XYRIDACEiE. (tELLOW-EYED GRASS FAMILY.) 501 



obovate, closely imbricated ; lateral sepals linear, narrowly winged above, fim- 

 briate and at length incised ; petals small, obovate ; seeds ovoid, pulverulent. — : 

 Varies with shorter leaves (2'- 3'), and smaller globose or ovate heads. — Pine- 

 barren swamps. West Florida. Sept. and Oct. -^ Scapes 1° - 1|° high. Leaves 

 8' -12' long. Spikes 6' -9' long. Petals 2" long. 



9. X. elBita, n. sp. Scapes elongated, slender, smooth, terete below, 2-edged 

 above ; leaves long, linear, smooth ; spikes rugose, oblong or oval, often acute, 

 many-flowered ; scales dark brown ; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, sparingly 

 toothed on the narrowly winged keel ; petals wedge-obovate ; seeds elliptical, 

 smooth. — Sandy swamps near the coast. West Florida. July and Aug. — 

 Scapes 3° -4° high. Leaves lJ°-2° high. Spikes J'-l' long. Petals 2" 

 long. 



10. X. Caroliuiana, Walt. Scapes several, smooth, rigid, 1-2-angled 

 below, compressed and 2-edged above ; leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, smooth ; 

 spikes rugose, oblong-ovate, obtuse, many-flowered ; bracts light brown, thick, 

 the margins thin and soon lacerate ; lateral sepals linear-lanceolate, acute, the 

 narrowly-winged keel cut-fringed above the middle ; petals obovate; seeds ovoid. 

 — Shallow ponds and swamps, Florida, and northward. July and Aug. — 

 Scapes 1° -2° high. Leaves 6'- 15' long. Spikes 6"- 12" long. 



11. X. iridifolia, n. sp. Rigid, smooth and shining; scape stout, terete 

 or 1-angled below, dilated and 2-edged above ; leaves long, strap-shaped ; spikes 

 oval or oblong, obtuse, rugose, many-flowered ; bracts dark brown, very thick, 

 strongly convex ; lateral sepals linear, membranaceous, the keel fimbriate and 

 at length incised throughout ; petals round-obovate ; seeds lanceolate, angled, 

 pulverulent. — Shallow ponds, Apalachicola, Florida. Aug. - Oct. — Scape 2° 

 -3" high, 2"-3" in diameter. Leaves 2°-2J° long, ^'-I'wide. Spikes 1' 

 long. Petals 3" long. 



12. X. platylepis, n. sp. Scapes mostly twisted and spiral, angular 

 below, 2-edged above, roughish ; leaves linear and lanceolate, twisted, smooth ; 

 spikes large, oblong or cylindrical, obtuse, many-flowered ; bracts pale brown or 

 whitish, orbicular, thin, closely imbricated ; lateral sepals linear, the keel nar- 

 rowly winged, fimbriate toward the apex ; petals small ; seeds elliptical, smooth. 

 (X. flexuosa. Ell.) — Low sandy places, Florida to South Carolina. July- 

 Sept. — Scape 2° - 3° high. Leaves 9'- 15' long. Spikes J'- 1 J' long. 



* * Sterile Jfilaments bearded: sepals exserted. 



13. X. fimbriata. Ell. Not bulbous ; scape tall, furrowed, rough, 2-edged 

 above ; leaves long, strap-shaped, smooth ; spikes ovate, acute, many-flowered ; 

 lateral sepals long-fimbriate above the middle; petals small. — Ponds and miry 

 places, Florida, and northward. Sept. and Oct. — Scapes 3° - 4° high. Leaves 

 lJo-2° long. Spikes 9"- 12" long. Petals 3" long. 



14. X. torta, Smith. Bulbous; scape nearly terete, 1-edged, smooth, mostly 

 spiral ; leaves linear, rigid, concave, with rounded edges, mostly spiral ; spikes 

 pale, lanceolate or cylindrical, acute ; lateral sepals winged and fimbriate above 

 the middle; petals large, round-obovate. — Sandy, often dry soil, Florida, and 

 northward. July -Sept. — Scape 1^°- 2° high. Leaves few, 6' - 1 2' long, 



