MAYACE^. (MAVA( A FAMILY.) 537 



(iiilJiers, ghimaceous calyx, (iinl a regular colored corolla ; the 3-valced 

 mostlij l-celled capsule coiUainuifj several or many orthotropo^is seeds with 

 a minute embryo at the apex ofjleshy albumen. 



1. XYRIS, Grouov. Ykli.ow-evei) Grass. 



Flowers sinn;lc in the axils of coriaceous scale-like bracts, which are densely 

 imbricated in a head. !Se|)als 3 ; the 2 lateral glunie-like, boat-shaped <>r keeled 

 and persistent; the anterior one larger and membranaceous, euwra)i|)iii^ the 

 corolla in the bud and deciduous with it. Petals 3, with daws, which cohere 

 more or less. Fertile stamens 3, with linear anthers, inserted on the claws of 

 the petals, alternating with 3 sterile filaments, which are cleft and in our spe- 

 cies plumose or beanled at the apex. Style 3-cleft. Capsule oblong, free, 1- 

 celled, with 3 parietal more or less projecting placenta, 3-valved, many-seeded. 



— Flowers yellow, produced all summer. Ours apparently all ]jerennials. 

 (Hwpt's, a name of snme jilant with 2-edged leaves, from ^vpov, a razor.) 



\. X. flexudsa, Muhl. Scape slender (10-16' high), barely tiattened at 

 the summit, often from a bulbous base, very smooth, much longer than the 

 narrowly linear leaves, both commonly twisted with age; head rouudish-ovoid 

 (3-4" long) ; lateral sepals oblong-lanceolate,, //»f/'/ ci/iate-scarious on the nar- 

 row wim/less keel, usually with a minute bearded tuft at the apex, shorter than 

 the bract. — Sandy or peaty bogs, Mass. to Fla., west to Minn, and Mo. 



Var. pusilla, Gray. Small and very slender, seldom twisted, 2-9' high, 

 the base not bulbous; head 2-3" long. — White Mts. to Penn., west to L. 

 Superior. 



2. X. t6rta, Smitli. Scape terete, with one sharp edge, slender, 9-20' 

 high, from a dark l)ull)ous base, and with the llnear-Jiliform riyid leaves be- 

 coming spirally twisted ; head ovoid, becoming spindle-shaped, or ol)long and 

 acute (5 - 9" long) ; sepals exceeding the bract ; lateral sepals wnujed on the 

 keel and frinijed above the middle. — I'iue barrens, in dry sand, N. J. to Fla., 

 Tex. mid Ark. 



3. X. Caroliniana, Walt. Scape flattish, l -angled below, 2-e(lgod at tlie 

 summit, smooth, ^-2° higli, the base hardly bulbous; leaves linear-sivord- 

 shaped, flat, 2-4" broad; head globular-ovoid (5-7" long) ; lateral sepals ob- 

 scurely lacerate-Jrinr/ed above on the winged keel, rather shorter than the bract. 



— Sandy swamp.*!, near the coast, Mass. to Fla. 



4. X. fimbriata, Ell. Scape somewhat angled, 2-edged above, rough 

 (2° high), rather longer than the linear-sword-shaped or strap-shaped leave,-, 

 the base not bull)ous; head oblong-ovate (6-10" long) ; lateral srptds lanceo- 

 late-linear, nearly tivice the length of the bract, above the middle conspicuously 

 /ringed on the wing-margined keel, and even plumose at the summit. — Tine-bar- 

 rens, N. J. to Fla. and Tex. 



OuDi.K 11!>. 3IAYA('r:.K. (Mayaca Family.) 



J\[oss-like a<piatic plants, densely leafy, tvith narrowly-linear sessile pel- 

 lucid leaves, axillary naked peduncles terminated by a solitary perfect 3- 

 nndrous flower, herbaceous calyx, white corolla, and a 3-valved l-celled 

 several-seeded capsule. 



