304 North American Cyiicraceec. 



appear by comparing the characters of the two species ; the 

 latter differs in its obovate-oblong nut, much smaller and far 

 less dilated tubercle and bifid style. I have specimens of E. 

 obtusa from Oahu which agree minutely with the N. American 

 plant. It is very doubtful whether the E. ovata has been 

 found within the limits of our Flora. 



(3. spikes elongated, tapering to a blunt point; bristles 

 scarcely longer than the nut. 



Hab. Hills, Waltham, Massachusetts, B. D. Greene, 

 Esq.! 



Obs. In my specimens of this variety, the tubercle is as 

 broad as the summit of the nut, but the plant can by no means 

 be considered specifically distinct from E, ohttisa. 



9. Eleocharis albidus. 



Culm filiform, terete, with a groove on one side; spike glo- 

 bose-ovate, many (20 — 30)-flowered; scales ovate, mostly 

 obtuse, coriaceous, subcarinate; bristles longer than the nut 

 (red) ; style 3-cleft ; nut broadly obovate, obtusely angular in 

 front, dull. 



Culms cespltose, rather wiry, finely striate, clothed with cuspidate 

 sheaths at the base. Spike 2i lines long, thick, mostly obtuse. Scales 

 generally whitish, or light brown, when old sonaetimes rather acute, but 

 in the young state obtuse. Bristles 6, of a reddish colour both in the 

 young and the mature state, rigid, densely hispid downward. Stamens 

 3; anthers oblong. Nut brown when ripe, smooth but not polished. 

 Tubercle one-third pr one-fourth the length of the nut, quite free round 

 the base ; the point rather acute. 



Hab. Wet sandy places, particularly near the sea shore. 

 On the coast of East Florida, and on Talbot Island, Georgia, 

 Dr. Baldwin! ; near New Orleans, and at Barataria, Louisiana, 

 Dr. Ingalls! 



Obs. This species resembles at first sight, E. capitata, but 

 it differs in its somewhat angular and dull nut, 3-cleft style, 

 and much more coriaceous scales. 



