North American CijpcracpeP,. :147 



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 salt 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. CYLixpRicA, Void. "F. spicis cylindricis obtusissimis, invo- 

 lucro siibmonophyllo rigido umbellam sinipliceni fequantc, Vahl, enum. 

 2. p. 293, (excl. syn.); Pursh,fl. 1. p. 49; Rctm. S-,- Schtdf. syst. 2. p.. 

 101. 



" Culmi bipedales et ultra, apice triquetri ; folia culmo brcviora, con- 

 voluto filifbrmia, glaucescentia; vaginis fusco-nigricantibus. Invo- 

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

 radiata, radiis setaceis, lougior bipollicaris. Spies fere unguiculares, 

 penna columbina parum crassiores, arete imbricata3, spadice^e; squama? 

 subroluntlrr ; foliola duo setaeea sub spieiila longiuspedunculata. Semen 

 subrotundimi, subcompressum, lacve." 



" 111 America septentrional!. " Bosc. — From the description of this 

 plant, it appears to dilTer very little from F. spndicca. 



2. F. MUCRONATA, VuM ; Sprcng. syst. 1. p. 199 ; Ram. S^'SchiiJt. 

 s'jfil. 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, they appear to differ very little. 



3. F. PUBERULA, Vuhl. F. spicis ovatis pubesceniibus, involucro 

 involucellisque diphyllis ; umbelld composita umbellulisque longioribus, 

 Void, enum. 2. p. 289 ; Pursh,fl. 1. p. 49 ; Ram. S^- Schult. sijst. 2. p. 97; 

 Scirpus puherulus, MlcJi.r. ! fl. p. 31 ; S. jnibesccns, Pfrs. sy«. 1. p. 68; 

 S.ferrugineus, Elliott, sk. 1. p. S-5 ? 



In Carolina and Georgia, Miclianx; Virginia to Florida, PursJi. 

 Obs. The Fimbristylis {Scirj^.) puherulus in Michaux's herbarium 

 appears to be merely F. spadiccus in an immature state. Scirpus fcrru- 



