North Ajnerican Cyperacece. 285 
Species of Mariscus, Lest'ib. 
Hedychloa, Rafin. amials of nature , (1820) p. 16. 
Thryocephalum, Forst. gen. 65. 
This genus differs from Mariscus in the sessile head, com- 
pressed spikelets, lenticular nut, and bifid style.* Linnaean 
botanists generally regard the 2 inferior scales of the spikelet 
as a 2-valved calyx, and the other two scales as constituting a 
corolla. Hedychloa, as characterized by Rafinesque, agrees in 
all respects with the ordinary species of Kyllingia. 
Kyllingia pumila, Michx. 
Heads 1 — 3 ; spikelets 1-flovvered, diandrous ; scales 3 — 4, 
the lowest very minute, the two upper ovate, acuminate, 
smooth on the sides, scabrous on the keel ; nut obovate ; in- 
volucre 3-leaved, very longj leaves linear. 
K. pumila, Mklix.lfi. 1. p. 28; Pursh,fl. 1. p. 46; Ellioit, sk. 1. p. 
55; Muhl.! gram. p. 4; Vahl, cnum. 2. p. 380; Rcem. S^' Schult. 2. p. 
237. 
Hedychloa fragrans, Rafin. ! ann. nat. (1820) p. 16. 
Root fibrous. Culms cespitose, 2 — 12 inches high, triquetrous, slender^ 
smooth. Leaves generally shorter, but sometimes as long as the culm, 
somewhat glaucous. Heads one-third of an inch in diameter, mostly 
solitary, but often 2 — 3 closely aggregated, varying in form from globose 
to oblong. Spikelets ovate; one or two of lowest scales very small 
(wanting, Elliott); the two upper slightly mucronate, 3-nerved on each 
side. Rachis terete, tuberculated with the short pedicels of the flowers. 
Stamens always 2. Style longer than the ovary, 2-cleft nearly half-way 
down. Nut much compressed, obtuse, fulvous. 
* " Transitus ab hoc genere ad Mariscos, pra?cipue ad unifloros, perfaci- 
lis; et ex contemplatione specierum flosculo secundo instructarum vera 
natura partium in unifloris luculenter apparet ; in his enim valvula in- 
terior (quae saepius paulo major) uti rachis spiculae abortivae considerari 
debet, e cujus basi v. medio flosculus secundus ejusve rudimentum 
ortum ducit." — R. Brown, 1. c. 
