North American Cyperacece. 283 
t f Spikeiets about one-flowered. 
3. MARISCUS, Vahl. 
Spikelets subterete, distichously imbricated, rarely bearing 
more than one fertile floret. Rachis margined with the adnata 
persistent interior scales. Stamens 3. Style 3-cleft. Nut 
triangular. — Habit of Cyperus; spikelets subulate, mostly 
collected in dense ovate heads ; common rachis appearing chaffy 
from the persistence of the lower scales of the spikelets. 
Mariscus, Vahl, enum. 2. p. 372 (in part) ; it. Brovm,prodr. 
1. p. 218; Ream. ^ Schult. gen. 190; Lestib. ess. p. 31, no. 
24 ; N. ah Esenb. in Wight's contrih. p. 69, a7id in Litmcea, 9. 
p. 286; Nutt.gen. 1. p. 34. 
Species of Cyperus, and Kyllingia, Linn., Vahl, Willd. &c. 
Species of Scirpus, Linn. &c. 
The genus Mariscus, as here characterized, includes only 
those species of Vahl, N. ab Esenbeck and others, which bear 
1 — 2-flowered spikelets ; such as M. cyperinus, M. umhellatus, 
and M. retrofractus. It is so nearly related to Cyperus, that 
it might, perhaps, form a section of that genus. 
Mariscus retrofractus, Vahl. 
Umbel simple, rays numerous, elongated; heads obovate, 
retrorsely imbricate; spikelets subulate, 1-flowered; the two 
lowest scales short, terminal one very narrow, involute. 
M. retrofractus, Vahl, enum. 2. p. 373 ; Pursh, fl.\. -p. 58; Elliott, sk. 
1. p. 74; Torr.! fl. 1. p. 67; Beck! hot. p. 429; Ram. S^- Schult, syst. 
2. p. 245. 
Scirpus retrofractus, Linn. sp. 74; Willd. sp. 1. p. 304; Muhl.! 
gram. p. 40. 
CypERi genus indianum, &c. PluJc. aim. 179. t. 91. f. 4. 
