432 North American Cyperaccce. 



much longer than the umbel ; spikes ovate ; spikelets ap- 

 proximated, spreading on all sides, subulate, somewhat quad- 

 rangular, 2 — 3-flo\veied, only the lower floret fertile ; scales 

 linear-lanceolate, slightly mucronate ; nut oblong-linear, nearly 

 covered with the inner scales. 



Culm 12 — 14 inches high, very slender, wiry. Leaves scarcely half 

 a line wide, shorter than the culm. Ochrece truncate, entire. Spikes 

 about three-fourths of an inch long, compased of about 25 spikelets, 

 which spread irregularly in all directions. Spikelets 4 — 5 lines long, 

 attenuated, curved, composed of about .5 scales, the two lowest of which 

 are very short and empty ; the third linear-lanceolate, fertile ; and the 

 fourth abortive, but containing stamens and ovary ; the uppermost very 

 slender, empty. Racliis broad, margined wilh persistent inner scales. 

 Stamens 4. Style 3-cleft. Nut light brown, dull, partly imbedded 

 in the broad rachis, and covered with the inflexed margin or inner 

 scales. 



Hab. Texas, T. Drnmmoml! (Coll. I. no. 287.) 



Obs. In the structure of the spikelets this species strongly 

 resembles Mariscus retrofractus ; yet the plant has the habit 

 of Cyperus. 



C. MiCHAUXiANUS, p. 259. ^^ elongatus. Culm tall 

 and slender ; rays elongated ; spikelets subulate, obtusely 

 quadrangular ; scales lanceolate, acute. 



Culm 3 feet high, triquetrous. Leaves 3 — 4 lines wide, shorter than 

 the culm. Umbel somewhat compound, 6 — 8-rayed ; the rays rather 

 erect, 3 — 5 inches long. Ochreee 2-loothed. Involucre 6 — 8-leaved ;■ 

 several of the leaves nearly as long as the umbel. Involucels short, 

 setaceous. Spikelets much crowded on the rays, forming an ovate spike, 

 slender, somewhat curved, 6 — 8-flowered, very acute, quadrangular 

 when mature; the lower ones- somewhat fasciculate or compound. 

 Scales somewhat distinct and rather loose towards the summit, striate, 

 slightly mucronate. Racliis nearly as broad as the spikelet, winged 

 with the ovate, firm interior scales. Stamens 3. Style 3-cleft. Nut 

 oblong, unequally triangular, rather acute, dull. 



Hab. T exdis, T. Drtmmond! (Coll. I. no. 337.) 



