118 A FLORA OF MANILA 
In open fresh water swamps, along streams etc., fl. May—Nov.; widely 
distributed in the Philippines. India to Malaya. 
2. S. articulatus L. ; 
A densely tufted plant 20 to 50 cm high, the stems rather spongy, 
terete, leafless, when dry often transversely septate. Spikelets ovoid to 
oblong, 1 cm long or less, 7 to 30 in a dense, globose, lateral head near the 
base of the stems. Glumes ovate, about 4 mm long. Nuts 3-angled, 
black and shining, obovoid, about 2 mm long. Hypogynous bristles none. 
In open wet places, fl. Oct.-Apr.; widely distributed in the Philippines. 
Tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia. 
3. S. mucronatus L. 
A tufted rather coarse plant, the stems 3-angled, 40 to 80 cm high, 
leafless or nearly so, produced beyond the inflorescence 2 to 9 cm, sharp, 
the sheaths basal. Spikelets in a single, lateral, dense head, ovoid to 
oblong, 6 to 15 mm long, 5 to 20 in each head. Glumes numerous, ovate, 
acute, about 4 mm long. Nut obovoid, somewhat compressed, about 2 mm 
long, smooth and shining; style 3-fid. Hypogynous bristles 5 or 6, re- 
trorsely scabrous. ; ' 
In open wet places, fi. all the year; widely distributed in the Philippines. 
Europe to Madagascar, Asia, Malaya, and Australia. 
4. S. supinus L. 
A slender tufted plant 10 to 30 cm high, the leaves all basal, few, 
1 cm long or less or reduced to sheaths. Stems terete, produced 3 to 10 - 
cm above the inflorescence. Spikelets 3 to 7 in a single lateral head, 
ovoid to oblong, 4 to 7 mm long. Glumes numerous, ovate, acuminate, 
2 to 2.5 mm long. Nuts brown or black, 1.2 mm long, shining, slightly 
transversely rugose, 3-angled and somewhat compressed. Hypogynous 
bristles none. 
In old rice-paddies and open wet places, Caloocan, fil. Oct.-March; 
widely distributed in the Philippines. Tropics generally. 
5. S. erectus Poir. 
A rather slender tufted plant 20 to 60 cm high, the leaves few, short, 
basal, or wanting, the stems terete, produced beyond the inflorescence 
2 to 10 cm. Spikelets solitary or more often 2 to 5 in a lateral head, 
ovoid to oblong, 1 cm long or less. Glumes ovate, concave, about 3.5 mm 
long. Nut obovoid, black or brown, shining, somewhat compressed, 2 mm 
long. Hypogynous bristles 5 or 6, about as long as the nut. 
In open grass lands, San Pedro Macati, fl. more or less all the year; 
widely distributed in the Philippines. Temperate and tropical regions 
generally. 
10. FUIRENA Rottboell 
Tufted, the stems bearing leaves or leaf-like bracts even in the upper 
half. Leaves grass-like, base sheathing. Spikelets clustered. Glumes im- 
bricate on all sides, strongly aristate, hairy on the upper one-half. Hypogy- 
nous bristles 6, often much reduced, or none. Sepals 3, bristle-like. Petals 
and stamens 8. Style long, glabrous, slender, 3-cleft. Nut small, ovoid 
or obovoid, 3-angled, often stalked, smooth or reticulate. (In honor of 
G. Fuiren, a Danish physician and botanist.) 
Species about 25 in all warm regions, 2 in the Philippines. 
