ScirpuS. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 225 



Culms many, uncommonly slender, erect, about a foot 

 high, toward the base invested with the sheaths of a few 

 slender leaves. Umbel very thin, composed of one sessile, ob- 

 long- spike, and of from six to twelve or about half the num- 

 ber of pedicells of various lengths. Involucres minute, the 

 longest scarcely exceeding the sessile spike. Scales boat- 

 shaped, scariose, with a short point. Style swelled at the 

 base to the full size of the germ; this swelled part, however, 

 is not more permanent than the rest of the style. Stigma 

 trifid. Seed obovate, obscurely three-sided, much dotted, 

 pearl-coloured. 



34. S. tridentatus, R. 



Culms straight, from two to five feet high, angular. Umbel 

 compound; involucres from two to three; spilcelets pointed ; 

 scales lapped, jagged and daggered. Seed roundish, three- 

 angled, and bristly. 



Compare with S. maritimus. 



Teling. Go0rapa-shaka-///ngtf. 



Grows in water courses, ditches, &c. where the water is 

 fresh ; never in salt, or brackish water. 



Root stoloniferous with some small tubers, and many fibres. 

 Culms erect, rigid, leafy, jointed, from two to five feet high, 

 three sided, smooth, angles sharp. Leaves numerous, sheath- 

 ing, sub-erect, rigid, keeled, smooth. Umbel compound, small 

 for the size of the plant. Involucre from two to three-leaved, 

 erect, unequal, the longest being three times the length of the 

 umbel, and the shortest equalling the latter. Spikes lanceo- 

 late or cylindric, large ; some sessile, some ped uncled. Scales 

 three-toothed, the lateral ones torn, the middle long and su- 

 bulate, keel green, the rest rust-coloured. Seed three-sided, 

 short, thick, smooth, with bristles round the base. 



Obs. 1 believe Konig called it S. maritimus indicus, but 

 the form of the seeds and jointed culm, will, 1 think, render 

 it a very well marked and distinct species. 

 vol. i. o 



