Tradescantia. 



COMMELYNACE^E. 



333 



1. Tradescantia Virginica, Linn. Virginian Spidenoort. 



Stem erect or assurgent, often somewhat branching ; leaves lanceolate-linear, smooth or 

 hairy ; flowers in a terminal umbellate cluster ; calyx pubescent. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 288 ; Bot. 

 mag. t. 105 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 193 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 218 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 380 ; Bart. fl. N. 

 Am. 2. t. 41 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 335 ; Beck, bot. p. 376 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 213 ; Kunth, 

 enum. 4. p. 81 



Root perennial, consisting of thick fleshy fibres. Stem often in clusters, about a foot high. 

 Leaves about as long as the stem, variable as to breadth and smoothness, sometimes decidedly 

 hairy : pedicels recurved after flowering. Sepals lanceolate-ovate. Corolla usually bright 

 blue, about twice as long as the calyx. Stamens shorter than the corolla : filaments densely 

 clothed with jointed hairs : anthers large and crescent- shaped, yellow. Stigma capitate. 

 Capsule obtusely triangular, covered by the connivent persistent sepals. Seeds 2 - 3 in each 

 cell. 



Near Buffalo (Dr. Kinnicutt). This is a common plant in gardens. It varies much in the 

 breadth of its leaves, the pubescence, and the color of its flowers. The jointed hairs of the 

 filaments exhibit a remarkable circulation under the microscope. 



Order CXXII. XYRIDACEiE. Kunth. The Yellow-eyed Grass Tribe. 



Calyx glumaceous, of 3 sepals : 2 of the sepals lateral, somewhat boat-shaped 

 and persistent ; the inner one larger, membranaceous and surrounding (in the 

 unexpanded flower) the corolla, caducous. Corolla of 3 unguiculate petals ; 

 the claws sometimes more or less united. Stamens 6, inserted into the claws 

 of the petals : 3 of them fertile, with the anthers extrorse ; the others sterile 

 and plumose, or wanting. Ovary one-celled with three parietal placentae, or 

 3-celled : styles partly united : stigmas often lobed. Ovules orthotropous. 

 Capsule many-seeded. — Rush-like plants, with ensiform or filiform radical 

 leaves, and simple scapes, bearing at the summit a head of flowers imbricated 

 with bracts. 



1. XYRIS. Linn.; Endl. ge?i. 1025. YELLOW-EYED GRASS. 



[ From the Greek, xyros, acute ; in allusion to the pointed leaves.] 

 Petals with the lamina dilated, entire ; the claws nearly distinct. Fertile stamens 3, with 

 linear anthers : abortive stamens (staminodia) laciniate and plumose. Capsule 1- or rarely 

 imperfectly 3-celled. Seeds elliptical or oblong. — Swamp plants, with mostly ensiform 

 leaves and yellow flowers. 



