North American Ci/perarea-. -347 



marshes near New York, and along the sea-coast of New Jersey, 

 — August to September. 



Obs. This species is somewhat variable in its appearance. 

 When it grows in sak marshes, the scales, especially in the 

 mature spikes, are of a dark chestnut colour and polished ; 

 while in fresh water swamps, they are much paler and more or 

 less pubescent. 'Frequently the umbel is compound, and the 

 rays elongated. In northern specimens, I always find three 

 stamens, but in a variety from Florida the flowers seem to be 

 diandrous. 



Species of Fimbristylis which are little known. 



1. F. CTLixDRiCA, VaJd. "F. spicis cylintlricis obtusissiniis, invo- 

 lucro submonophyllo rigido umbellam simplicem fequante, Vahl, enmn. 

 2. p. 293, (excl. syn.); Pursh,fl. 1. p. 49; Ram. c^- Schidf. syst. 2. p. 

 101. 



" Culmi bipedales et ultra, apice triquetri ; folia culnio breviora, con- 

 volutofiliformla, glaucescentia; vaginls fusco-nigricantibus. Invo- 

 lucrum umbella parum brevius, lineare, planum. Umbella quinque- 

 radiata, radiis setaceis, longior bipoUicaris. Splc^ fere unguiculares, 

 penna columbina parum. crassiores, arete imbricatse, spadiceag; squamfe 

 subrotundae ; foliola duo setacea sub spicula longius pedunculata. Semen 

 subrotundum, subcompressum, Igeve." 



" In America septentrional!." Base. — From the description of this 

 plant, it appears to differ very little from F. spadicea. 



2. F. MUCRONATA, Vahl; Sprcng. syst. 1. p. 199; Ram. S^- Schult. 

 syst. 2. p. 102. Richard, the discoverer of this species, found it in the 

 island of Mahon. According to Sprengel it is also a native of North 

 America, but this botanist considered the F. mucronata andi<^. cylindrica 

 as one species, and indeed, tliey appear to differ very little. 



3. F. puBERUiiA, Vahl. F. spicis ovatis pubescentibus, involucre 

 involucellisque diphyllis ; umbella composita umbellulisque longioribus, 



Vahl, enum. 2. p. 289 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 49 ; Ram. Sf Schult. syst. 2. p. 97 ; 

 Scirpus puberulus, Michx..' fl. p. 31 ; S.pubescens, Pers. syn. 1. p.GS; 

 S.ferrugineus, Elliott, sk. l.p.S5? 



In Carolina and Georgia, Michaux; Virginia to Florida, Pursh. 



Obs. The Findjristylis [Scirp.) puherulus in Michaux's herbarium 

 appears to be merely F. spadiceiis in an immature state. Scirprts firrii- 



