APPENDIX. 3S1 



4. Cyperus *alterniJlorus, L. v. Schw. 



This very remarkable plant was labelled Cyperus by 

 Mr. Nuttall, and I have attemped the following descrip- 

 tion: 



Root tuberous. Stem about a foot in height, triquetrous, 

 scabrous in margin, strongly striate, bifoliate at base, 

 sheathed by a few niarcescent sheaths. Leaves much 

 shorter than the culm, narrow, (two lines wide, inclined to 

 fold,) striate, scabrous in the margin, midrib smooth. In- 

 volucrum leaves equal in number to the rays of the um- 

 bell, those of the longer spikes or partial umbells, exceed- 

 ing these in length and broadened at base; very scabrous 

 in the margin. Rays of the umbell 5-6 ; the outer ones 

 on long peduncles, central ones nearly sessile; each ray 

 surmounted by 7 or 8 alternate, subdistichous spikelets, 

 containing 5 or 6 florets. 



Florets regularly alternate, subdistant, the one in sum- 

 mit sterile. Glumes striate, broadly ovate, with an ab- 

 rupt mucro, arising from the protruded, green, scabrous 

 carina, having an indenture on each side thereof. Seed 

 markedly triquetrous, compressed, shorter than the glumes. 

 Filaments 3. Style three-cleft; margin of the glumes 

 membranaceously scariose; short, acuminate, rigid brac- 

 teas at the base of each spikelet. 



It might be characterized thus: 



C. spicis corymboso-umbellatis, compressis centralibus, 

 subsessilibus : spiculis distichis, floribus, aiternatim, distan- 

 tibus. Glumis lato-ovatis, carina mucronatis. 



" 5. Eriophorum angustifolium,, /3. * inegastachyon, cul- 

 mis subtrigonis brevibus, involucro umbella longiore; spicis 

 pedunculatis maximis. 



Hab. Prairies between Fort Wayne and Lake Mi- 

 chigan. 



Vol. If. 19 



