^48 Nor/h America /i CypcraccfP. 



gineus of Elliott, is jjrobably distinct from Michaux's plant, for he de- 

 scribes the leaves as 3 lines wide, while in the original S. puherulus 

 (which Elliott considers identical with his species) they are ^'' angustis- 

 -simusS'' 



13. ISOLEPIS, R. Brown. 



Scales of the spike imbricated on all sides. Bristles 0. 

 Style 2 — 3-cleft, simple at the base, deciduous. Nut com- 

 pressed or triangular. — Habit of Scirpus. 



Isolepis, R. Broivji, prodr. 1. p. 221 ; Lestib. ess. Jam. Cyp. 

 p. 40. no. 49 ; Nccs ab Esenb. in Wighfs contrib. p. 70, aiid 

 in Linnaa, 9. p. 291. 



Species of Isolepis, Kunth. 



Species of Scirpus, Linn.., TVilld., Vahl. 



§. 1. Flowers lateral. 



\. Isolepis subsquarrosa, Schrad. 



Culm setaceous, compressed and sulcate ; involucre two- 

 leaved, very long, unequal, spikes 2 — 3, ovate, sessile, grow- 

 ing from the side of the culm near the summit; scales rhombic- 

 obovate, with a short mucronate recurved point ; style 2-cleft ; 

 nut obovate-oblong, somewhat compressed. 



I. subsquarrosa, Schrad. in Schult. mayrt. 2. p. 64. 

 Scirpus subsquarrosus, Muhl..' gram. p. 39; Torr.I fl. p. 51; Gray! 

 Gram. Sf Ct/p. part 1. p. 83. 

 S. minimus, Pursh, JJ. 1. p. 55, (excl. syn.) ; Elliott, sk. 1. p. 82. 



Culms in dense tufts, almost capillary, generally about 2 inches high, 

 but sometimes taller, leafy at the base. Leaves setaceous. Involucre 

 of 2 leaves, one of which is short and appears like a continuation of the 

 culm, the other much longer, setaceous. Spikes 2 — 3, or solitary, ovate, 

 obtuse, about a line in diameter, closely sessile near the summit of the 

 culm, many-flowered. Scales closely imbricate, somewhat coriaceous. 

 Sta7nens solitary. Style short, 2-cleft, the divisions recurved. Nut 

 obtuse, of a whitish or pale brown colour, smooth, dull, tipped with the 

 minute base of the style. 



