THE CYPERACE/K OF THE liOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 099 



unequal. Spikes spikately arranged on the. rays, or digitately 

 arranged as secondaiy umbels, subtended b}^ filitbrni l>racteoles, 

 l-'2 inches long, with man}' secund or divaricate linear-lanceolate 

 and accuniinate spikelets j,; inch long. Glumes prominently 

 midti-striate. 



Central-parts of the Western Ghats and adjaceut outlying hills, Khan- 

 dalla, Pnraudhar, Singhar, (Herb. Agr. Coll.), also in a compound of the 

 bungalow of Dr. (^animio at Kirkce, but possibly there introduced. (Not 

 otherwise known.) 



A distinct species with larger spikelets than the rest of the group. 



5. M. albescens, Gaud. C. pennatus, Lam. Perennial with 

 Axood}'^ root-stock, stems iip to 3 ft. and leaves up to 4- ft. Leaves 

 thick, many-veined and septato-punctate between the veins. 

 Umbel large with stout rays and long spreading stout spikes of 

 rather distant terete, turgid, pale, lanceolate spikelets, which bear 

 o-(i nuts. 



Central parts of the Konkan and Ghats, app. rare, (Indo-Malayan, 

 Tropical Africa and Polynezia). 



t>. M. microcephaluS Presl. C. dilutus, Vahl, C. sjnnulosics Koxb. 

 Tall and stout with thick leaves, Umbel umbrella shaped, as clavis. 

 Spikelets bearing 4-14 nuts. Easily recognizable by its globes of 

 golden-red, almost subulate spikelets. 



In standing water throughout the Konkan, ghats and sub-ghat tracts 

 Fairly common in the Mallad tract of the Carnatic. (Indo-Malayan, 

 E. Asian, Mauritius). 



3. Kyllinga, Hotth. 



Small or medium herbs. Root S3'steili various. Inflorescence of 

 1-4 sessile dense spikes. Spikelets strongly laterall}^ compressed, 

 1-2 flowered, if 1-flowered then with one bisexual and one male 

 flower. Fruit a laterally compressed obvoid nut. (Species about 

 33. All warm regions except Europe). 



The species of this genus, of which six are given by Clarke in the F. B. 

 1. are imperfectly characterized. The wings to the keel of the glumes are 

 variable in width and character. 



Key to the genus : — ^ 



A. Keels of the fertile glumes not much winged 



in the upper half. 

 1 . Spikes 3 or 4, pure white, a low herb of 



dry ground . . . . . . . . 1. A', triceps. 



~. Spike 1 (rarely more) green or brownish 



rhizome elongate . . . . . . 2. K. l/reii folia. 



3. Spike 1 pale green, rhizome thick, short, 



with quickly ascending stems, nuts 



ultimately black, a herb of marshes . . 3. K. melanospenna. 



B, Keels of fertile glumes winged in the 



upper half. 



