26 
differing in colour. Petzole two to four 
lines long, with a pair of intra-petiolary 
ovato-lanceolate brown acute stipules, up- 
on the back of the outer of which, indeed, 
the petiole is articulated, and from which 
the leaf readily falls away, leaving the 
branches scaly with the persistent stipules. 
Flowers numerous, in fascicles from the 
branches where the leaves have fallen 
away, bracteated. Peduncles about as long 
as the flower, sharply angled. Calyz five- 
fid, the segments acute. Petals alternate 
with the caiie segments, oliong, z 
ed membrane arising from within above the 
- base. Stamens ten: re eum than 
the pistil, combined ł 
cylindrical tube. Germen oval. Styles 
three, about as long as the germen. Stig- 
mas thickened. Fruit a one-seeded, oblong 
drupe, ina dry state obscurely furrowed. 
Nut of the same shape and furrowed. 
Fig. 1. 4. Pis- 
til. 5. Fruit. agnified. 
shor t 
ages 2. Petal. 3. Stamens. 
. Nut from the Drupe:—nm 
A MONOGRAPH OF THE NORTH 
AMERICAN SPECIES OF RHYN- 
CHOSPORA. 
By Asa Gray,! M.D. 
( Extracted from the Annals of the Leg of Nat. Hist, 
of New York, vol. 3 
Tue Natural Order CyPERACE# has, 
in proportion to the number of species it 
comprises, been less carefully studied than 
any other family of Phenogamous Plants. 
"AE. Ec Sad adr P Xd lL, 1 fU R ur» 
Nees von Esenbeck, Kunth, &c. who have 
illustrated particular portions of this family, 
the distinctive characters of the genera are, 
in many cases, highly unsatisfactory, and 
the determination of species is frequently 
ifficult. The whole Order requires an 
elaborate revision by some competent per- 
son, who can consult the principal Herba- 
ria of preceding Botanists, as well as many 
important works which, from their great 
1 Author of the admirable work of ** Specimens of 
and €. 
Americán Grasses yperacee," mentioned 
at vol. I. p. 14 of this Journal. 
‘American species of Rhynchospora has 
A MONOGRAPH OF THE 
cost or extreme scarcity, are inaccessible 1 
tous. But the plants of any single coun- £ 
try may be most advantageously studied | 
by a Botanist who is familiar with them in — 
their native situations, and who has oppor- | | 
tunities of examining and comparing nu- | 
merous specimens from various localities. _ 
A person who in this way confines his - 
attention, for a time at least, to the critical | 
examination of a single genus or family of 
plants, and who carefully records the facts — 
which he observes, may furnish important | 
materials to those who, with more ample | j 
means, are to succeed him in the same | 
field ; and thus contribute, in some degree, - 
to the advancement of the cause of Science. 
The following account of the North | 
been prepared under circumstances highly 
favourable for arriving at correct results. | 
With a liberality which does honour to the — 
cause in which they are engaged, my bo- | 
tanical friends have placed their collections | 
at my disposal, or permitted me to examine - 
them; and have, in various ways, favoured | | 
me with important assistance. Since this | 
paper was prepared for the press, I have — 
had the opportunity of consulting the - 
MSS. and original Herbarium of the late — 
Dr. Baldwin; now in the possession of Dr. 1 
Torrey: among the former are ] i 
deansipdiane of all the species of Rhyn- : 
chospora which his Herbarium comprises. 
It appears that he paid much attention E 
this genus and the Cyperacee in genera 
and many of his observations are valuable. H 
I have adopted the specific names propos 
by Dr. Baldwin, except in cases w 
they are objectionable. ; 4 
By far the greatest number of the spe- 
comprises thirty-eight species, exclusi 
of five species of Carpha of R. Brow 
which are by Sprengel referred to this get 
nus. To these we may add five speci 
from Ramer and Schultes’ Mantissa, vol. 
p which increases the number to forty- 
three. Of these, thirty are natives of Ami 
rica, six of New e, four of the East 
