North American Cyjjeracece. 285 



Species of Mariscus, Lestib. 



Hedychloa, Rajin. amials of nature, (1820) p. 16. 



Thryocephalum, Forst. gen. 65. 



This genus differs from Mariscus in the sessile head, com- 

 pressed spikelets, lenticular nut, and bifid style.* Linnaean 

 botanists generally regard the 2 inferior scales of the spikelet 

 as a 2-valved calyx, and the other two scales as constituting a 

 corolla. Hedychloa, as characterized by Rafinesque, agrees in 

 all respects with the ordinary species of Kyllingia. 



Kyllingia pumila, Michx. 



Heads 1 — 3 ; spikelets 1-flowered, diandrous ; scales 3 — 4, 

 the lowest very minute, the two upper ovate, acuminate, 

 smooth on the sides, scabrous on the keel ; nut obovate ; in- 

 volucre 3-leaved, very long; leaves linear. 



K. pumila, Michx.! Ji. 1. p: 28; Pursh,fl.. I. p. 46; Ellioit, sk. 1. p. 

 55; Muhl.! gram. p. 4; Vahl, enum. 2. p. 380; Ram. S^' Schult. 2. p. 

 237. 



Hedychloa fragrans, RaJin. ! ann. nat. (1820) p. 16. 



Root fibrous. Culms cespitose, 2 — 12 iucbes high, triquetrous, slender, 

 smooth. Leaves generally shorter, but sometimes as long as the culm, 

 somewhat glaucous. Heads one-third of an inch in diaineter, mostly 

 solitary, but often 2 — 3 closely aggregated, varying in form from globose 

 to oblong. Sjnkelets ovate; one or two of lowest scales very small 

 (wanting, Elliott) ; the two upper slightly mucronate, 3-nerved on each 

 side. Rachis terete, tuberculated with the short pedicels of the flowers. 

 Stamens always 2. Style longer than the ovary, 2-cleft nearly half-way 

 down. Nut much compressed, obtuse, fulvous. 



* " Transitus ab hoc genere ad Mariscos, prascipue ad unifloros, perfaci- 

 lis; et ex contemplatione specierum flosculo secundo instructarum vera 

 natura partium in unifloris luculenter apparet ; in his enim valvula in- 

 terior (quse ssepius paulo major) uti rachis spicute abortivge considerari 

 debet, e cujus basi v. medio flosculus secundus ejusve rudimentum 

 ortum ducit." — R. Brown, 1. c. 



