258 I^orth American Cyperacea. 



one-leaved ; scales linear-oblong, loosely imbricate, rather acute, 

 membranaceous, 3-nerved on the keel ; stamen 1 ; style two- 

 cleft; nut oblong-obovate, much compressed, puncticulate. 



C. tenellus, Linn. sup. p. 103 ? ; Vahl, enum. 2. p. 305 ? 

 C. minimus ? Nutt. ! gen. 1. p. 35, not of Thunb. ; Bart. ! prodr.Jl. 

 Phil. 1. p. 26. 



Culm triquetrous, scarcely as thick as a bristle, about 4 inches high- 

 Involucre of one erect setaceous leaf, about an inch long, and a minute 

 bract 2 — 3 lines in length. Spikelet half an inch long, and one line broad, 

 much compressed, rather loosely imbricated. Rachis slightly margined , 

 Style filiform, cleft half way down. Nut brown, dull, obtuse, with a 

 minute point. 



Hab. Monmouth county, New Jersey, Dr. Isaac Cleaver ! 



Obs. This interesting species appears to be extremely rare, 

 as it has not been found since its discovery in New Jersey by 

 the late Dr. Cleaver of Philadelphia. Whether our plant is 

 the C. tenellus of Linnaeus and Vahl, (which seems to be 

 the C. minimus of Thunberg) cannot be certainly deter- 

 mined from the imperfect descriptions of those authors. It is 

 probable, however, that our species is distinct, and should it 

 prove to be so, I propose to call it C. Cleaverii, it honor of its 

 discoverer. C. minimus is described by Vahl as bearing from 

 one to three oblong spikelets, with ovate acute scales, while 

 our plant has a solitary lanceolate-linear spikelet and linear- 

 oblons: scales. 



b. Culm triangular ; umhel simple or compound. 



t Spikelets alternate^ or disposed towards the extremity of the 

 rays in a distichous or spiciform manner, the lowest ones often 

 compound. 



