584 CYPERACE^. (sedge FAMILY.) 



12. LIPOCARPHA, R.Br. (PI. 2.) 



Spikelets terete, many-flowered, in a terminal close cluster involucrate by 

 leafy bracts. Scales spatulate, regularly imbricated all round in many ranks, 

 awnless, deciduous, a few of the lowest empty. Inner scales (bractlets) 2 to 

 each flower, thin, one between the scale of the spikelet and the flower, one be- 

 tween the latter and the axis of the spikelet. Bristles or other perianth none. 

 Stamens 1 or 2. Style 2-3-cleft. Achene flattish or triangular, naked at the 

 tip. — Culms leafy at base. (Xame formed of Kiiros, fat, and Kapcpos, chaff, 

 from the thickness of the inner scales of some species.) 



1. L. maculata, Torr. Annual; culm (4-8' high) much longer than 

 the linear concave leaves; spikelets (1 -2" long) green and dark-spotted; in- 

 ner scales delicate ; stamen one ; achene oblong with a contracted base. — 

 Springy or miry places, Va. to Fla. ; near Philadelphia, probably adventive. 



13. RHYNCHOSPORA, Vahl. Beak-Rush. (PI. 4.) 



Spikelets pauicled or variously clustered, ovate, globular, or spindle-shaped, 

 terete, or sometimes flattish ; but the scales open or barely concave (not boat- 

 shaped nor keeled) ; the loAver commonly loosely imbricated and empty, the 

 uppermost often subtending imperfect flowers. Perianth in the form of bristles 

 (mostly 6). Stamens mostly .3. Achene lenticular, globular, or flat, crowned 

 with a conspicuous tubercle or beak consisting of the persistent indurated base 

 or even of the greater part of the style. — Cliiefly perennials, with more or less 

 triangular and leafy culms ; the spikelets in terminal and axillary clusters; 

 flowering in summer. (Xame composed of pvyxos, a snout, and cnropd, a seed, 

 from the beaked achene.) 



§ 1. RHYNCHOSPORA proper. Spikelets terete or biconvex, few- many- 

 flowered ; style conspicuously 2-cleft, its base only for mi n(] the tubercle of the 

 mostly lenticular achene ; bristles usually present, merely rough or barbed- 

 denticulate {not plumose). 

 * Achene transversely wrinkled ; bristles mostly 6, upwardly denticulate. 



1. R. Cymosa, Nutt. Culm triangular; leaves linear (^' wide) ; cymes 

 corymbose, the spikelets crowded and clustered ; achene round-obovate, twice 

 the length of the bristles, four times the length of the depressed-conical tuber- 

 cle. — Low grounds, Penu. and N. J. to Fla., west to N. Ind. and 111. 



2. R. Torreyana, Gray. (PI. 4, figs. 1-5.) Culm nearly terete, slender ; 

 leaves bristle form ; cymes pauicled, somewhat loose, the spikelets mostly pedi- 

 celled ; achene oblong-obovate, longer than the bristles, thrice the length of the 

 broad compressed-conical tubercle. — Swamps ; pine-barrens of N. J. to S. C. 



3. R. inexpansa, Vahl. Culm triangular, slender; leai-es narrowly lin. 

 ear; spikelets spindle-shaped, mostly pedicelled, in drooping panicles; achene 

 ohlnng, half the length of the slender bristles, twice the length of the triangular- 

 subulate tubercle. — Low grounds, Va. to Ga. 



* * Achene smooth and even. 

 -f- Bristles 6, long and conspicuous, upwardly denticulate. 



4. R. fiisca, Roem. & Schultes. Culm 6-12' high; leaves brisdeform 

 channelled; spikelets ovate-oblong, few, clustered in 1-3 loose heads (dark 



