138. CYPERACE^. [1. Cyperus. 



lanceolate or ovate wings of the rhachilla which separate by a clean 

 cut when ripe. 



Chiefly on rivei- banks. Tarai, Clarke \ Slmhabad, J. D.H.I Gaya, Kurzl 

 Santal Parg. ! Ranchi, Clarke I Singbhum, common! Hazaribagh. Clarke I 

 Manbhum, Wood \ Probably throughout the whole province, Fl., Fr. Aug. (but 

 usually from Oct.)-Jan. 



Rhizome stout and in some of m.y specimens culms quite 1" apart. Sheaths 

 much inflated when old. 



Leaves above the sheath or 3-9" long. Inflor. with long foliaceous bracts often 

 one and a half times its length, about •2--3" wide, margins scaberulous, midrib 

 strong. Branches of umbel 1-10" long suddenly contracted at the corymbs of 

 spikes, branches and peduncles of spikes with short lanceolate finely or setaceously 

 acuminate bracts as well as a short truncate sheath at their base. Glumes some- 

 times only "06" long in flower. Wings of rhachilla about '0J<-"0o" long, as long as 

 ovary and usually green in flower, ultimately red or brown. St. 3. Style rather 

 persistent about '04'', leaving no base on falling, stigmas 3 long and slender, often 

 •12" long. 



This is a good species for observing that the wings of the rhachilla form no ]iart 

 of the glumes (as stated to be the case by Cooke) ; the glume very clearly embraces 

 the wings and can be moved over the wings. 



It is said to be employed in Calcutta- for the manufacture of mats. 



24. C. pilosus, Vahl. 



Height 2-3 ft. with stems 3-quetrous above, glabrous below but 

 rhachides of inflorescence closely hispidulous-pubescent. Spikelets 

 (at least when mature) spreading at right angles to rhachis, 3-seriate 

 in loose elongate spikes which are usually in compound umbels, pale 

 brown, lanceolar in outline •15--3" or rarely up to -5" long but those 

 on a spike usually constant, the lowest empty glume converted into 

 a setaceous bract of variable length, sometimes exceeding the whole 

 spikelet, other empty glume short hyaline rounded. Fl. -glumes 7-20, 

 •05--07" long broadly ovate (when unfolded) and nearly as broad, 

 rounded or truncate but with a minute mucro from keel. St. 3, 

 anthers muticous. Nut ellipsoid acutely 3-gonous, -04" long black, 

 style shorter than nut, stigmas 3. 



Common in rice-fields. Ranchi! Manbhum, Balll Hazaribagh, C.B.C.l 

 Throughout India according to F.B.I, and probably throughout our province. 

 Fl. Sept.-Oct. 



Stems often robust and "i" diam. at base. Stolons very slender with distant 

 nodes and scales •25-*3" long, ultimate rhizome wiry. L. often fths as long as 

 stem, •2-'3" wide. Bracts like the leaves usually far overtopping the umbel •2-"3" 

 broad with minutely hispidulous margins. Umbel variable, sometimes a foot 

 across with raj's 9" long, at other times reduced to a single head of spikes. Gl. up 

 to "08" in some Ceylon specimens, back rather rounded slightly keeled, striate 

 with red, nerves aijout 3 each side of keel rather obscure, margin broad white 

 nerveless. Rhachilla compressed with translucent centre, not winged. 



A very distinct species from the nutan$ and tegetum group, easily recognised by 

 the dense divaricate spikelets, subequal in long cylindrical spikes and sniall 

 mucronulate glumes with broad scarious margins. 



Jnncellus serotinus (not found in our area) is so like this as to be indistinguishable,^ 

 and the two have been collected together at Dharmsala (3500 ft.). The genera 

 are probably entirely artificial. 



25. C. babakensis, Steud. 



This resembles a dense -flowered large-spikeletted form of pilosus of 

 which species I would prefer to consider it a variety. Clarke describes 

 it as follows : Umbel of few (3-6) rays, lowest ray much longer than 

 the others, erect, stout, secondary umbels condensed into oblong or 

 square dense rigid compound spikes 2" by 1-5", rhachis of spikes 



901 



