RErOKT ON THE BOTANY OF THE ATLANTIC ISLANDS. S7 



that it was mixed with mud for plastering instead of hair. The common form in St 

 Helena is the variety savii ; but there is a proliferous condition (Burchell's 14) which we 

 have referred to this species, and which is very common in the island, that may be an 

 exceedingly slender state of Scirpus proliferus or some other species. Melliss states that 

 it is very abundant, covering all the streams-and moist parts of the island. 



Scirpus nodosus, Eottb. 



Scirpus nodosus, Rottb., Descr. et Ic. PI., p. 52, t. 8, fig. 3 ; Benth., El. Austr., vii. p. 331 ; Boeckl. 



in Linnsea, xxxvi. p. 718. 

 isofepz's nodosa, R. Br., Prodr. Fl. N. Holl., p. 221; Kunth, Enum., ii. p. 199; Hook, f., Fl. Tasm., 



ii. p. 87 ; Rich., Voy. de F Astrolabe, t. 18. 

 Fimbristylis textUis, Roxb. in Beatson's St Helena Tracts, p. 309 ; Melliss, St Hel., p. 343. 

 Isolepis holoschcenus, Melliss, St Hel., p. 343, non Rcemer et Scliultes. 



St Helena. — Indigenous. In dry pastures and other places — Burchell; without 

 special localities — Masson and Robertson, in Brit. Mus. 



Australia, New Zealand, St Paul Island, South Africa, and extra-tropical South America. 



From Roxburgh's description and other evidence there can be no doubt that his 

 Fimbristylis textilis is Scirpus nodosus. Although one of the commouer plants in the 

 island, few travellers have collected specimens, and in Kew Herbarium there is only one 

 sheet, collected by Burchell. It is, or was, extensively used for thatching. Roxburgh 

 states that it grew in the interior of the island in plenty for every purpose, and was from 

 three to six feet high. Burchell gives the height as two to three feet. According to 

 Melliss, it still grows abundantly on the semibarren outskirts of the island, at altitudes 

 of 100 to 1500 feet, and at Peak Hill, Man and Horse, and Horse Pasture. 



Carex aequabilis, Boott. 



Carex eequahilis, Boott, Carices, i. p. 66, t. 178. 



Carex longifolia, Burchell MS. in herb. D. Turner, nunc herb. Kew, non alior. 



St Helexa. — Endemic. On aud under High Peak — Burchell, 20. 



Carex praealta, Boott. 



Carex prcealta, Boott, Carices, i. p. 66, tt. 179 et 180; Melliss, St HeL, p. 342, t. 53. 



Carex pedunculata, Willd. [Muhlenb.] ex Roxb. in Beatson's St Helena Tracts, p. 302, sed omnino 



ditfert. 

 Carex elata, Burchell MS. in herb. D. Turner (nunc herb. Kew.) 



St Helena. — Endemic. Diana's Teak— Burchell, 19 ; on the summit of Diana's Peak 

 — Hooker ; along the Central Ridge from Diana's Peak to High Peak, at altitudes of 2500 

 to 2700 feet — Melliss. 



There seems to be only one species of Carex in the island ; but among many good 

 specimens the only one bearing quite ripe nuts is the type specimen of Boott's Carex 



