North American Cypej-acea. 871 



Khynchospore(B inquirendcs. 



1. ScHffiNus HispiDULUs, Lam.; Vahl, enum. 2. p. 220; Ram. if 

 Schull. syst. 2. p. 69; Pursh, Jl. 1. p. 47. 



"S. pedunculis axillaribus et terminalibus tristachyis, spicis subglo- 

 bosis, pedicellatis, foliis filiformibus, hispidulis. 



" Culnii palmares, spithamosi, angulata. Folia distantia 2 — 4 in 

 culmo, superiora culmo longiora. Pedunculi axillares solitarii, ut ter- 

 minales interdum, qui gemini plerumque, poUicares vel minores, mon- 

 ostachyi laxi. Spicse magnitudinas seminis Coriandri, squamis subro- 

 tundis fuscis. Flosciili 3. Stylus bifidus, purpureus. Semem globo- 

 sum undulato-rugosLim. — In Carolina? Herb. La7narck." — Vahl. 



Obs. This plant has not been found by any N. American 

 botanist, and it is somewhat doubtful whether Lamarck's speci- 

 men was received from this country. It cannot be a Schoenus, 

 as that genus is now restricted, but is rather a species of Rhyn- 

 chospora, or perhaps of Psilocarya. 



2. ScHffiNus SETACEUS, VcM, enum. 2. p. 219? (not of Muhl.); 

 Pursh,fl. 1. p. 46. 



" S. pedunculis axillaribus terminalibusque subtrifloris, culmo trigone 

 foliisque setaceis. 



" Culmi pedales, vel minores, 1 — 2-nodosi. Folia 2 — 3, culmo bre- 

 viora remolissima. Peduncylis ex axilla superioresolitarius, terminalis 

 plerumque gemini cum folio setaceo. Spic« 2 — 6, subulatfe pallida 

 fuscse, squamis infimis ovatis mucronatis. Stamina 2. Stylus bifidus. 

 Seniina subrotunda, rugosa, bidentata. — In Surinamo, Caribaeis, Caro- 

 lina." — Vahl. 



Obs. This species was introduced into the North American 

 Flora by Pursh, on the authority of Vahl, but none of our bota- 

 nists have found the plant. The description here quoted was 

 probably taken from West Indian or Surinam specimens. 

 Schcenus setaceus is the type of the genus Spermodon of P. 

 de Beauvols and N. ab Esenbeck, the character of which is 

 thus given by the latter writer : " Spiculae polygamae aut her- 

 maphroditas, pluriflorag. Stylus bifidus, basi bulbosus. Peri- 

 gyniura tubulosum, truncatum, cum basi fructus concrescens. 



