344 



CYPERACE.E. 



Cypehus. 



tttt Spikelets somewhat terete or angular, 2-4- (rarely 1-) flowered, forming dense ovate or globose heads at the summit of 



the rays ; the hco lowest scales commonly empty. 



12. Cyperus ovularis, Torr. Oval-headed Galinglae. 



Culm acutely triangular ; umbel of 1 - 6 rays ; involucre 3 -4-leaved; heads globose, 

 compact ; spikelets 2 - 4-fiowered (usually only 2 of the flowers fertile), radiated ; rachilla 

 winged ; scales ovate, rather obtuse, the 2 lowest short and empty ; achenium oblong-obovoid, 

 triangular. — Torr. Cyp. p. 278. Scirpus echinatus, Linn. sp. 1. p. 50 1 ; Muhl. gram. p. 40. 

 Kyllingia ovularis, Michx.fi. 1. p. 29. Mariscus ovularis, Vahl, enum. 2. p. 374 ; Pursh, 

 fl. 1. p. 58 ; Torr.fi. 1. p. 58 (excl. syn. Ell); Beck, hot. p. 429 ; Darlingt.fi. Cest. p. 16 ; 

 Kunth, enum. 2. p. 121. 



Rhizoma short and tuberous. Culm 6-18 inches high, smooth on the angles. Rays of 

 the umbel simple, 1-2 inches long, sometimes contracted so that the heads are almost sessile ; 

 the sheaths at the base obtuse. Heads 4-6 lines in diameter, composed of 50 - 100 spike- 

 lets which radiate in every direction from the rachis. Spikelets commonly about 3-flowered, 

 short and thick, rather quadrangular than terete. Scales appressed, slightly mucronate, 

 somewhat scarious on the margin ; the 2 lowest much shorter than the others. Stamens 3. 

 Achenium dull grayish brown, flattened on the back. 



Sandy soils, in both moist and dry situations. Fl. August - October. 



13. Cyperus retrofractus. Bent-flowered Galingale. 



Umbel simple , the rays numerous, elongated ; heads obovate, retrorsely imbricated ; 

 spikelets nearly terete, subulate, 1 -flowered, the two lowest scales very short, the uppermost 

 one very narrow and involute. — Scirpus retrofractus, Linn. sp. 1. p. 50; Willd. sp. 1. p. 304 ; 

 Muhl. gram. p. 40. Mariscus retrofractus, Vahl, enum. 2. p. 273 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 58 ; 

 Ell. sk. 1. p. 74 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 57 ; Beck, hot. p. 429 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 592 ; Kunth, 

 enum. 2. p. 122. 



Culm 2-3 feet high, tumid at the base, pubescent, obtusely triangular ; the sides very 

 convex. Rays 6-10, unequal, 2-6 inches long ; the sheaths 2-awned. Heads nearly an 

 inch long and half an inch in diameter, very obtuse, obovate or rather turbinate, acute at the 

 base. Spikelets very numerous (50 - 100), slender : the uppermost ones spreading horizon- 

 tally ; the rest bent backward against the peduncle. Scales usually 4 in each spikelet : the 

 two lowest short, ovate, empty ; the third lanceolate, fertile ; the uppermost one subulate, 

 involving the attenuated summit of the rachilla. Style 3 -cleft. Achenium linear, triquetrous, 

 a little shorter than the scale, roughened with very minute elevated dots. 



Sandy fields. I am pretty confident that I found this species many years ago on the island 

 of New-York and on Long Island. It grows sparingly about Hoboken, and is not uncommon 

 in pine barrens of New-Jersey. 



