Saururaceae 95 



2. P. longispica (Durand.) Rydb. Stem stout, 3-7 dm. high; 



basal leaves and lower stem leaves 2-4, lanceolate, acute, 10-15 

 cm. long, 2-3.5 cm. wide, withering about the time of anthesis; 

 spike many-flowered, rather lax, 1-3 dm. long; bracts ovate- 

 lanceolate, 5-10 mm. long, acuminate; flowers greenish, about 5 

 mm. long; lateral sepals ohlong-lanceolate, obtuse; petals broad- 

 ly lanceolate ; blade of the lip ovate-hastate, distinctly auricled 

 and truncate at base; spur filiform, 2.5 times as long as the lip. 

 Santa Monica .Mountains, ffOSSi . 



2. GYROSTACHYS I'ers. Ladies' Tresses. 



Stems erect, Leafy, from a cluster of tuberous routs. 

 Flowers in a twisted spike white, spurless. Sepals and 

 petals narrow, erect or more or less connivent ; lip ob- 

 long sessile or nearly so, the base embracing the column, 

 with a callous protuberance on each side, the dilated 

 summit spreading and usually entire. Column very 

 short oblique, terminating in a short terete spike. 

 Stigma ovate, with an acuminate bifid beak. Anther 

 sessile or nearly so at the base of the stipe behind, 

 acuminate. Pollen-masses 2, thin and powdery. 



1. G. Romanzoffiana (Cham.) MacM. Stems rather stout, 

 glabrous, 1-5 dm. high, bracteate above ; leaves oblong-lanceolate 

 to linear; spike dense 3-ranked, conspicuously bracteate; sepals 

 and petals connivent; lip recurved, ovate-oblong, summit wavy- 

 crenulate; callosities smooth, sometimes obscure; the oblong- 

 linear gland and slender bifid beak 1.5 mm. long ; capsule oblong, 

 6-12 mm. long. (Spiranthes Romanzoffiana Cham.) 



Occasional in canyons in our foothills. 



Family 13. SAURURACEAE. Lizard-tail Family. 



Perennial herbs with broad entire alternate petioled 

 leaves and small perfect bracteolate flowers in peduncled 

 spikes. Perianth none. Stamens 6-8 or sometimes 

 fewer, hypogynous ; anthers 2-celled, the sacs longitudi- 

 nally dehiscent. Ovary 3-4-carpelled ; the carpels dis- 



