332 CYPERACEA. | CYPERUS. 
sometimes as long as the stem, often shorter, up to } in. broad, 
smooth, midrib well marked and keeled below, numerous lateral 
veins. Inflorescence a compound umbel of spikes, primary rays 
4 to 7 ins. long very unequal in the same inflorescence; prima 
bracts 6 to 8, leaf-like often broad at the base, unequal in length 
aud width the largest much longer than the rays; secondary bracts 
narrower. Spikes 1 to 2 ins. long composed of numerous spikelets 
which for the most part do not overlap but spread at right angles. 
Spikelets linear usually about. } in. long rarely much longer, narrow 
hyaline wings are decurrent down the rachilla from the flowering 
glumes. Lowest glumes empty, narrower and more hyaline than 
the rest; flowering glumes oblong-elliptic when spread out, apex 
obtuse with the rounded nerved reddish green keel running out into 
a short apiculus, sides hyaline. Stamens 3, anthers narrowly linear- 
oblong, scarcely crested. Nut oblong-obovoid, about half the length 
of the glume ; style divided to about the middle, with the 3 branches 
about + in. long. 
Moradabad (Thomson); Dehra Dun (Royle); Pilibhit (Inayat). 
Distris : From Punjab to Assam, Ceylon and most tropical regions, 
14. C. rotundus, LZ. Sp. Pl. 45; F. B. I. vi, 614; Prain, Beng, 
Pl, 1145 ; Cooke Fl. Bomb. ti, 871; Collett Fl. Siml. 557. 
An erect glabrous very variable herb from a few inches to 2 or 3 feet 
in height. Stem bases usually thickened in a nodose manner and 
passing below abruptly into a stiff rhizome and covered with the 
more or less fibrous remains of the leaf-sheaths; stolons slender 
3 to 4 ins. or more in length covered with usually loose fitting brown 
cataphylls which are many nerved and split right down one side ; 
subterranean tubers ovoid about 4 in. long and hard. Leaves 
usually shorter than the stem, linear, tapering in the upper part 
to a slender acuminate apex, from ;, to % in. broad. Inflorescence 
an umbel of more or less condensed spikes, the primary rays mostly 
developed but varying considerably, from 4 to 4 ins. in length ; 
bracts leaf-like, unequal, about three usually exceeding the umbel. 
Spikelets from } to 14 in. long, about 7; in. broad, most often dark 
chestnut brown in colour sometimes pale straw-colour, the glumes 
decurrent down the rhachis of the spikelets as hyaline wings. Glwumes 
boat-shaped, obtuse or subacute with a slight mucro, 3 in. long, 
keel rounded with several nerves. Stamens 3. Nut obovoid-ellip- 
soid in outline, with 3 flat or very slightly concave sides, 7; in. long, 
style with its 3 branches } in. long, divided more than half-way 
down. r 
