194 .JOL'liXAL, BOMBAY NATUItAI^ HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVI. 



id) Small tufted annuals. 



(i) Nut smooth . . . . . . . . 1 . F. ccstivalis. 



(ii) Nut ribbed and trabeculate .. S. /-'. cfichotoma. 



{/>) Taller. 



(i) Glumes obtuse with hyaline margins 

 and tips ; nut dark, not ribbed 

 or trabeculate . . . . . . 9. /'. spathacea. 



(ii) Glumes mucronulate, glabrous ; nut 



pale, ribbed and trabeculate . . 10. /•'. diphylla. 

 (iii) Spikelets large, dark red-browia ; 

 glumes usually pubescent in 

 upper half, nut pale, smooth . . 11. /'. fervuginea. 



o. F. SChoenoideS, Yalil. Glabrous, 5-20 inches, tufted. 

 With very slender stems and filiform wiry leaves. Inflorescence 

 either a solitary spikelet, or 2-5, distantly arranged. Lowest 

 glumes subbractiform or definitely developed into bracts. Spike- 

 lets \y.\ ill., broadly ovoid, gloss}-, pale. Glumes loosely im- 

 bricate almost hemispheric, obtuse, subapiculate. Nut smooth 

 with a prominent white margin all round and a central boss on 

 each side which appears somewhat darker, stipitate. 



A gregarious sedge of marshes and pools. Throughout the Presidency 

 fairly common (Indo-Malayan). 



*>. F. argentea, Valil. 3-ti inches, densely tufted, leafy at the 

 base. Spikelets \ in. in a dense capitate cluster, greyish. Glumes 

 obtuse with a green keel. Nut very minute, smooth. 



A gregarious herb of the sloping margins of small tanks about high flood 

 level. Not common North Gujarat, South Carnatic. Probably elsewhere 

 also, but could never be more than local owing to its exclusive choice of 

 habitat. (Indian). 



7. F. aestivalis, VaM. 2-8 inches, densely tufted, more or 

 less puberulous. Umbel sub-compound, bracteate. Spikelets small, 

 often elongate, grey-brown. Glumes acute. Nut quite smooth 

 except under very strong magnification, pale. 



A gregarious herb of dried sand or mud. Throughout the Presidency, 

 except perhaps North Gujarat, where it will probably be found sooner or 

 later. (Indo-Malayan). Exactly resembles F. dichotoma, from which it can 

 be distinguished only by the nut. 



8. F. dichotoma, Vahl. As the last species, but nut promi- 

 nently ribbed and trabeculate. 



A gregarious herb of dried mud or sand. Throughout the Presidency, 

 abundant. (Warm regions of the Old World). 



*'. F. Spathacea, ^o^^^>. Glaiicous with a woody rhizome and 

 numerous hard spi'eading leaves. Stems 8-16 in. Umbel open oi- 

 contracted. Spikelets middle-sized. Glumes very obtuse with 

 scai'ious margins. Nut turbinate in outline, dark, smooth or slight- 

 ly rough. 



A. solitary herb of salt flats either coastal or inland. (Warm regions of 

 the Old World). 



