— 
118 The Natural Fhftory of Jamaica. 
One would wonder how Br. Plukenet fhould come to think, in his Man- 
tif]a, p.62. that this Plant might be the Cyperus rotundus littoreus inodorus, J, B. 
when their Figures and Defcriptions are fo vaftly differing. 
XLI. Gramen cyperoides majus aquaticum, paniculis plurimis junceis [parfts, [pie 
cis ex oblongo rotundis (padicets. Cat p.36. Tab. 76. Fig... 
This has a jointed Stem five Foot high, about the bignefS of ones little 
Finger, being triangular, folid, gray, and each Joint, diftant one from the 
other, four or five Inches. The Joint has always a Tuft of green Leaves, a great 
many together {pring out alternatively, fome two or three Foot long, others 
fhorter, triangular, all being very green, ferrated, and extremely cutting. The 
Panicles come out alternatively towards the top, at one Inches diftance, 
ftanding on fix Inches long Foot-Stalks, which are folid, and triangular, 
and at their ends have two clay coloured Membranes or Leaves, whole un- 
der part is as an wtriculus, from which goes out the Panicle, or many longer, 
and thorter /etioli; at the ends of which ftands one Spike, and round them, 
on other fhorter Petioli, others, each of which is roundith, oblong, blackifh, 
or dark rufty coloured, made up of many Scales, lying round, over one a- 
nother, after the manner of others of this Kind. 
It grew in the Frefh-Water River, above the Ferry going up to the Laguna 
near Caymanes. 
Dr. Plukenet in his Mantif[a, p.98. thinks that this Grafs may be the fame 
with his Gramen Cyperoides Maderafpatanum, caule compref[o, {par(a panicula 
junci Alm. p. 179. Tab.192. Fig. 5. This differs from it in the Stalks, be- 
ing not compreffled, but triangular, and ‘in feveral- other obvious diffe. 
rences. Oe & A Sf | 
XLII. Gramen cyperoides {ybvaticum maximum geniculatum alperins, femine mi- 
lit fol. Cat.p. 36. Tab. 77; Fig. &. 
This ftrange Cyperus Grafs, has a flender jointed Stalk, rifing to about 
fifteen Foot high, growing amongft the Bufhes, and being fupported by 
their help, though not ‘turning round them. The Stalk is triangular, 
having three fharp, very rough edges, and a round hollow between them, 
like a three cornered Sword-Blade, and being of a very dark green colour, 
having here and there, at thé Joints, Branches, which have Leaves at their 
Joints, being about a Foot long, narrow, having an eminent back, and be- 
ing of a dark green colour, and withal much rougher than any of the other 
Cyperus Grafles, by the means of feveral {mall A/perities or Teeth on. its 
edges. Ex alis foliorum rife {mall triangular’three Inches’ long Petiol7, on 
the top of which are Spikes about three quarters of an Inch long, on 
which alternatively grow threé’or four {mall blackifh Locufte or chaflie 
Heads. In each of thefe, between two black ¢lime, comes a roundifh, large, 
whitifh coloured Seed, like that of Gromel, a {mall Pearl, or that Barley, 
very much decorticated, call’d Pearl Barley. © 
It grew in Mfoneque Savanna, among the Trees. 
*Tis evident this is not the Gramen janceum elatins, pericarpiis ovatis Ame- 
vicanum, Pluken. Alm p.179. Phyt. Tab. 92.:Fig. 9. which Dr. Plukenet in 
his Mantifja, p. 98. thinks may be the fame with it. 
XL. Gramen cyperoides majns, [picis ex oblongo rolundis, compattis ferrugi- 
neis. Cat. p. 36, Tab77. Fig.2. © 
_This has a fibrous, reddifh, brown Root, exactly like thofe of a Rufh; 
the Leaves, and under part of the Stalk being covered with dry, reddifh, 
foliaceous Sheaths, like them. The Leaves inclofe the Stalk, by their under 
part, which is three Inches long, being ufually two in number, and about three 
| Inches: 
