Genus i. 



YELLOW-EYED GRASS FAMILY, 



7. Xyris fimbriata Ell. Fringed Yellow-eyed 



Grass. Fig. 11 38. 



Xyris fimbriata Ell. Bot. S. C. & Ga. 1 : 52. 1816. 



Scapes rather stout, roughish, straight or some- 

 what twisted, strongly 2-edged above, 2°-4° high. 

 Leaves flat, one-half as long as the scapes or more, 

 3"-6" wide ; head oblong-cylindric, i -1' long or 

 sometimes globose-ovoid and about ¥ in diameter; 

 scales obovate, their margins entire or the apex 

 lacerate; lateral sepals longer than the bracts, ex- 

 serted, long-fringed on the winged keel above the 

 middle. 



In wet pine barrens, southern New Jersey to Florida 

 and Mississippi, mostly near the coast. July-Sept. 



8. Xyris arenicola Small. Twisted Yellow- 

 eyed Grass. Fig. 11 39. 



Xyris torta Kunth, Enum.' 4: 14. 1843. Not J. E. Smith. 

 Xyris arenicola Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 234. 1903. 



Scapes stout, much spirally twisted, i-edged be- 

 low, or 2-edged at the summit, smooth or very nearly 

 so, the base conspicuously bulbous-thickened and with 

 the sheathing leaves sometimes 1' in diameter. Leaves 

 narrowh/ linear from a broad shining nearly black 

 base, rigid, rather shorter than the scapes, spirally 

 twisted (very markedly so when old) ; head oblong 

 or oblong-cylindric, acute or subacute, i'-i' long; 

 bracts oblong-obovate, minutely lacerate-serrulate at 

 the apex or entire; lateral sepals linear, exserted, 

 the winged keel fringed with rather short processes 

 above the middle. 



In dry pine barrens, southern New Jersey to Florida, 

 west to Texas, mostly near the coast. May-Aug. 



Family 16. ERIOCAULACEAE Lindl. Veg. Kingd. 122. 1847. 



Pipewort Family. 

 Bog or aquatic herbs, perennial or perhaps sometimes annual, with fibrous 

 knotted or spongy roots, tufted grass-like basal leaves, and monoecious (androgy- 

 nous) occasionally dioecious small flowers, in terminal solitary heads, on long 

 slender scapes. Head of flowers involucrate by bracts, each flower borne in the 

 axil of a scarious scale. Perianth of 2 series of segments, rarely of one series. 

 Stamens in staminate flowers as many or twice as many as the sepals. Ovary 

 2-3-celled. Ovules 2 or 3. Fruit a 2-3-celled, 2-3-seeded capsule, loculicidally 

 dehiscent. Seeds pendulous, orthotropous ; endosperm farinaceous. 



Nine genera and about 560 species, widely distributed in warm and tropical regions, a few ex- 

 tending into the temperate zones. The family is most abundantly represented in South America. 

 Perianth of 2 series of segments ; sepals and petals 2 or 3 ; stamens distinct ; anthers 2-celled. 



Stamens twice as many as the inner perianth-segments (petals). 1. Eriocaulon. 



Stamens as many as the inner perianth-segments. 2. Syngonanthus. 



Perianth simple, of 3 sepals; stamens 3, monadelphous below; anthers 1 -celled. 3. Lachnocaulon. 



i. ERIOCAULON L. Sp. PI. 87. 1753. 

 Acaulescent or very short-stemmed herbs, the scapes erect, or when immersed delicate, 

 angular, with a long sheathing bract at the base. Leaves mostly short, spreading, acuminate, 

 parellel-nerved. Head of flowers woolly, white, lead-colored or nearly black. Staminate 

 flowers : Outer perianth-segments 2 or 3, distinct or sometimes connate, the inner united be- 

 low in a tube, alternate with the outer ones, each with a minute spot or gland near its mid- 

 dle or apex; stamens mostly 4-6, one opposite each perianth-segment, the filaments of those 

 opposite the inner segments the longer ; pistil small, rudimentary or none. Pistillate flowers : 

 Outer perianth-segments as in the staminate flowers, the inner indistinct, narrow; stamens 

 wanting; ovary sessile or stalked; style columnar or filiform, stigmas 2 or 3, filiform. Fruit 

 a thin-walled capsule. Seeds oval, covered with minute processes. [Greek, in allusion to 

 the wool at the base of the scape in some species.] 



