ENGELMANN—NORTH AM. SPECIES OF JUNCUS. 467 
40. J. BRACHYCARPUS, n. sp.: caulibus e rhizomate crasso 
horizontali paueis erectis (1-24-pedalibus) rigidis teretibus ; 
panicula e capitulis globosis multi-(80-50-100)-floris paucis 
seu pluribus simplice seu composita conferta; sepalis lanceo- 
lato-subulatis, interioribus quam exteriora multo brevioribus 
stamina 3 capsulamque tridngulato-ovatam acuminato-rostra- 
tam unilocularem zequantibus seu paulo superantibus; anthe- 
ris lineari-oblongis filamento multo brevioribus; stigmatibus 
subsessilibus ovarium ovatum acuminatum fere equantibus 
inclusis; seminibus parvis oblanceolatis obovatisve utrumque 
acutatis areis leviusculis reticulatis.—J. eryptocarpus, Bebb 
in litt. 
In the Mississippi Valley from central Ohio, Sudlivant, Mich- 
igan, J’olwell, Bigelow, Hb. n. 74, and Illinois, Bebb, Hail, Hb. 
n. 63, to Missouri! Kentucky, Short, Mississippi, Hilgard, 
Louisiana, Hale, and Texas, Berlandier 309, 313, 1569, 1573, 
and 2556 in part, Lindheimer, also, if the locality is cor- 
rectly reported, near Charleston, 8. C., Beyrich (distributed 
as J. echinatus). — Flowers in May and June, in Texas in 
April. — On one side this species is allied to the large-headed 
forms of J. acuminatus, and on the other much more closely 
to J. scirpoides, with both of which it has been confounded; 
it has the rhizoma and the inflorescence of the latter, but its 
very short inner sepals and short capsule at once distinguish 
it from either—Stems from 8-10 inches (seen mostly in Texas 
specimens) to 2-2} feet high, rather rigid; heads 4-5 lines in 
diameter, single or 2-3 together, or more commonly 5-8, or 
even 10, in ashort (1-2 inches long) contracted panicle; flow- 
ers 1.8—-2.0, and capsule 1.2, lines long, so that, as Mr. Bebb 
remarks, at maturity the arid sepals, protruding over the al- 
most hidden capsule, give the plant an appearance of sterili- 
ty. Filaments twice or three times as long as the anthers; 
seeds 0.20—0.22 line long, in shape like those of the last spe- 
cies, but the arez are scarcely lineolate, the ribs, however, 
are crenulate and sometimes short, transverse lines extend 
from them into the area. Among Lindheimer’s Texan speci- 
mens are some, the heads of which are degenerated into leafy 
excrescences. 
41. J. sctrporpEs, Lamarck, Ene. 3, 267 (E. Meyer in Linn. 
8, 370): caulibus (1—4-pedalibus) e rhizomate horizontali 
crasso albido rigidis strictis (seu raro decumbentibus) foliosis ; 
capitulis globosis multifloris paucis seu pluribus; sepalis 
subulatis szepius aristato-acutissimis demum rigidis spinescen- 
tibus; staminibus 3; capsula triangulato-pyramidata subulata 
uniloculari; seminibus oblanceolatis obovatisve utrumque 
acute apiculatis areis sublevibus reticulatis.—J. polycephalus, 
Michx. Fl. 1, 192; Pursh, Fl. 1,237; Mey. Junc. 33. 
Var. a. macrostemon: caulibus (1-2-pedalibus) foliisque 
