138. CYPERACE^. [8. Fimbristylis. 



with the prominent keels of the glumes (as in dichotoma), up to -S"" 

 after fall of lower glumes. Glumes glabrous {Clarke) or thinly 

 pubescent towards tip -OS--!" ovate, concave, green-keeled and 

 mucronulate, the sides brown or reddish, dry. Nut biconvex straw- 

 coloured, almost glistening or iridiscent white, with a very s mall foot,. 

 •04--05" long obscurely 5-ridged on each face and trabeculate, some- 

 times longitudinally striate, especially when unripe. 



Throughout India ( Clarke). Ranchi and Palamau, elev. 2000-3000 ft. ! Singbhum 

 and Hazaribagh, Clarke I Manbhum, Clarke I Ganjam, Fischer; and probably 

 therefore Orissa. Fl., Fr. May-Oct, 



Var. a. annua, Clarke (Roem. <L- Sch., sp.). 



A very minute form 1-3" high bearing single or up to 3 spikelets. Hazaribagh, 

 Clarke ! Rajmahal Hills, Kurz ! Fl. Oct. 



{Clarke named the Rajmahal specimen first dichotoma, then trixpicata, Steud.) 



Var. /3. pluristriata, Clarke. Sjm. F. pilosa of most authors, not of 

 Vahl. 



A slender herb with a nearly horizontal rhizome "lo" diam. and angled stems 

 about 2 ft. high. Leaves few 6-10" very slender with inflexed margins, back very 

 villose or long-pubescent, less so on upper surface, sheaths villose. Lowest bract 

 of infl. "01:" broad, villous like the leaves but usuallj' shorter than inflorescence, 

 erect, other bracts shorter 2-3. Branches of umbel few, very unequal, 0-2'5" long- 

 bearing about 3 spikelets only and secondary bracts, sometimes again branched, 

 sec. and tertiai-y bracts with acicular pubescent tips. Spikelets brown terete 

 •15-'2" long (iu'fl.). Gl. "OQ-'IS" chaffy brown ovate green-keeled in upper half 

 and mucronate, keel 1-nerved shortly sparsely hairy above at least on some 

 glumes. St. 3. Style very flat with close spreading pubescence especially below 

 the stigmas, "08" loi'jg, stigmas nearly as long slender but easily breaking. Nut -Qo" 

 pyriform with a very small foot, white, marked with about 13 longitudinal rows of 

 minute white dots. 



Ranchi! Palamau! Elev. 2500 ft. Fl. Fr. May. 



In the multi-striate nut this comes close to podocarpa of which I should rather 

 consider it a variety than of diphylln. 



18. F. dichotoma, Valil. 



A very small tufted sedge rarely attaining 10" in height, often only 

 2-,3" with flattened striate stems terminated by compound or decom- 

 pound umbels of narrowly ovoid spikelets •1--15" long elongating 

 after fall of lower glumes to -3". Glumes closely spirally imbricate 

 •Oo--06" long, boat-shaped with strong keel excurrent into a mucro. 

 Nut -025", biconvex straw-coloured, 5-9-striately ridged on each face 

 and closely beautifully cancellate, base not produced. Style flat 

 villose above, twice length of nut, stigmas somewhat tapering over 

 half as long as style. On fall of style-base the nut has a minute 

 apiculus. 



Chiefly in rice-fields, common. Chota Nagpur, Wood (without precise locality) !' 

 Manbhum, Camp.l Hazaribagh, T. Aiiders.l Midnapur (near Singbhum), Abdul 

 Hnkl Banks of Ganges (probably Sant. Parg.), Xwrz ! Barkuda (Chilka Lake),. 

 " on the sandy foreshore," N. 4" C. Fl., Fr. c.s. and Kurs's specimen in his. 



L. often as long as stem usually shorter •03--07" wide, superficial cells very 

 distinct (as in most of preceding). Umbels 1-4" diam. with 1-2 bracts nearly a» 

 long. Glumes with the prominent keels green 1-3-nerved. In some specimens, 

 the top of stem and lowest glumes are minuteh- pubescent. 



19. F. ferruginea, Vahl. Syn. F. trispicata, Steud. 



Stems 8-30" csespitose rather stout. Leaves very short or hardly 

 any, sometimes 4-6" with the taller stems, glabrous or hairy. Umbel 



921 



