XyridaceaJ] xyridace^e. 379 



Seeds numerous, very small, albuminous. — Erect stiff herbs. Leaves radical 

 or distichous and equitant, narrow and erect. Mowers yellow, in terminal 

 heads or in interrupted spikes. 



A small tropical Order, common to the New and the Old World. 



Flowers in short terminal heads. Perianth double, each of 3 segments 



or lobes 1. Xyris. 



Flowers in a long interrupted spike. Perianth of 2 broad petal-like seg- 

 ments 2. Philydrum. 



1. XYRIS, Linn. 



Perianth of 2 lateral outer segments (bracts ?) keeled and compressed, a 

 third broader and more petal-like, enveloping the 3 inner petal-like segments 

 or lobes. Stamens 3, fertile, opposite the inner segments, and sometimes 3 

 sterile penicillate filaments between them. Placentas parietal. — Kush-like 

 herbs. Leaves equitant, radical or nearly so, excepting one (sometimes re- 

 duced to a sheath) sheathing the base of the otherwise leafless scape. Flowers 

 yellow, in small dense terminal heads, with coriaceous imbricated glume-like 

 bracts or scales. 



A genus of several species, distributed over the tropical and subtropical regions of the 

 New and the Old World. 



Scales of the flower-head very broad, with a lighter-coloured margin. 



Leaves denticulate (under a lens) 1. X. pauciflora. 



Scales of a uniform brown. Leaves quite entire 2. X schoenoides. 



1. X. pauciflora, fftild. ; Kunth, Hhmm.it. 17. Leaves narrow, grass- 

 like, acute, 2 to 4 in. long, minutely denticulate, when seen under a lens. 

 Scape 4 in. to 1 ft. long. Flower-head broadly ovoid-globular, about 4 lines 

 diameter. Scales very broad, dark and shining in the centre, with a broad 

 thinner and lighter-coloured margin. Perianth-segments 2 outer narrow and 

 acute, the keel winged ; the third broad, but with a rather stiff and prominent 

 midrib. Inner perianth 3-lobed, with an anther almost sessile at the base 

 of each. Sterile stamens none or very minute. 



In marshes and swamps, Hance, Wright, Wilford. In India, from Ceylon and the Pen- 

 insula to Khasia, Sikkim, and the Malayan Peninsula. In Australia and the Philippines, 

 and probably all over the Archipelago. 



2. X. schcenoid.es, Mart. ; Kunth, Enum. iv. 16. Leaves narrow and 

 acute, usually 2 or 3 in. long, but without the minute denticulation of the last 

 species. Scapes usually above a foot long and slender. Flower-heads usually 

 smaller and more ovoid than in X. pancijlora, the scales of a more uniform 

 brown. Lateral outer perianth-segments more obtuse, the third very broad 

 and thin, completely enclosing the inner perianth. Anthers larger, and the 

 penicillate sterile stamens more conspicuous. 



Hongkong, Hance, Wright. In various parts of India. 



2. PHILYDRUM, Banks. 



Perianth of 2 nearly equal petal-like segments (the 2 outer wanting, and 

 the 3 inner united into one). Stamens 3, inserted at the base of the inner 

 segment ; filaments dilated, the middle one bearing an anther, the 2 lateral 



