North American Cyperacece. 287 



This species is rare in the United Statesi It is probably 

 distinct from the K. monocephala, Linn, a native of the East 

 Indies and South America, that species having diandrous flowers 

 and an obovate nut. Our plant is perhaps the K. cruciformisy 

 Schrad. {i?i Schult. mant. 2. p. 137 ; N. ah Esenb. in Wight's 

 contrih. p. 91.), with which it agrees in its monandrous flowers; 

 but the nut is rather orbicular than *' obovate." To the K. 

 pumila, it has a strong resemblance, but it is generally a much 

 taller plant, the leaves are firmer and more abruptly pointed, the 

 head solitary, and it differs also in the flowers. 



The locaUties quoted from Muhlenberg are rather doubtful^ 

 as the specimens in his herbarium are mixed with another spe- 

 cies of Kyllingia, and also with Scirjnis subsquarros7is. 



3. KiLLINGIA SESQUIFLORA. 



Heads 3, cylindrical-oblong, the intermediate one largest; 

 spikelets ovate-oblong, diandrous, with one perfect, and often 

 one imperfect floret ; scales 4^ — 6 ; the two lowest minute ; the 

 third and fourth nearly equal, ovate-lanceolate, acute, membra- 

 naceous, 5-nerved, smooth on the keel ; the fifth imperfect^ 

 concealed in the fourth ; style deeply 2-cleft ; nut obovate ; in- 

 volucre 4 — 5-leaved, and with the leaves, broadly linear. 



Root creeping. Culm 8 — 12 inches high ; obtusely triangular, smooth. 

 Leaves nearly as tall as the culm, 2 — 3 lines wide. Heads always 3; 

 the middle one three-fourths of an inch long; the others shorter. Involucre 

 of 4 long leaves and a shorter one. Spikelets spreading, of a whitisK 

 colour. Lowest scales closely appressed, one of them ovate, the other 

 lanceolate ; the third and fourth whitish, with a green keel. Style one- 

 third longer than the ovary, cleft about two-thirds of the way down. Nut 

 much compressed, very obtuse, fulvous. 



Hab. Damp rich soils, Middle Florida, Dr. Chapman! 



Obs. This species resembles K. triceps, Linn., but differs 

 in its longer heads, somewhat 2-flowered spikelets, smooth 

 scales, and obovate nuts. It is distinguished at once from the 

 other North American species of the genus, by the large whitish 

 heads, broad leaves, and thick culm. The whole plant has a 

 strong balsamic odour^ 



Vol. IIL 37 



