lacerated. Flowers 

 yellow. 



