214 DR. M. T. MASXEES OX SOUXH-AFEICAK HESTIACE^. 



p. 250 (1810), on some Australian and Soiitli- African plants; the 

 latter lie proposed ultimately to separate as a distinct genus, on 

 account of their spicate, not fasciculate inflorescence. He does 

 not appear, howerer, to have done more than make the pro- 

 posal; but Kunth, En. iii. p. 442, has grouped the same plants 

 under his genus StaberoTia^ here considered as a section of TJiam- 

 nocTiortus. Thus restricted. Brown's Leptocarjpiis would comprise 

 merely Australian species with fasciculate inflorescence, one- 

 celled indehiscent fruits, &c. ; but Hooker, Handbook of the New- 

 Zealand Flora, p. 294, as well as in the Flora of Tasmania, has 

 included within the genus species with a spicate, not tufted 

 inflorescence, rightly judging that the character of the inflo- 

 rescence, taken by itself, was not sufficient to divide the genus 

 into tAvo. Taking, then, the genus as Hooker defines it, it be- 

 comes necessary to include in it Palisot de Bcauvois and Des- 

 vaux's genus Cahpsis^ with spicate inflorescence, and whose floral 

 structure is entirely that of the original Lcptocmyits. The species 

 mentioned by Brown are so difterent from Leptocar^us or Cahp- 

 sis that they must remain under StaheroJia (§ of TJiamnocJiortus), 

 where Kunth, apparently in ignorance of Brown's statement, 

 placed them. The species of Leptocarpus have the habit and 

 appearance of species of Bestio, from which, as far as the male 

 flowers are concerned, it is not possible to distinguish them; 

 the female flowers, however, are readily distinguished by their 

 one-celled ovary and indehiscent fruit. From Tliamnochortus the 

 present genus differs in the perianth of the female flower, and in 



the angular fruit. 



TnAM:^ociiOETiJS. 



Originally proposed by Bergius (Flora Capensis, p. 353, t. 5. 

 f. 8), in 1767, and adopted by E. Brown (Prod. p. 244), this 

 genus comprises a few species, some of which have been referred 

 to the genus Eestio, ThamnocTiortiis^ however, is a well-defined 

 genus, difi'ering from its allies in its persistent sheaths, many- 

 flowered spikelets, deeply winged outer glumes (especially in the 

 female flower), and indehiscent, one-celled, one-seeded fruit. 



Kunth's genus StaberoTia^ only differs from the typical form 

 in the presence of two or three stigmas, and hence bears a 

 relation to Tliamnochortus similar to that which the three-stylea 

 Kestios do the rest of that genus. But though there are two, 



. - - * Sec rcniarts on Lcptocarpus, 



». 



