ScLKRiA. CYPERACEtE. 309 



••• Odontosclehia. Achenium verrucose. Cupula saucer-form, obscurely triangular. Perigynium consisting of 3-9 



small toolk-like cellular-cruslaceous processes. 



4. ScLERiA PAUCiFLORA, Muhl. Few-jlowercd Nut-rush' 



Culm slender, smoothish ; leaves narrow, with pubescent sheaths ; fascicles lateral and 

 terminal, few-flowered , the lateral ones remote, on long peduncles ; bracts ciliate ; achenium 

 globose-ovoid, verrucose ; processes of the perigynium 6. — Muhl. gram. p. 267 (in part) ; 

 Willd. sp. 4. p. 318 (excl. syn. Michx.) ; Pursh, fl.\. p. 46 (excl. syn. Miclix.) ; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 559 ; Beck, hot. p. 430 ; Darlingt. ft. Cest. p. 26 ; Torr. Cyp. p. 378 ; Kunth, enum. 2. 

 p. 349. 



Culm 9-18 inches high, triquetrous, slightly rough towards the summit. Fascicles 2-3, 

 composed of about 3 pairs of spikelets. Sterile spikelet few-flowered, sessile in the second 

 scale of the fertile. Stamens 3. Fertile spikelet of 3 somewhat coriaceous ovate mucronate 

 scales, which are somewhat ciliate on the keel. Between the sterile spikelet and the fertile 

 scale which embraces it, is a filiform process or abortive pedicel. Style 3-cleft. Achenium 

 white, shining, roughened with minute prominences. At the base are a number of longer 

 warts, which are usually capitate, and are pointed downward. Perigynium consisting of six 

 minute roundish white protuberances. 



Monroe county {Dr. Bradley). In specimens collected in New-Hampshire by John Carey, 

 Esq., the processes of the perigynium are closely approximated in pairs. 



•••♦ HrPOPOBUM, Nees. AcAenium triangular at the base; the tides porcms, punctate or sndcaU. Perigynium none. 



5. ScLERiA vERTiciLLATA, Muhl. Dwarf VerticUlate Nut-rush. 



Culm filiform, triquetrous, and, with the leaves, smooth ; fascicles 4 6, alternate, sessile, 

 rather distant, forming an interrupted spike ; bracts minute, setaceous ; achenium globose, 

 rugose-verrucose, mucronate. — MvM. in Willd. sp. 4. p. 317 (excl. syn.), and gram. p. 266 

 (excl. syn.) ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 561 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 353. Hypoporum verticillatum, Nees 

 in LinncEa, 9. p. 303 ; Torr. Cyp. p. 384. 



Culm 6-10 inches high. Leaves linear, very narrow, flat, shorter than the culm. Fascicles 

 composed of 4 - 5 very few-flowered sessile spikelets, and appearing as if verticillate. Bracts 

 about as long as the fascicles. Scales of the fertile flowers ovate, smooth, purple, with a strong 

 upwardly scabrous green keel, which is produced into a short cusp. Nut a little more than 

 half a line in diameter, strongly and somewhat rugosely papillose, conspicuously mucronate 

 with the base of the style ; the base 3-sided, without pores. 



Swamps, Yates county {Dr. Sartwell). 



[Flora — Vol. 2.] 47 



