Cyperace^. 441 



(/^ to 3 inches) immediately below. Glumes imbricate on 

 all sides, finally deciduous from the persistent rachilla. 

 Scales with two marginal and two central strong nerves. 

 Nut egg-shaped. 



Nilgiris : Pykara, etc. Flowering May. Pulneys : Silver 

 Cascade 5,500 feet, not above. Fyso?i 2924. Bourne 10 15, etc. 



Gen. Dist. All over the tropics and sub-tropics of the Old World. 



RHYNCOSPORA. f.b.i. 172 xiv. 



Spikelets with the lowest three glumes empty, one or 

 more nut-bearing glumes in the middle, and one or two 

 male or sterile, thinner and unkeeled, imbricate glumes at 

 the top. Style with a swollen base which remains on the 

 nut, but is distinguishable from it. 



Species 150 in the warmer regions of the world, especially 

 America. 



Rhyncospora wightiana Steiid. ; F.B.I, vi 669, XIV 2. 

 Stems tufted, 10 to 14 (4 to 24) inches, leafy. Leaves 

 several i/io inch wide, acute, glabrous. Spikelets several 

 in small heads, stalked in the axils of the upper leaves. 

 Glumes distinctly keeled. Nut i/io inch, light brown, 

 transversely ribbed, capped by the papery persistent 

 style which extends a little down the sides. Bristles as 

 long as the nut, with minute hairs pointing upwards (to 

 see these requires a compound microscope). 



Nilgiris : in swamps on the downs near Ootacamund. 

 Pulneys : near Kodaikanal. Bourne 1459, 1490, 5209. 



Gen. Dist. South India, Cochin China. 



CAREX. F.B.I. xxviii. 



In this genus the stamens are borne in the axil of a 

 bract, in every way similar to the glume of Cyperus or 

 any of the other genera, but the ovary is surrounded by 

 a bottle-like covering called the utricle. 



