VOL. III. MAY, 1904 NO. 5 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



Soutfiern Cafifor nia Acad emu of Sciences 



COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION 

 A. Davidson, C. M., M. D., Chairman 

 Melville Dozier G. W. Parsons 



CONTENTS : Page 



A Preliminary Synopsis of the Southern California Cyperaceae, 



S. B. Parish 65 



Descriptions of some Undescribed Fossil Shells of Pleistocene and 



Pliocene Formations of the Santa Monica Range, Prof. J. J. RiVERS 69 



The Bees of Southern California, IV, T D. A. Cockerell 72 



Flora of San Clemente Island, by Blanche Trask 76 



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MAILED MAY 24, 1904 



A Prelimmary Synopsis of the Southern California 

 Cyperaceae. 



/ BY S. B. PARISH. 



2. SCHOENUS, Linn. Gen. n. 6§, in part. 



Herbs, mostly perennial, varying in habit. Inflorescence cap- 

 itate, or variously spicate, or paniculate. Flowers in flattened 

 spikelets of few scales, rarely only one. Scales 2-ranked, 1-8 of 

 the lowest empty and contiguous. Rachis of the fertile flowers 

 prolonged and flexuous, or in the 1-flowered species produced 

 beyond the flower, curved and bearing an empty scale. Per- 

 ianth of 6, or fewer, bristles, which are often ciliate, sometimes 

 scale-like, or wanting. Stamens 3, rarely fewer, or 4-6. Style 

 3-cleft, little or not at all enlarged at base, wholly deciduous 

 from the summit of the 3-angled, or 3-ribbed achene. 



A genus of some 60 species, mostly natives of Australia 

 or New Zealand. Represented in America only by the follow- 

 ing species, which is also European. 



1. Schoenus nigricans, Linn. Sp. PI. 43. 



Culms erect, terete and striate, 5-6 dm. tall ; leaves shorter, 

 narrowly linear, stiff and erect, their dark purple or blackish 

 bases enlarged and clasping; involucral leaves 2, similar, the 

 lower erect and 6-12 cm. long, the upper very short or a little 

 exceeding the head; spikelets numerous, aggregated in a dense 

 head, 5-15 mm. long; the flexuous upper part of the rachis 



