214 TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Scirpus. — 
firmer texture than the others and visible onthe outside, even when the 
plant is growing.— Leaves none except a slender short sheath or two 
at the base of each culm.— Spike terminal, solitary, cylindric, naked. 
—Scules oblong, membranaceous margined.—Stamens three.— Style 
‘two or three-cleft, at the base swelied out into an ovate-cordate, com- 
pressed shape.— Seed obcordate, surrounded with glochidate bristles. 
Obs. For the economical uses of the tuberous roots of this plant, I 
beg leave to refer to Abbe Grosier, and other historians who have 
had opportunities of observing in what manner they are employed 
by the Chinese, and to the following extract from Mr. Duncan's 
letter which accompanied the plants. 
“The Maa-tai, Pee-tai or Pi-tse of Abbe Grosier, the water-ches 
* nut, grows in ponds, which are manured for its reception about 
* the end of March. A pond being drained of its water, small pits 
“are dug in its bottom, these are filled with human manure, and 
* exposed to the sun for a fortnight; their contents are then inti- 
* mately blended. with the slimy bottom of the pond, and the slips 
* or roots of the plant deposited therein ; the water is now retum- 
“ed to the pond, and the new crop of tubers come to perfection 
* by the beginning of September. 
“This nut is in high estimation among all ranks of Chinese, 
* not only as à pot root, but also a medicine. It is eat either boiled 
*orraw. [will not vouch for the truth of the singular virtues as- 
** eribed to the Maa-tai, but just relate one of the most plausible. 
“ The children here often play with cash in their mouths, which 
* sometimes slip down into the stomach, and bring on alarming 
» en hptbms. The nut is immediately given in quantities, either raw 
* or boiled, and they say it never fails to give relief being consider- 
* ed as specific which has the effect of decomposing the metal." 
2. S. plantaginus. im. Sp. Fi, d Willd. 1. 291. Rottb. gra" 
45. t. 15. f. 9. Vahl. Enum. Pl. 9. 951. Retz. Obs. 5. 14. 
Culms, culumnar, from two to four feet high, intercepted. Spike 
