404 CLVI. CYPERACEE (CLARKE). [ Courtoisia. 
leaves close to the base, the inflorescence at the top. Leaves as long as 
the stem, 11 in. broad, green, weak. Umbel simple or compound; 
bracts similar to the leaves, overtopping the umbel. Spikelets 4-12 
together, clustered in subglobose heads, yellow to brown. 
Species 2, one of which is eommon in India. This genus only differs from 
Mariscus by the extension of the keel of the fertile glume into a narrow wing, 
glistening by reason of the loose tissue; and should perhaps be merged in DMariscus. 
Spikelets maturing 1-2 nuts ; fertile glume recurved- 
mucronate é : : : . . . 1. C. cyperoides, 
Spikelets maturing 8-2 nuts; fertile glume shortly 
mucronate ° 3 z : : : . 2. C. assimilts. 
1. C. cyperoides, Nees in Linnea, ix. 286. Stems 3-16 in. 
long, tufted, rather slender, at the top trigonous and smooth. Umbel- 
rays 3-10, up to 1-4 in. long. Spikes 1~4 in. in diam. Spikelets 
maturing 1-2 nuts. Fertile glumes with a distinct slightly recurved 
mucro. Nut brown, smooth, at the top lanceolate-acuminate. Style 
hardly any; branches 3, linear, long—Kunth, Enum. ii. 127 ; Benth. 
in Hook. Ic. Pl. t. 1341; Boeck. in Flora, 1861, 835, and in Linnea, 
xxxv. 434; ©. B. Clarke in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 625, in Durand 
and Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 596 (var, africane incl.). and in Bull. 
Herb. Boiss. iv. Append. iii. 31; Ridley in Journ. Linn. Soc. xx. 334. 
Cyperus kleinianus, Hochst. ex Steud. Syn. Pl. Glum. ii. 71. 
Wile Land. British East Africa: Malewa (Morendat) River, near Lake 
Naivasha, Gregory, 42 ! 
Lower Guinea. German South-west Africa: Hereroland, Schinz, 370! 
Mozamb. Dist. Zanzibar, Taylor! British Central Africa: Matabeleland ; 
banks of the River Matengwe, Holub! Nyasaland; Kondowe to Karonga, 2000- 
6000 ft., Whyte ! 
Also in Madagascar and India. 
The Matabeleland plant, maturing usually 2 nuts to a spikelet, has been named 
C. assimilis, and I hardly know how it differs from some C. assimilis plants 
maturing 2-4 nuts. I doubt whether €. cyperoides and C, assimilis can be kept 
specifically distinct. 
2, C. assimilis, C. B. Clarke in Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. 
Afr. v. 596. Spikelets maturing 8-2 nuts. Fertile glumes shortly 
mucronate ; otherwise as C. cyperoides.—Cyperus assimilis, Steud. 1n 
Flora, 1842, 584, and Syn. Pl. Glum. ii. 13; A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss. 
ii. 486; Boeck. in Linnea, xxxv. 579; Engl. Hochgebirgsfl. Trop. 
Afr. 140. 
Wile Land. Abyssinia ; near Gapdia, Schimper, 1252! near Adowa, Bohwayr) 
1074! near Amogai, Schimper, 843! Shireh Province, Quartin-Dillon gf Petit! 
The type form of this, with spikelets } in. long and upwards, maturing § nuts, 
appears distinct enough from C. cyperoides, but connecting forms occur. 
8. ELEOCHARIS, R. Br.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. iii. 1047. 
Spikelets of many or few perfect flowers, imperfect at the top, ner 
or two lowest glumes empty. Glumes obtuse, in 3 or numerous Spit 
