197 



loosely dowered, 25 mm. to 100 mm. lung; scape slightly or densely hairy, 100 

 mm. to 275 mm. long; calyx obtuse; scarious (Plate 5); capsule ovoid, obtuse, 

 twice as long as calyx, circumsciFsile at the middle, 2-4 seeded ; ripe seeds black, 

 surface dull, minutely granular, cross section oval (Plate A, Fig. 5); longitudinal 

 section oval (Plate D, Fig. •")); size, 1^ mm. x 2| mm.; hilum not at center of seed. 



This species can be distinguished from P. maritima by the shape and surface 

 of the calyx, the shape, length and dehisence of capsule, color of seeds and the 

 position of the hilum. 



Salt marshes along the Atlantic coast from Labrador to New Jersey. 



Specimens examined: Nahant, Massachusetts (J. A. Manning, July 29, 1886, 

 Herbarium of the University of Minnesota); New Foundland (H. L. Osborn, July 

 23, 1879, National Herbarium); Newport, Rhode Island (W. W. Bailey, 1878, 

 Herbarium of Purdue University); Cambridge, Massachusetts (Walter Deane, 

 Oct. 5, 1890, National Herbarium); New Haven, Connecticut (A. PI. Young, 

 Sept., 1874, Herbarium of Purdue University). 



6. P. maritima L. — 50 mm. to 225 mm. high; leaves linear, acuminate, 

 channelled, nearly as long as the scape, three or five nerved, margins entire ; 

 spike loosely to densely flowered, 25 mm. to 75 mm. long ; scape round, slightly 

 hairy, 50 mm. to 325 mm. long; calyx acute, carinate (Plate 6), capsule acute, 

 slightly longer than the calyx, circumscissile below the middle, two seeded; ripe 

 seeds dark brown, surface dull, minutely granular, cross section oval (Plate A, 

 Fig. 6); longitudinal section oval (Plate D, Fig. 6); size, 2^ mm. x 1|, mm.; hilum 

 at center of seed. 



Grows in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence to Labrador and Greenland. 



Specimens examined: San Francisco, California (G. R. Vasey, 1880, 513, 

 National Herbarium); Little Metis, P. Q. (J. A. Allen, July, 2, 1881, National 

 Herbarium); Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts (Alton Collection, Herbarium of the 

 University of Minnesota) ; Portland, Oregon (Drake and Dickson, July, 1882, 

 Herbarium of J. M. Coulter) ; Charlotte, Vermont (Herbarium of J. M. Coulter). 



7. P. Tweedyi Gray. — The original description of this species has not been 

 secured. A single specimen, so referred, from Pelican Creek, in the National 

 Herbarium, has been examined. According to its seed characters it belongs in 

 the first section. The other characters of the plant are as follows: 125 mm. high; 

 leaves lanceolate, smooth, five-nerved, margins entire; spike 50 mm. long; scape 

 smooth below, slightly hairy above, cylindrical, 175 mm. long; sepals obtuse, 

 scarious, with a thick centre ; capsule oblong, twice as long as calyx, circumscis- 

 sile below the middle, four-seeded; ripe seeds light brown, surface dull, striated 



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