388 
GENERA. 
Eriocaulon, L. 
Symphachne, Desv. 
*Nasmythia, Huds. 
*Pcepalanthus, Mart. 
Tonina, Aubl. 
Hyphydra, Schreb. 
Philodice, Mart. 
Leucocephala, Roxb. 
Order CCLXXI. XYRIDACE^. 
XyridejE, Kunth inHumb. N. G. et Sp. 1. 255. (1815) a sect, o/ Restiacese ; A gar dh Apho- 
rism. 158. (1823) ; Desvaux in Ann. des Sc. 13. 49. (1828). 
Essential Character. — Calyx glumaceous, 3-leaved V- Corolla petaloid, 3-petalled. 
Fertile stamens 3, inserted upon the claws of the petals ; anthers turned outwards, 2-celled ; 
sterile stamens alternate with the petals. Ovary single ; style trifid ; stigmas obtuse, mul- 
tifid or undivided. Capsule 1 -celled, 3-valved, many-seeded, with parietal placentae. Seed 
with the embryo on the outside of the albumen, and at the end most remote from the 
hilum . — Herbaceous plants with fibrous roots. Leaves radical, ensiform, with dilated equi- 
tant scarious bases. Flowers in terminal, naked, imbricated heads. 
Affinities. United with Restiacese by Brown and others, separated as a 
distinct order by Agardh and Desvaux, this appears to me to be essentially 
distinguished by the higher development of its floral envelopes, a character 
which I cannot but regard as more important than the mere accordance in the 
structure of the seed, in consequence of which chiefly it has been retained in 
Restiacese. Those who have distinguished this order have referred to it seve- 
ral genera which by no means enter into the idea I have of the limits that 
should be prescribed to it, particularly Aphyllanthes, which is surely a Junca- 
cea. Browm remarks, that the anomalous genus Philydrum, and even Bur- 
mannia, are related to X}n*is ; and that these plants agree in some respects 
with Orchidace 0 e in the structure of the seed and stamen {Prodr. 264). To 
me it seems that the relation of Xyridacese is very great with Commehnacese, 
in which I And Von Martins concurs. 
Geography. All natives of the hotter parts of the world, chiefly in the 
tropics of America, Asia, and Africa. Two or three species of Xyris are found 
in the southern states of North America, 
Properties. The leaves and root of Xyris indica are employed against 
itch and leprosy. Agardh. 
GENERA. 
Xyris, L. 
Abolboda, H. B. K. 
