REPORT ON THE BOTANY OF THE ATLANTIC ISLANDS. 37 



Widely dispersed in Tropical Asia and Africa, and also occurring in Northeast 

 Australia. 



There is little doubt that Richard's Mariscus polycephalus is correctly referred to this 

 species, inasmuch as he cites Mariscus polystachy us, Brongn., Voy. " Coq.," t. 00, ined., from 

 the same country, which is probably no other than Mariscus appendiculatus, Brongn. 



Oyperus haspan, Linn. 



Gyperus haspan, Linn., Sp. PL, ed. 1, p. 45 ; A Rich., Sertum Astrolab., pp. 50 et 54. 

 Ascension. — Indigenous 1 Lesson. 



This species is very common and widely diffused in warm countries, but we have seen 

 no specimen from Ascension. 



JUNCACE^E. 

 Juncus, sp., A. Rich. 



Juncus, sp., A. Rich., Sertum Astrolab., p. 54. 



Ascension. — Introduced ? Lesson. 



Kyllinga, sp. 



Kyllinga, sp. {Kyllinga monocephala, Rottb. 1) 



Ascension. — Introduced 1 Moseley. 



Common in Tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia ; also occurring in St Helena, where, 

 however, as here, it is probably a colonist. The specimen is stunted and in a young state. 



GRAMINE^E. 

 Aristida adscensionis, Linn. 



Aristida adscensionis, Linn., Sp. PL, ed. 1, p. 82; Forst. in Comment. Goett., ix. (1787), reprint, 



p. 39; Kunth, Enum., i. p. 190; Brongn. in Duperr. Voy. " Coquille," Bot. Phaner., p. 13. 

 Cluetaria adscensionis, Beauv., Agrost., p. 30. 



Ascension. — Indigenous? Osbech; Hooker; Moseley; and Buchanan in the British 

 Museum. 



Generally diffused in the Canaries, Tropical and North Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, 

 Rodriguez, Seychelles, &c. 



The specimens that we have seen from Ascension are from three to ten inches in height, 

 very strict in habit, with a close inflorescence, and altogether very different in aspect from 

 most of the specimens so named. On the other hand, quite similar specimens come from 

 Syria and Arabia, 



Sporobolus durus, Brongn. 



Sporoholus durus, Brongn. in Duperr. Voy. "Coquille," Bot. Phaner., p. 18, t. 4 ; Kunth, Enum. PL, i. 1, p. 216. 



Ascension. — Indigenous ? 



