North American Cyperacece. 283 



t t S^nkelets about one-Jlowered. 



3. MARISCUS, Vahl. 



Spikelets subterete, distichously imbricated, rarely bearing 

 more than one fertile floret. Rachis margined with the adnate 

 persistent interior scales. Stamens 3. Style 3-cleft. Nut 

 triangular. — Habit of Cyperus; spikelets subulate, mostly 

 collected in dense ovate heads ; common rachis appearing chaffy 

 from the persistence of the lower scales of the spikelets. 



Mariscus, Vahl, C7ium. 2. p. 372 (in part) ; R. Brown^ p'odr . 

 1. p. 218; Roem. Sf Schult. gen. 190; Lestih. ess. p. 31, no. 

 24 ; N. ah Esciib. in Wighfs contrih. p. G9, and in Linnaa, 9. 

 p. 286 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 34. 



Species of Cyperus, and Kyllingia, Linn., Vahl, JVilld. &c. 



Species of Scirpus, Linn. &c. 



The genus Mariscus, as here characterized, includes only 

 those species of Vahl, N. ab Esenbeck and others, which bear 

 1 — 2-flowered spikelets; such as M. cyj^erinus, M.umhellat2is, 

 and M. retrofractus. It is so nearly related to Cyperus, that 

 it might, perhaps, form a section of that genus. 



Mariscus retrofractus, Vahl. 



Umbel simple, rays numerous, elongated; heads obovate, 

 retrorsely imbricate ; spikelets subulate, 1-flowered ; the two 

 lowest scales short, terminal one very narrow, involute. 



M. retrofractus, Vahl, enum. 2. p. 373 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 58 ; Elliott., sk. 



1. p. 74; Torr.! fl. 1. p. 57; Beck! hot. p. 429; Rczm. Sf Schult, syst. 



2. p. 245. 



Scirpus retrofractus, Linn. sp. 74; Willd. sp. 1. p. 304; Muhl.! 

 gram. p. 40. 

 Cyperi genus indianum, &c. Pluk. aim. 179. t. 91. f. 4. 



