530 cyperacejE. (sedge family.) 
9. FIMBRISTlTliIS, Yahl. (Species of Scirpus, L.) 
Spikes several - many-flowered ; the scales regularly imbricat¬ 
ed in several ranks. Perianth (bristles) entirely wanting. Sta¬ 
mens 1-3. Style 2 - 3-cleft, with a thickened or bulb-like base, 
deciduous from the apex of the naked lenticular or triangular 
achenium (or in No. 4 usually left behind). — Leafy culms, in¬ 
volucre, cymose-umbelled spikes, &c., as in Scirpus. (Name 
composed of fimbria , a fringe, and stylus , the style, which is cili- 
ate or fringed in the genuine species.) 
§ 1. Fimbristylis proper. — Style 2-deft, mostly flat and ciliate on 
the margin , falling away with the bulbous base from the lenticular 
achenium: scales of the many-flowered spike very closely imbricated. 
1. F. spadicea, Vahl. Culms strong and rigid (1°-2° high), 
naked above ; leaves chiefly from the base, rigid , channellcd-convolute 
and thread-form, smooth; umbel simple or compound, small, the rays 
very unequal; involucre of2-3 awl-shaped leaves; spikes ovate-ob¬ 
long, becoming cylindrical (2" thick, dark chestnut-color) ; stamens 
3; achenium minutely striate and impressed-dotted. 1J. (F. cylindrica, 
Vahl .)—Salt marshes, New York and southward along the coast. 
August, September. 
2. F. lava, Vahl. Culms grooved and flattish, slender (2 f -12' 
high) ; leaves chiefly from the base, narrowly linear, flat , channelled , 
ciliate-denticulate, glaucous, sometimes hairy, as long as the culm; 
umbel simple or compound; involucre about 3-leaved; spikes ovate, 
acute; stamen single; achenium 6-8 -ridged on each side and with 
finer transverse lines, (l) (F. Baldwiniana, Torr. F. brizoides, Kees.) 
— Low clayey soil, Pennsylvania and southward. July, Aug.— 
Spikes 3 n long. 
§ 2. Trichelostylis, Lestib. — Style 3-cleft , separating with the bul¬ 
bous base from the triangular CLchenium. 
3. F* autumn alls, Rcem. & Schultes. Low, tufted (5 / -9 / 
high); culms flat, often diffusely spreading; leaves flat, very acute; 
involucre 2-leaved; umbel usually decompound; the oblong acute 
spikes (1" - 2" long) single or 2 - 3 together at the end of the rays; 
scales ovate-lanceolate, mucronate; stamens 2-3; achenium obo- 
vate-triangular, often minutely warted. (Scirpus autumnalis, L.l 
Trichelostylis mucronulcitus, Torr.) — Muddy grounds, common from 
Massachusetts southward, especially towards the coast. Aug.—Oct. 
§ 3. Oncostylis, Martius. — Style 3-cleft , slender , the small bulb at the 
base more or less persistent on the apex of the triangular achenium. 
4. F* capillarts. Low, densely tufted ; culms capillary (3*- 
8> high), much longer than the chiefly radical bristle-form leaves; 
sheaths hairy at the throat; involucre 2-3-leaved; umbel compound 
