1 36 



10. Rynchospora graciienta A. Gray. SLENDER BEAKED- RUSH. (T. F. f. 

 657.) Culms slender or filiform, smooth. 0.3-0.5 m. tall. Leaves flat or becoming 

 involute in drying, rather less than 2 mm. wide, shorter than the culm; spikelets 

 nairowly ovoid, acute, 4 mm. long, few, in 1-4 loose clusters, the lower clusters 

 filiform stalked; scales ovate, brown, nmcronate; bristles 6, upwardly barbed, 

 equalling the achene and tubercle; achene broadly oval or nearly orbicular, dark 

 brown, lenticular, dull, smooth, tubercle narrowly subulate, flat, widened at the 

 base, pale, about as long as the achene. In pine-barren swamps, N. J. to Fla. and 

 Tex. June-Aug. 



11. Rynchospora cymosa Ell. GRASS-LIKE BEAKED- RUSH. (1. F. f. 658.) 

 Light green; culms tufted, 3-angled, smooth, 0.3-0.5 m tall. Leaves flat, nar- 

 rowly linear, grass-like, 3-4 mm. wide or the basal ones broader; spikelets ovoid- 

 oblong, acute, 3 mm. long, sessile or nearly so, capitate in 2's~7's on the ultimate 

 branches of the axillary and terminal clusters; bracts setaceous; scales dark brown, 

 broadly ovate; bristles 6, upwardly barbed, shorter than the achene; achene 

 broadly obovate or oblong, lenticular, transversely wrinkled; style 2-cleft; tubercle 

 conic, one-fourth to one-third as long as the achene. In moist soil, N. J. to Ky., 

 Mo., Fla. and Tex. Also in Cuba. June-Aug. 



12. Rynchospora Torreyana A. Gray. TORREY'S BEAKED-RUSH. (I. F. f. 

 659.) Culms terete or obscurely 3-angled, smooth, slender, 0.4-0.9 m. tall. 

 Leaves involute, the lower 3-4 mm. wide at the base, elongated, the upper bristle- 

 like, distant; spikelets ovoid, 3 mm. long, peduncled, numerous in 1-4 loose dis- 

 t.uit clusters; scales brown, ovate, mucronate; bristles 6, upwardly barbed, shorter 

 than the oblong-obovate transversely wrinkled lenticular achene; style 2-cleft; 

 tubercle flat, conic, one-fourth to one-third as long as the achene. In wet pine 

 barrens, N. J. to S. Car. July-Aug. 



13. Rynchospora inexpansa (Michx.) Vahl. NODDING BEAKED-RUSH. 

 (I. F. f. 660.) Rootstocks slender; culms smooth, slender. 3-angled, 0.5-0.9 m. 

 tall. Leaves smooth, 2 mm. wide or less, flat, the lower elongated, the upper 

 bristle-like, remote; spikelets spindle-shaped, acute at both ends, about 6 mm. 

 long, numerous in 1-4 narrow finally drooping panicles; scales brown, lanceolate, 

 acuminate; bristles 6, upwardly hispid, very slender, about twice as long as the 

 achene; achene narrowly oblong, transversely wrinkled; style 2-cleft; tubercle 

 flat, triangular-subulate, one-half as long as the achene. In moist soil, Va. to La. 

 juue-Aug. 



IS. CLADIUM P. Br. 



Perennial leafy sedges, similar to the Rynchosporas the spikelets oblong or 

 fusiform, few- flowered, variously clustered. Scales imbricated all around, the 

 lower empty, the middle ones mostly subtending imperfect flowers, the upper 

 usually fertile. Perianth none. Stamens 2 or sometimes 3. Style 2-3-cleft, de- 

 ciduous from the summit of the achene, its branches sometimes 2 3-parted. 

 Achene ovoid to glol>ose. smooth or longitudinally striate. Tubercle none. [Greek, 

 referring to the branched inflorescence of some species.] Alxnit 30 species, na- 

 tives of tropical and temperate regions. Besides the following, another occurs in 

 California. 



Leaves about 2 mm. wide; umbels small ; achene truncate at the base. 



1. C. mariscoides. 

 Leaves 6-20 mm. wide; umbels large, panicled; achene narrowed to the base. 



2. C. effusttm, 



i. Cladium mariscoides (Muhl.) Torr. TWIG-RUSH. (I. F. f. 661.) Culm 

 slender, rather stiff, obscurely 3-angled, smooth, 0.3-0.9 m. tall. Leaves about 2 

 mm. wide, concave, with a long compressed tip, nearly smooth; umbels 2 or 3, 

 compound, small; spikelets oblong, narrowed at both ends, acute, 5 mm. long, 

 capitate on the ray lets; scales chestnut-brown, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute; 

 upper scale subtending 1 a perfect flower with 2 stamens and a filiform 3-cleft style, 

 the next lower one with 2 stamens and an abortive ovary; achene ovoid, acute, finely 

 longitudinally striate, about 2 mm. long. In marshes, N. S. to Onto and Minn., 

 south to Fla. and Ky. July-Sept. 



