Perennial herbs, with mostly tufted stems. Leaves alternate: blades very narrow and elongated. Cymes umbel-like, solitary at the ends of long peduncles, and subtended by very small bracts wholly unlike the leaves. Sepals 3. Petals 3, reddish, pink or rose-purple, distinct. Stamens 6: filaments pubescent. Capsule loculicidally 3-valvjed. Seed with a rough testa. [In honor of A. Cuthbert, of Augusta, Georgia, a diligent student of the southern flora.]

Two species, natives of the southeastern United States. Type species: Cuthbcrtia rosea (Vent.) Small.

1. Cuthbertia Graminea Small. Grasslike Spiderwort

Fig. 1153

Tradescantia rosea Chapm. Fl. S. U. S. 498. 1860.

Not Vent. 1800. C. graminea Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 237. 1903.

Stems erect, 2'-8' tall, densely tufted, sometimes 100 or more together, commonly simple, slightly zigzag. Leaves quite numerous; blades narrowly linear or linear-filiform, 4'-6' long, or shorter above, mostly ¥'-\¥' broad, acute, mostly erect; sheaths ciliate: peduncles sometimes overtopping the leaves: cymes 3-15-flowered, simple: pedicels slightly thickened at the apex, becoming about 5" long: sepals oblong-ovate or ovate, 2"-2i" long, glabrous: corollas pink or rose-colored, 5"-10" broad: capsules subglobose, about 1 1/2" in diameter.

On sand hills or in sandy woods, Maryland and Missouri to Florida and Texas. April-Aug.