546 FLORA OF TEXAS. 



* Stem rigid, erect ; flotoer$ tpiked, blue. 



t Leaves broad at the base, gradually narrowed upward. 



T. UTRICULATA, Lecoute. Leaves scurfy and glaucous, 

 subulate aud recurved at the summit, very much dilated, 

 concave and imbricated at the base, shorter than the rigid 

 mostly branching stem, the uppermost small and sheath- 

 ing; flowers scattered ; sepals oblong-linear, obtuse, longer 

 than the oblong pubescent membranaceous bracts, much 

 shorter than the capsule ; petals pale blue, twice as long as 

 the sepals, slightly spreading at the apex; stamens ex- 

 serted. June aud July. Stem 2°-3° high. The dilated 

 and imbricated bases of the leaves form a kind of cup 

 which commonly contains a considerable quantity of water. 



* Leaves linear or filiform, from an abruptly dilated base, 

 ** Stems filiform, pendent ; flowers solitary, green. 



T. usxEOiDES, L. (Long Moss.) Scurfy and hoary; 

 stems (l°-2° long) branching ; leaves 2-ranked, linear-awl- 

 shaped, recurved; flowers sessile at the summit of the 

 branches, small ; sepals longer than the bracts, half as long 

 as the linear recurved green petals. Humid situations. 

 June-September. 



139. IKIS FAMILY. Order, Iridace^. 



Herbs, Avith linear or sword-shaped equitant nerved 

 leaves, and fugacious often shovrj flowers from a 2-leaved 

 spathe J perianth 6-parted, the divisions spreading and 

 equal, or the inner ones smaller, convolute in the bud ; 

 stamens 3, distinct or united ; anthers extrorse ; ovary ad- 

 nate to the tube of the perianth, 3-celled; the numerous 

 anatropous ovules fixed to the central placentae; style 

 single; stigmas o', capsule loculicidally 3-valved; embryo 

 in the axis of fleshy albumen. 



