ME. C. B. CLARKE ON INDIAN SPECIES OP CYPEBUS. 33 



permanent ; or at all events do not fall from the spikelet before 

 the spikelet has fallen from the rhachis. The spikelets are in 

 these species very generally " discis impositae " in the language of 

 Boeckeler ; i. e. the rhachilla (usually above the two lowest persis- 

 tent barren glumes) separates by a clean scar, leaving a small disc 

 where it separated. In all the numerous preceding species of 

 Pycreus, Juncellus, Eucyperus the glumes fall from the rhachilla 

 (while the rhachilla remains attached) by a clean-cut line sepa- 

 rating the glume from its basal portion, which is decurrent down 

 the rhachilla. In all the Mariscus set the style is trifid ; while in 

 Kyllinga the style is bifid. This I take to be the real difference 

 (carrying with it of course a difference in the nut). Boeckeler 

 has, in defiance of his own character, placed three species at the 

 end of Kyllinga having a trifid style (hence a triangular nut) : these 

 I have not seen, but I suppose they are only small-flowered 

 Marisci. 



Kyllinga differs therefore from Mariscus by its 2-fid style, 

 from Pycreus by its 1-flowered spikelets. 



[The number of fertile flowers to the spikelet is no use as a 

 diagnostic character : in Cyperus flavus there are sometimes five 

 or six nuts to the spikelet, though it is admittedly a typical 

 Mariscus.'] 



SECTION III. {Conspectus generis.) 

 Cypebfs, Linn. 



Spiculae oo-1-nucigerje ; flores, nisi 2-1 basi, 1-2 apice, omnes 

 hermaphroditi. Gluinje distichae. Setae bypogynae 0. Stamina 

 3-1.— Inflorescentia umbellata interdum capitato-umbellata. 



Series A. 

 Glunue decidual ; i. e. antequam spiculae rhachilla a rhachi 

 (spicaa axi) sejuucta fuerit, glum® (a basi spiculae gradatim) 

 ope concisurae rectae decidunt. 



Subgenus 1. Anospobttm. Stylus subindivisus. Nux stipitata. 

 ,, 2. Pycbeus. Stylus 2-fidus. Nucis compressae margo 



rhaehillae adjectus. 

 „ 3. Juncellus. Stylus 2-fidus. Nucis compress® 



facies rhachillae adpressa. 

 „ 4. Eucypebus. Stylus 3-fidus. Nux (interdum in- 

 aequaliter) trigona aut subrotunda. 



LINN. JOUBN. — BOTANY, YOL. XXI. D 



