CYPERACE. 763 
tinguished by the stiffer habit, solid and usually angled or compressed stems, 
entire leat-sheaths, basifixed anthers, undivided (not plumose) stigmas, and by 
the position of the embryo. Genera 65 ; species estimated at 3400. Notwith- 
standing the extent of the order, it is of little economic importance. The herb- 
age is too coarse and harsh, and too deficient in nutritive properties, to be 
serviceable as food for cattle; and the seed is useless. The tuberous roots of 
certain species of Scirpus and Cyperus contain starch, and have been used as 
food, while in others they are bitter, tonic, and stimulating, and have been 
employed in medicine. Many species are serviceable for paper-making, or in 
the fabrication of mats, baskets, &c. The paper of the ancients was manu- 
factured from the well-known Papyrus, a plant common along the Nile and 
in other parts of tropical Africa. Of the 14 genera found in New Zealand 9 are 
either cosmopolitan or very widely distributed ; 2 (Carpha and Oreobolus) are 
confined to Australia and South America; Uncinia has a similar range, but 
extends northwards to the Sandwich Islands, Mexico, and the West Indies ; the 
2 remaining (Lepidosperma and Gahnia) are mainly Australian, but reach as 
far north as Malaya and China. 
I have to express my indebtedness to Mr. C. B. Clarke, F.R.S., whose 
knowledge of the order is unrivalled, for his unwearied kindness in supplying me 
with information and critical notes respecting the New Zealand species. He 
has also, at considerable trouble to himself, furnished me with a list of the 
synonymy of the species, taken from the MSS. of the general work on the 
Cyperacee of the world, on which he has been engaged for some years past. 
His assistance has been of the greatest possible use. 
Tribe CypEREa.—Spikelets usually many-flowered, flat or compressed. Glumes 
distichous, imbricate, lower 1-2 empty. Flowers hermaphrodite or the 
upper 1-2 male by arrest. Hypogynous bristles absent. 
Spikelets small, 1- or rarely 2-flowered, clustered in a 
simple or lobed head. Style 2-fid .. .. 1. KynbInea. 
Spikelets many-flowered; glumes falling away "from the 
persistent rhachilla. Style 3-fid oe .. 2. CYPERUS. 
Spikelets many-flowered ; glumes persistent, the rhachilla 
finally coming away above the 2 lowest. Style 3-fid .. 3. Mariscus. 
Tribe Sctrppa.—Spikelets usually many-flowered, terete. Glumes spirally 
arranged, lower 1-2 empty. Flowers hermaphrodite or the upper 1-2 male. 
Hypogynous bristles often present. 
Leafless. Spikelet solitary, terminal. Nut crowned by 
the persistent thickened base of the style. Hypogynous 
bristles present BA Se evs S. .. 4, HLEOCHARIS. 
Leaves radical. Spikelets umbellate. Style bulbous at 
the base, usually deciduous. PIIBOETINONS bristles 
wanting .. . 5, FIMBRISTYLIS. 
Spikelets few or many, fascicled or umbelled. "Style not 
thickened at the base, continuous with thenut. Hypogy- 
nous bristles present or wanting he aid .. 6. Scirpus. 
Tribe RHyNcHOsporEaA.—Spikelets 1- or few-flowered, terete or compressed. 
Glumes spirally arranged, several (usually more than 2) of the lower ones 
empty. Hermaphrodite flowers 1 or 2; the remainder male or imperfect. 
Alpine, leafy at the base. Spikelets in a terminal corymb, 
compressed, pale, 1-flowered; glumes 4, distichous. 
Hypogynous bristles long, plumose Be aa) ie CARPHAS 
Spikelets few-flowered, compressed ; glumes several, dis- 
tichous. Rhachilla often elongated and flexuose be- 
tween the flowers .. Sc .. 8. ScHaNUS. 
