352 CLYI, CYPERACEE (CLARKE). [ Cyperus. 
spikes minutely hairy; bracts several, similar to the leaves, the lowest 
overtopping the umbel. Spikelets spicate, divaricate at right angles, 
3-2 by j1, in., pale reddish, compressed, 10—24-flowered ; rhachilla 
scarcely winged. Glumes ovate, obtuse, rather loosely imbricated. 
Nut 2 the length of the glume, ellipsoid, acutely trigonous, black.— 
Kunth, Enum. ii. 80; Boeck. in Linnea, xxxv. 598, and in Flora, 1879, 
551; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 609, and in Durand & 
Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 571. C. marginellus, Nees in Wight, 
Contrib. 83; Kunth, Enum. ii. 75. 
Nile Land. British East Africa: Jur; Jur Ghattas, Schweinfurth, 2017! 
Abundant in India ; extending to Japan, Malaya and Queensland. 
Schweinfurth’s plant has the rhachis of the spikes only minutely hairy, and thus: 
agrees with the form “ marginella” (sp.) Nees. The examples are young and 
perhaps should be sorted rather with C. procerus, Rottb. var. lasiorrhachis 
(Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 610); Boeckeler considers that no specific line can be 
drawn between this and C. pilosus. 
74. C. pratensis, Boeck. in Linnea, xxxviii. 364. Glabrous. 
Rhizome short, horizontal, knotty. Stems 1 ft. long, at the top 
triquetrous and slender, at the base bulbous, approximate. Leaves 4-3 
the length of the stem, 4 in. broad. Umbel of 1-4 rays, contracted 
into a compound head; bracts 3, lowest suberect, 3} in. long, similar to 
the leaves. Spikelets in a dense oblong spike, }—4 in. long, linear- 
lanceolate, 8-10-flowered, obliquely suberect, rigid, somewhat shining, 
variegated with brown. Glumes ovate, very obtuse, rounded on the 
back, strongly 5-nerved. Style short; branches 3, long, somewhat 
exserted. Nut 3 the length of the glume, broadly ellipsoid.—C. B. 
Clarke in Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. 572; Engl. Hochge- 
birgsfl. Trop. Afr. 141. 
Wile Land. Abyssinia: Begemeder; near Dewr (Debra) Ari, 8500 ft. 
Schimper, 1326! . 
This remarkable species appears not closely allied to any other Old World species 3 
but much resembles the North American group of Cyperus, of which C. Schweinit=u, 
Torrey, is the best-known representative. They form that section of Cyperus which 
is nearest to and much confused with Mariscus (the C. Manime, H. Bb. & K. 
group) ; and the nodose rhizome is also very similar. 
Var. radiatus, C. B. Clarke in Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v- 572. 
Rays of umbel 3-5, up to 1} in. long. Spikes cylindric, dense 3 by 2 in. 
Wile Land. Abyssinia: Begemeder; near Gafat, 8800 ft., Schimper, 1330! 
Var. laxa, C. B. Clarke. Rays of umbel 3-5, up to 1-2 in. long. Spikes of 47 
spikelets placed } in. apart, very lax. 
Lower Guinea. Lower Congo; Kimuenza, Gillet, 1744 ! 
This might be treated as a separate species, the general aspect of the inflor- 
escence being very unlike that of C. pratensis. But the resemblance of the spikelets, 
glumes, styles and nuts is so complete that it must be very closely allied. 
75. ©. bulbosus, Vahl, Enum. ii. 342. Glabrous. Stolons- 
very slender, with yellow or brownish scales, disappearing as soon as the 
bulbs are completely formed ; bulbs formed close to the end fe 
stolon, when ripe ovoid, 2 by 1 in., enclosed in a hard black striate 
coat which splits irregularly into lanceolate valves. Stems annut 
