North American Cyperacea. 303 



Eleocharie obtusa, Schidt. mant. 2. p. 89; Link, enum. p. 42, (fide 

 Schult.) ; Gaud, in Freyc. voy. p. 414, (fide Hook.); Hook. S^ Am. in hot. 

 &f Beechey^s voy. p. 98. 



Scirpus obtustis, WiLld. enum. hart. Berol. 1. p. 76; Rctm. Sf Schult. 

 syst. 2. p. 126; Darlingl.! fl. Cest. ed.2. p. 19; Gray! Gram. Sf Cyp. 

 part 2. no. 132. 



S. capitatiis, Walt. Car. p. 70, (not of Linn.); Pursh! fl. 1. p. 55, 

 (excl. syn.) ; Elliott, sk. I. p. 77 ; MuhU granu p. 30; Torr. ! fl. 1. p. 

 45, (excl. syn. Linn;, Willd: sp. and R. Brown,); Bigifl. Bosti ed. 2, 

 p. tC; Beck! hot. p. 424. 



S. ovatu's, Pursh, fl. 1. p. 54 ; Muhl. ! cat. p. 6. 



S. culmo setaceo nudo, spica subglobosa, Gron: fl. Virg; 12.- 



CuIths cespitosfe 8 — 14 inches higli, aiteniiatetJ ini'mediately below the 

 spike, of a soft and spongy texture, clcrthed with one 6r ifibre purplish 

 truncate sheaths at the base. Spike thick, and obtuse, 50 — SO-flowered, 

 often sobgloboSe, and sometimes elongated so as to appear subcylindri- 

 cal.- Scales merribranaceous, with a scarious margin and green midrib. 

 Bristles 6, nearly twice as long as the nut, rigid, retrorsely hispid. Sta- 

 mens 5, Nut doubly convex, the margin tumid arid distinct, light brown. 

 Tuhercle somewhat axe-form, (the breadth greater than the length) with 

 a short obtuse angled summit. 



Hab. Bogs^ and muddy ditches, paftictilarfy near salt 

 water ;^^C»nada to Florida;^ cornition* 



OBSi This species, which is so common irt the United 

 States, (though not confined to North America, it having been 

 found in the Sandwich Islands,) has been confounded by most 

 of our botanists with E. ccqntata, R. Br. (Scirpus capitatus, 

 Linn. It is also considered by some as the E. ovata, R. Br.* 

 (S*- ovatus, Ehi) The former is very distinct, as will 



* Lihnse'tt^ referred "Scirplis culmo setaceo nudo, spica subglobosa," 

 Gron.fl. Virg. 12, to S. capitatus^and this error having been copied by 

 Willdenow and other w^riters, thfe S. capitatus has obtained a place in 

 difr Flora, although the tru'e plant isi for the first tinie, described as a 

 North American"' species, in the present Monograph. Mr. Brown, long 

 ago, {prodr. 1. p. 225) corrected the mistake of Linnscus, arid pronounced 

 Gronoviu's's plattt to be distirict frorri Eleochafis capitata. 



Vol. III. S^ 



