" aa BICKNELL: STUDIES IN SISYRINCHIUM 
tainly an aggregate, and certain further lines of subdivision not 
yet clearly shown may confidently be expected to reveal them- 
selves to careful field observation and the study of ample material. 
In the more southern coastwise counties of the state occurs a 
form commonly more tufted, smaller and more branched than the 
type, often more fibrillose about the base and usually turning 
much darker on the herbarium sheet ; other comparative differ- 
ences appear in very slender erect peduncles, smaller spathes with 
subequal often sharply apiculate or aculeate bracts, smaller flowers 
and small, dark, trilobulate capsules only 2-4 mm. high. 
In marked contrast with this is another form apparently con- 
fined also to the southern coastwise counties which discolors less 
when dry and is tall and stout, with rather short, curved pedun- 
cles, short, oval spathes with mostly equal, often obtuse bracts, 
and apparently larger flowers with broader less slenderly aristulate 
segments. 
Similar to the type, but usually lower and less branched and 
with shorter peduncles, is a form apparently best developed some- 
what northward in the range of the species which is noteworthy 
for its conspicuously foliaceous and often greatly elongated un- 
equal bracts; in this plant the ovary is sometimes, at least, quite 
glabrous. 
Also from northward in the range of the species, especially 
from Mendocino County, come a few specimens very slender 
throughout having mostly two slender approximate peduncles, 
narrow, very acute bracts, much exserted pedicels, the flowers with 
narrow segments, and small, subglobose, few-seeded capsules. 
_ Still further rather suggestive indications of other species are 
afforded by certain imperfect or fragmentary specimens of little 
use to discuss at the present time. 
“ Sisyrinchium hesperium sp. nov. 
Slender, erect or ascending in thin, somewhat open tufts sparsely 
fibrillose at base, 25-40 cm. high, dull green and glaucescent be- 
coming brownish in drying, the slender roots numerous an 
densely clustered. Leaves thin and soft or becoming firm, half 
the height of the stem or less, 1-3 mm. or even 4 mm. wide, 
usually narrowed towards the base, tapering-acute, straight or 
slightly falcate, the edges smooth or obscurely denticulate-rough- 
ened ; stems fragile, 1-2.5 mm. wide, merely margined, or with 
