378 CXLIII. CYPERACEJE. [ Mesomelena. 
sterile or male, (or 1 only, the lower one deficient in M. deusta), the 
rhaehis short. Glumes distichous or nearly so, 2 to 4 outer ones 
empty, the flowering ones closely enveloping the flowers. Hypogy- 
nous bristles or seales 3, often flat. Stamens 3. Style thickened ae 
The genus is limited to Australia. It is well characterised by the eer 
as ab^ as by the edes bristles or scales constantly 3 only 
equ 
Flower-heads ovoid E. oblong, or turbinate- gie 
black Hypogyn us bristles or scales rigid, lon: 
than the nut, 
Heads under =e in. Outer glumesaristate with recurved ; 
ps 1. M. stygia. 
e 1 in. Leafy points of the bracts erect. 
MULIER 6 to 8 lines lo = : 2. M. deusta. 
above & in. Bra sab broad wh: long rigid 
spreading leafy poin a " Spikel ets 4 tod lines long 3. M. tetragona. 
Flower-heads globular. very compound. R gery : to 3 
Hypogyn 1 
out any points. Eastern speci 4. M. spharocephala. 
Outer bracts Mies one or more with Jong leafy points. 
5. M. anceps. 
. M. stygia, Nees in Pl. Preiss. ii. 89.—Stems senden terris 
vii, 6 in. to 1 ft. high. Leaves at the base only, the sheaths rig 
to 1i in. long, the lamina nearly as long, subulate, EE at d 
base by a hyalin e membrane. Flower-head ovoid or i turbinat EE 
erect or o ae quite black, 3 to 6 lines diameter. Two outer bracts 
black abe bese 
e 
a ly 
tuse, 8 seated on E Qd io hort thick stipes slighty 
dilated and lobed flea thes A med ors on inis d R. Br. Prod. 258; 
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