THE REST 10 FAMILY. 277 



pistil of three coherent carpels, i.c, syncmyoiis. The 

 fruit is a capsule, dehiscing loculicidally, or through 

 the back of each carpel into the lociihts, or cell. 



General Description of the Rush or Palmiet 

 Family. 



Herhs, or half -tree like {Palmiet). 



Leaves — Flat, channelled, or fistular (hollow). 



Floivers — Petianth, glume-like, persistent ; stamens, 

 G, on the base of the segments of the perianth ; ovary, 

 1- to 3-celled. 



Fruit — Capsule, 3-valved, loculicidal. 



Restiacese. 



The Eestio Family. 



This order contains 230 species, which are mainly 

 inhabitants of South- West Africa and Australia. There 

 are 20 genera, 11 of which are South African. They 

 are perennial herbs bearing annual flowering stems. 

 The leaves have sheaths, which in most of the genera 

 remain on the stem after the linear blade has fallen ; 

 they are split on one side — that is to say, the edges of 

 the sheath have not united as in Sedges, but resemble 

 Grasses in this respect. 



The flowers have bracts which contain the spikelets, 

 i.e. little sinkes, of sessile flowers. 



