FLORA. OF MADAGASCAR. 451 



the base.— Baron 2242 ! Nearly allied to R. chcetaria, Eoein. and 

 Sch., and R. minuta, Boeckl. in Engler's Juhrb. 1884, p. 503. 



CLADIUM (§MacII2ERI]N t a) PANTOPODUM, n. sp. 



Perenne, 2-3-pedale, foliis distichis linearibus rigide coriaceis, spiculis 

 clavatis omnibus pedicellatis in paniculam angustam elongatam dispositis, 

 glurais 6-7 castaneis inferioribus parvis ovatis, superioribus oblongis, 

 floribus 1-2, staminibus 3 linearibus, stylo profunde trifido, setis hypo- 

 gynis 6 subulatis ciliatis. 



Tufts densely caespitose. Basal leaves rigid in texture, 1—1 * ft. 

 l° n gj i in* broad, tapering to a point, nearly flat on the face, 

 rather convex on the back, with a suddenly dilated oblong brown 

 base with a crisped edge. Stems 1^-2 feet below the inflores- 

 cence, with a few reduced leaves. Panicle a foot long, with 

 distinct ascending corymbose branches. Spikelets jr in. long, 

 with 3-4 small ovate empty glumes at the base and 3 longer 

 oblong ones. Styles -J- in. long, protruded from the apex of the 

 spikelet. Hypogynous bristles very slender, about as long as 

 the flowering glumes. — Baron 2072 ! 3316 ! Allied to the West- 

 Indian Machcerina restioides, Yahl, and M.Jilifolia, Grriseb., and 

 perhaps also to C. xipholepis of the Seychelles, which is known 

 only in an immature condition. 



Cladittm (§Machjerina) Melleri, n. sp. 



Perenne, orgyale, foliis distichis linearibus rigide coriaceis, spiculis 

 cylindricis omnibus pedicellatis in paniculam angustam elongatam 

 dispositis, glumis circiter 15 castaneis inferioribus multis parvis ovatis, 

 superioribus paucis magnis oblongo-lanceolatis, floribus 1-2, staminibus 3 

 linearibus, stylo profunde trifido, setis hypogynis 6 subulatis ciliatis. 



A near ally of the last, of which it may be possibly only a 

 variety. It quite agrees with it in the structure of the flowers, 

 but differs by its much more robust habit and taller growth, and 

 much more numerous spikelets sheathed by 10-12 small closely 

 imbricated barren glumes at the base instead of only 3 or 4 and 

 more acute produced inner glumes. The whole plant reaches 

 the height of a man, the panicle and leaves being each about 

 3 feet in length, the latter £ in. broad at the top of the large 

 dilated base and tapering graduaUy to an acuminate apex.— 

 Baron 1026! 2846! Between Tamatave and Antananarivo, 

 Br. Meller ! 



Carex Baroni, n. sp. 



Dense ca;spitosa, foliis linearibus elongatis, caule gracili acute triquetrc, 



