XYRIDACE.E. (YELLOW-EYED GRASS FAMILY.) 527 



1. Sheath of the scape lonyer than the leaves. Biennials? 



1. X. brevifolia, Michx. Scape nearly terete, smooth ; leaves narrowly 

 linear, smooth on the edges ; spike globose, light brown, few-flowered ; bracts 

 soon lacerated at the apex; lateral sepals lanceolate, rigid, crennlate on the 

 wingless keel; petals obovate, rounded; sterile filaments sparingly bearded. 



Low sandy pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. April- May. Plant 

 light brown. Scape 6'- 12' high, clustered. Leaves 1" - 3' long. Spike 2" - 

 3" long. Petals 2" long. 



2. X. flabelliformis, Chapm. Scape filiform, smooth, terete below, 

 slightly compressed above ; leaves very short, linear-lanceolate, smooth, spread- 

 ing like a fan, laterally curved ; spikes oblong, mostly acute, few-flowered, 

 angular ; bracts light brown, entire ; lateral sepals lanceolate, short-fringed on 

 the wingless keel ; petals obovate; sterile filaments often beardless. Low 

 pine barrens, near the coast, West Florida. April - May. Scape 4' - 12' 

 high. Leaves ' - 1' long. Spikes 2" - 4" long. Petals 2" long. 



2. Sheath of the scape shorter than the leaves. Perennials. 



* Sterile filaments bearded: sepals included. 



-t- Lateral sepa/s fringed on the keel. 



3. X. ambigua, Beyr. Scape rigid, finely furrowed, rough, 2-edged 

 above, 1-angled below ; leaves linear-lanceolate, rough on the edges ; spike 

 ovate-lanceolate or oblong, even, often acute, many-flowered ; bracts light 

 brown, oval, not crowded on the spike ; lateral sepals lanceolate, tapering at 

 each end, shining, narrowly winged ; petals round-obovate ; seeds ovoid. 

 Open grassy pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. July -Sept. Scape 

 2 -3 high, mostly solitary. Leaves 6' -12' long. Spikes 9" -15" long. 

 Petals y long. 



4. X. Stricta, Chapm. Scape flattened and broadly margined, rough- 

 edged above, smooth and 1 - 2-angled below, slightly striate ; leaves long, 

 linear, smooth ; spikes oblong or cylindrical, obtuse, many-flowered ; bracts 

 dark brown, orbicular, crowded on the spike ; lateral sepals broadly winged 

 above the middle, narrowed below ; petals small, wedge-obovate ; seeds ovoid. 



Shallow ponds in the pine barrens. West Florida. July - Sept. Scapes 

 slender, clustered, 2 -3 high. Leaves l-lilong. Spikes 9"- 12" long. 

 Petals 2" long. 



5. X. flexuosa, Muhl. Somewhat bulbous; scape smooth, 2-edged 

 above, nearly terete below ; leaves linear, smooth ; spikes globose, few- 

 flowered ; lateral sepals lanceolate, wingless. (X. bulbosa, Kunlh.) Swamps 

 in the upper districts of Georgia, and northward. July -Sept. Scape 6'- 

 12' high. Leaves 4' - 8' long. Spike 3" - 5" long. 



i- -i- Lateral sepals broadl// winged, and variously toothed or Jimbriate. 



6. X. Elliottii, Chapm. Scape slender, flattened and 2-edged through- 

 out, or 1 -edged below, roughish and mostly spiral; leaves narrowly linear, 

 sharp edged, twisted ; spike few-flowered, elliptical, obtuse ; lateral sepals 

 linear, the wing cut-toothed above the middle; petals obovate. (X. brevi- 

 folia, Ell. ex descr.) Wet grassy pine barrens, Florida to South Carolina. 

 July. Scape 1-1| high. Leaves 6' -9' long. Petals 3" long. 



