292 North American Cy])cracea. 



petals ovate-oblong, obtuse, with a short scabrous awn below 

 the summit, 3-nerved ; the upper portion tumid ; bristles nearly 

 as long as the nut. 



F. squarrosa, Torr!, Rocky mount, plants, in Ann. Lye. N. York. 2. 

 p. 252. 



Culm about a span high, rather slender, Leaves one line broad, flat, 

 somewhat hairy. Involucre 1-leaved. Spikes about 3, sessile, ovate. 

 Scales ovate, obtuse, hairy ; awn longer than the lamina. Bristles stiff, 

 a little incurved, two thirds the length of the petals, retrorsely scabrous. 

 Petals subcordate at the base ; lower part of the lamina compressed, the 

 upper part spongy, subemarginate, bearing a distinct, abrupt, retrorsely 

 scabrous awn a short distance below the summit. Nut abruptly con- 

 tracted at the base. 



Hab. Arkansas ? Collected by Dr. James in Long's 

 Expedition to the Rocky Mountains. 



Obs. The five forms of Fuirena here described are, for the 

 present, referred to F. squarrosa, although it is probable they 

 include several distinct species. I have not yet determined to 

 my entire satisfaction what degree of dependence is to be 

 placed on the shape and relative length of the floral envelopes 

 in this genus. If they are liable to variation, we probably have, 

 besides the F. scirpoidea, but one other species of the genus in 

 the United States. 



2. Fuirena hispida, Elliott. 



" Leaves long, and with the sheaths very hispid; culm his- 

 pid above ; heads many (5 — 8) clustered ; valves of the corolla 

 ovate, mucronate." 



F. hispida, Elliott! sk. 1. p. 579. 



«' Culm 1 — 2 feet high, erect and decumbent, smooth along the lower 

 joints. Leaves narrow, tapering, 4 — 8 inches long, many-nerved, hispid, 

 particularly on the lower surface. Scales oval, the outer ones hispid, the 

 inner ones finely pubescent ; awn long, expanding. Stamens 3, scarcely 

 longer than the corolla. Styles twice as long as the stamens." 



Hab. Borders of ponds in the middle districts of Georgia 

 and Carolina, Elliott!, Dr. BoyJcin. — July — October, 



