16. Cakex.] ISS. CYPERACEM. 



This species which is included in the F.B.I, between crHc/«/a and pleheiais very 

 distinct looking. The spikes are very dense. Clarke says "near indica but the 

 characteristic setaceous braeteoles are wanting-," It has, however, frecpiently 

 setaceous bracts at the base of the spikes as long as the spikes as in the last 

 species. 



3. C. rhizomatosa, Steml. 



A leaf}^ sedge about 1 ft. high from a stout wood}^ nodose horizontal 

 rootstock which is densely covered with the fibrous bases of old leaf 

 sheaths. Leaves on barren shoots 6-8" flat keeled about •2" broad, 

 glabrous except for the scabrid margins, those on flowering stems 

 1-2" onl}'. n. stems sub-terete Avith long erect distant flowering 

 solitary or 2-nate branches its whole length, each in the axil of a leaf 

 or bract. Lower branches 2-3" long, upper shorter, bearing at the 

 ends 1-5 short dense ovoid greenish or brown spikes •25--3" long, 

 congested at the top of the stem. Fem. glumes about 4-8 at base 

 of spikes, •1--12" long, lanceolate, green Avith scarious sides and an 

 excurrent awn about one-quarter to one-third as long as the blade. 

 Male glumes above the females -17", stamens 3-6. Utricle in flower 

 ovoid with shortly tapering neck, in fruit 3-gonous broadly ellipsoid 

 scabrous-hairy, fuscous-brown, obscurely 8-15-nerved, with 2-fid 

 beak scarcely half as long as the rest. 



Wet ground, most evident after the jungle fires. Pats of Ranchi and Palamau ! 

 Fl. May-June. 

 Lower bracts leaf-like as long as the peduncle, upper rather exceeding it. 



4. C. speciosa, Kunth. 



Stems slender few 8" to 2 ft. high from a Avoody rhizome coA'ered 

 AA"ith fibrous sheaths, often overtopped by the long leaA^es AA'hich are 

 from '12- -75" Avide. Spikes pale fcAv (3-1) and very remote on the 

 stem, linear 1-3" long, loAver long- upper usually short-peduncled, 

 female glumes beloAV, male above. Fem. gl. OA^ate-oblong Avith trian- 

 gular very acute tips, -1" long, midrib not very prominent, side 

 nerves many. Utricle -lo-'ll", ellipsoid (ovoid pyramidal, Clarke) 

 triquetrous, many-striate, slightly puberulous on the corners, acumi- 

 nate, scarcely beaked. " Xut oblong-obovoid, tAvo-thirds utricle, black, 

 style short, base scarcely dilated," Clarke. 



Rajmahal Hills, Cat. Herb. I AVesteru Bengal and Behar (Parasnath), Kurzl 

 Fl., Fr. Aug.-Sept. 



5. C. Wallichiana, Prescott. 



Erect, variable in height, 6-30", stoloniferous Avith strongly 3- 

 quetrous stems smooth or scabrous above and covered Avith split 

 often purple sheaths at the base. LeaA'es overtopping the stem, flat, 

 •1--2" Avide Avith a rigid filiform tip. Spikes 5-6, lower 2-3 distant 

 female •7-1-5" long by •15--22" broad, cylindric dense-floAA-ered, 

 shortly or, finally, long-peduncled. Upper 2-3 spikes male linear 

 • 7-1-5" long, close Avith lanceolate acuminate-aristate glumes pale- 

 fuscous Avith green 3-costate back. Utricle exceeding the glumes 

 ovoid-ellipsoid, dense-pubescent, turgidly 3-gonous, nerved, -IS-'H" 



936 



