2. X. tórta, Smith. Scape terete, with one sharp edge, slender, 9–20´ high, from a dark bulbous base, and with the linear-filiform rigid leaves becoming spirally twisted; head ovoid, becoming spindle-shaped, or oblong and acute (5–9´´ long); sepals exceeding the bract; lateral sepals winged on the keel and fringed above the middle.—Pine barrens, in dry sand, N. J. to Fla., Tex. and Ark.
3. X. Caroliniàna, Walt. Scape flattish, 1-angled below, 2-edged at the summit, smooth, ½–2° high, the base hardly bulbous; leaves linear-sword-shaped, flat, 2–4´´ broad; head globular-ovoid (5–7´´ long); lateral sepals obscurely lacerate-fringed above on the winged keel, rather shorter than the bract.—Sandy swamps, near the coast, Mass. to Fla.
4. X. fimbriàta, Ell. Scape somewhat angled, 2-edged above, rough (2° high), rather longer than the linear-sword-shaped or strap-shaped leaves, the base not bulbous; head oblong-ovate (6–10´´ long); lateral sepals lanceolate-linear, nearly twice the length of the bract, above the middle conspicuously fringed on the wing-margined keel, and even plumose at the summit.—Pine-barrens, N. J. to Fla. and Tex.
Order 119. MAYÀCEÆ. (Mayaca Family.)
Moss-like aquatic plants, densely leafy, with narrowly-linear sessile pellucid leaves, axillary naked peduncles terminated by a solitary perfect 3-androus flower, herbaceous calyx, white corolla, and a 3-valved 1-celled several-seeded capsule.
The only genus. Perianth persistent, of 3 herbaceous lanceolate sepals, and 3 obovate petals. Stamens alternate with the petals. Ovary with 3 parietal few-ovuled placentæ; style filiform; stigma simple.—Creeping or floating in shallow water; the leaves 1-nerved, entire, notched at the apex; the peduncle solitary, sheathed at base. (An aboriginal name.)
1. M. Michaùxii, Schott & Endl. Peduncles not much exceeding the leaves, nodding in fruit.—Va. to Fla. and Tex.
Order 120. COMMELINÀCEÆ. (Spiderwort Family.)
Herbs, with fibrous or sometimes thickened roots, jointed and often branching leafy stems, and chiefly perfect and 6-androus, often irregular flowers, with the perianth free from the 2–3-celled ovary, and having a distinct calyx and corolla; viz., 3 persistent commonly herbaceous sepals, and 3 petals, ephemeral, decaying or deciduous. Stamens hypogynous, some of them often sterile; anthers with 2 separated cells. Style 1; stigma undivided. Capsule 2–3-celled, 2–3-valved, loculicidal, 3–several-seeded. Seeds orthotropous. Embryo small, pulley-shaped, partly sunk in a shallow depression at the apex of the albumen. Leaves ovate, lanceolate or linear, parallel-veined, flat, sheathed at base; the uppermost often dissimilar and forming a kind of spathe.—Chiefly tropical.