138. CYPERACE^. [15. Scleria. 



The Sclei'ias are usually easily recognisable from the inflorescence and large 

 ellipsoid or sub-globose white nuts, but the inflorescence of the cruciata-plebeja 

 group of Carex is very similar to the elata group of Scleria. 



The following series advance in general from the more slender with simple 

 spicate inflorescences to the more robust with compound inflorescences and pyra- 

 midal partial panicles. 

 I. Bi-sexual spikelets many, with sometimes a male spkt. 

 close beneath : — 



A. Inflorescence a simple spike with spkts. in distant 



clusters. Nut verrucose. Annual .... I. pergracilis. 



B. Inflor. with a few simple branches. Perennial :— 



Nut smooth 2. Uthosperma. 



Nut transversely wrinkled \9.y, Roxhurghii. 



TI. Bi-sexual spikelets or few : — 



A. Annuals with fibrous roots : — 



Panicle branches mostly simple. Disc 3-lobed. Nut 

 with close much raised reticulations . . . .3. fessellafa. 



Partial panicles dense, compound. Disc truncate. Nut 



quite smooth -i. annularis. 



B. Perennials with horizontal nodose rhizomes and pyra- 



midal partial inflorescences. Leaves mostl3^ caudate- 

 setaceous : — 



Stems 2-3 ft. Disc-lobes lanceolate thin brown . . 5. hehecarpa. 



Stems up to \-b ft. by "i". Disc-lobes short obtuse . 6. elafa. 



1. S. pergracilis, Kunth. 



A very slender sedge 10-20" high with the inflorescence unbranched, 

 consisting of clusters of spikelets in an interrupted very narrow spike 

 2-6" long, clusters -S--?" apart, their bracts -2" or less long. Bisexual 

 spikelets many, terminal, -16" long, with sometimes a male spkt. 

 beneath. Fem. glume cymbiform, ovate-lanceolate, -08" long, 

 mucronate. Nut Avhite, subglobose-ovoid above the short 3-quetrous 

 gynophore, verrucose, obtusely 3-gonous, -04" diam. 



Western Bengal and Behar, Knrz\ Hazaribagh, Kwrz\ Hazaribagh, Anders. 

 (but Clarke says doubtfully collected there) ! 



Lower sheaths often a little pubescent. L. -1-10" long up to -12" wide. Clusters 

 usually of 2-.5 spkts. M. glumes above the female brownish, not keeled. 



Trimen says that the leaves are lemon-scented and used to drive away mos- 

 quitoes. 



2. S. Uthosperma, Sw. 



Usually slender 1-5-3 ft. high, the inflorescence with few slender 

 distant simple branches or in robust specimens sometimes again 

 branched but sec. branches weak. Spikelets in small clusters on the 

 branches and near the end of the main axis, many 2-sexual, lower 

 bracts often long and setaceous. Fem. glume -15" long, ovate cymbi- 

 form, cuspidate. Nut -1" long, -08" diam. very broadly ellipsoid, 

 trigonous with trigonous gynophore, perfectly smooth and white in 

 the type. In var. Roxburghii, Thwaites, the nut is rather larger with 

 pyramidal subacute apex, transversely wrinkled and with minute 

 ferruginous glands. 



Santal Parg.. TFaZZ ! Chota Nagpur. Hazaribagh, C/arte ! Singbhum, C7arie ! 

 Western Bengal and Behar, Kurz, the variety on Parasnath ! Fl., Fr. Oct. 



Rhizome elongate, horizontal, woody. Stems not tufted. Leaf-sheaths usually 

 hairy. L. 6-12'' long, up to -2" wide. Panicle reaching 1 ft. in large specimens, 

 ihin and straggling. 



In var. Roxburghii, Tlmai fen, the partial panicles are said to be much more rigid 

 and subpyramidal and the clusters of spikelets more numerous and dense. The 

 Parasnath specimen, however, is very thin with secondary panicles simple 

 spicate. 



60 931 



