194 Monograiih of North American Rhynchospora. 



ratio Plantarum, which was pubUshed in the year 1806. His 

 specific characters are drawn ahnost exclusively from the culm, 

 leaves, and inflorescence — characters of minor consequence — 

 to the exclusion of the much more eligible and important 

 ones which are furnished by the spikelets, bristles, and fruit. 

 Consequently, there remain some doubts as to the synonymy 

 of Vahl, which can only be removed by the examination of his 

 original specimens. 



Pursh appears not to have studied this genus with care. In 

 the Flora Americce Septentrionalis ten species are enumerated, 

 and the specific characters of Vahl are quoted without altera- 

 tion. 



The late Mr. Elliott, in the Botany of South Carolina and 

 Georgia, has described thirteen species of Rhynchospora. Al- 

 though the synonymy is often inaccurate, yet his detailed de- 

 scriptions are so far correct, that we have little difficulty in de- 

 termining the plants to which they are intended to apply. In 

 a few cases, moreover, I have had the opportunity of examin- 

 ing authentic specimens, labelled by Mr. Elliott, and by him 

 communicated to Dr. Torrey. ' 



RHYNCHOSPORA. Vahl. 



SpicuLiE pauclflorae ; glumis undique imbricatis, inferioribus 

 vacuis. Set^ hypogynffi plerumque sex. Nux indurata, basi 

 styli persistente subarticulata. 



Vahl, Enimu II. p. 229. R. Browti, Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holl. 

 I. p. 229. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. I. p. 24. Nuttall, Gen. N. 

 Am. pi. I. p. 33. Rccmer et Sclmllcs, Si/st. Vcg. II. p. 2. — 

 Elliott, Bot. S. Car. et Gcorg. I. p. 57. Torrey, Fl. N. etM. 

 JJn. St. Am. I. p. 54. Sprengel, Syst. Veg. I. p. 129. Nees 

 von Esenhcck, Cyp. Ind. in Wight. Contrih. Bot. India. 



ScHoeNi species, Linn. Gen. PL 92. Willd. Sp. PL I. p. 

 259. Lamarck, 111. Gen. I. p. 135. Michaux, Fl. Bor.Am. 

 I. p. 34. Persoon, Syn. PI. I. p. 58. Muhlenherg, Gram. p. 4 



