T. Holm — Studies in the Cyperacece. 



51 



sim- 

 the 



recurs in the androgynous at least as far as concerns the lower 

 four (b l -V). 



Having examined now the minor inflorescences as they occur 

 in Scleria pauciflora, we may transpose these to the larger and 

 fully developed, of which a representation is given in the 

 accompanying figure 4. It may at 

 a first glance seem somewhat diffi- 4. 



cult to separate the constituents of 

 these fasciculate spikes, but if we 

 bear in mind, that a prophyllon 

 (P) is developed on each of the 

 lateral branches and that the bracts 

 of the pistillate spikes are- dis- 

 tichous, the composition of the 

 inflorescence becomes much 

 plifled. Our figure shows 

 presence of four leafy bracts (B 1 - 

 B 4 ) each of which subtends lateral 

 inflorescences, decompound or 

 single. The peduncle, which has 

 developed in the axil of the bract, 

 B 1 , bears a prophyllon (F) and a 

 bract (B 2 ), which latter subtends a 

 very short peduncle with a young 

 pistillate spike, while a mature 

 female terminates the main pe- 

 duncle, developed from the axil of 

 the bract (B 1 ). The same becomes 

 repeated if we consider the suc- 

 ceeding inflorescence in the axil of 

 the bract above (B 3 ). Also here 

 are two spikes, the lateral being 



female, the terminal on the contrary androgynous and mature 

 A single wholly male spike is developed in the axil of the 

 uppermost bract (B 4 ), and we notice here the usual prophyllon, 

 but no empty bracts. The terminal spike is androgynous and 

 exhibits the same structure shown in our figure 3. 



This form of inflorescence seems to be characteristic of the 

 most common North A merican species of Scleria, viz : S. 

 pauciflora Muhl. and S. triglomerata Michx., besides that we 

 have, also, observed it in S. ciliata Michx. and -6". olicjantha 

 Michx. The arrangement of the spikes is principally the same 

 in two other species, S. reticularis Michx. and S. Torreyana 

 Walp., but the structure of their spikes is somewhat different. 

 There are no androgynous spikes in these two species, but the 

 staminate one (fig. 5) has three empty bracts (fr-b*), which 

 exhibit a distinctly biseriate arrangement like those of the pistil- 

 late spike, with which they furthermore agree in size and shape ; 

 but no rudiment of any flower was found within these. 



Fig. 4. 

 pauciflora 

 text. 



Inflorescence of 

 Explanation 



r ery young and exclusively 



