370 North American Cyperacea, 



might possibly be referred to Cephaloschoenus, with some mo- 

 dification of the generic character ; but the habit of several spe- 

 cies of that genus is very different from our plants. Since the 

 publication of that paper, we have received the Uehersicht der 

 Cyperacee7igattungen of Nees ab Esenbeck, published in the 9th 

 volume of the Linnaea, and are surprised to find that the com- 

 mon Schcamis corniculatus of Lamarcic appears not to have 

 come under his observation. He has, however, established 

 the genus Ceratoschoenus upon a new plant (the country it in- 

 habits is not mentioned), which, although differing in some re- 

 spects, exhibits a striking accordance with these plants. It has 

 therefore been thought proper to modify the character of Cera- 

 toschoenus, N. ab. E.* so as to include our two species, rather 

 than to propose a new genus for their reception, especially as it 

 is not unlikely that the species comprised in Cephaloschoenus and 

 Ceratoschoenus, with our two species, will ultimately be referred 

 to a single genus. Nees having already employed the specific 

 name corniculatus, that of our Rhynchospora corniculata (Schoe- 

 nus corniculatus, La7na,rck) must be changed: we therefore 

 adopt that of Michaux, which has the priority over that of Vahl. 



The attenuated beak of the fruit in these plants is formed 

 by the induration of nearly the whole style : it is not, however, 

 incurved as in C. corniculatus, N. ah E. In our species the 

 lowest flower is perfect, the inferior scales being wholly empty : 

 in C. longirostris each spikelet is terminated by 3 or 4 stami- 

 nate flowers, while in C. macrostachys only a single abortive 

 staminate flower is usually found. 



Should future examination prove our species to be wholly 

 distinct from Ceratoschoenus as originally established, the name 

 LoNCHOSTYLis might be applied to them. 



* Ceratoschienus, N. ab E. Spiculae hermaphrodite, basi apice- 

 que steriles. Stylus simplex. Perigynii squamae quinque, cartilaginese, 

 angustee, fructui appressss, basi connatas. Caryopsis compressa, basi 

 styli articulo inserta, prselonga, incurvaque coronata. — Ueber. Cyperac-. 

 in Linneea, 9. p. 296, 



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