776 CYPERACEX. [Scurpus. 
NortH anD SoutH Isuanps: Apparently common: Auckland—Hokianga, 
Berggren; Whangarei, H. Carse! vicinity of Auckland, Petrie! 1. F. C. ; 
Rotorua, Cartwright, Petrie! T. F. C.; Taupo, Kirk! Hawke's Bay— Norse- 
wood, Colenso! Wellington—Murimotu, Petrie! Canterbury—Styx River, 
Petrie ! Sea-level to 2000 ft. November—March. 
For the identification of this plant with the Tristan d’Acunha S. sulcatus 
I am indebted to Mr. C. B. Clarke, who, however, maintains it as a distinct 
variety, characterized by the usually 2-fid style and plano-convex nut not keeled 
on the convex face. Large stout forms of S. inundatus approach it very closely, 
but in fruit are easily distinguished by the 3-fid style and acutely trigonous 
nut. SS. prolifer, which has precisely the same habit of growth, can always 
be separated by the long linear spikelets, 3 stamens, and small acutely trigonous 
nut. 
8. S. prolifer, Rottb. Descr. et Ic. 55, t. 17, f. 2.—Stems 
numerous, tufted, 1-2ft. high or more, rather stout, striate when 
dry, leafless except a large purplish or purplish-black sheath at the 
base. Heads large, 4-lin. diam., terminal, solitary, of very many 
(10-30) densely crowded spikelets, often proliferous and putting out 
1 or several usually long branches terminating in a much smaller 
head of spikelets; bract shorter than the head, obtuse. Spikelets 
long and narrow, 4-4in. long, linear or linear- -oblong, cylindrical, 
obtuse, many-flowered. Glumes ovate, obtuse, concave, chestnut- 
brown with a paler keel and margins. Hypogynous bristles want- 
ing. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3, long, linear. Nut rather 
small, less than half the length of the glume, elliptic-ovoid, acute, 
acutely trigonous, smooth, pale yellowish-brown or almost white. 
—Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 330. Isolepis prolifer, R. Br. Prodr. 223. 
I. globosa, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iii. (1871) 211. 
Nort Isnanp: Auckland—-Bay of Islands, Kirk! Wellington—Karori, 
Evans Bay, and other localities in the vicinity of the City of Wellington, 
Buchanan! Kirk! Petrie! Wairarapa, Kirk ! November-—March. 
Also in New South Wales, and abundant in South Africa. Hasily separated 
from S. sulcatus and large states of S. inwndatus by the very numerous long and 
narrow spikelets, and flowers with 3 stamens. 
9. S. nodosus, Rottb. Descr. et Ic. 52, t. 8, f. 3.— Rhizome 
short, stout, woody, creeping, +in. diam. or more. Stems very 
numerous, closely packed, 1-3ft. high, erect, rigid, terete or 
slightly compressed. Leaves wanting except 2 or 3 sheathing 
scales at the base of the stems. Head solitary, globose, brown, 
4-2in. diam., of very numerous densely crowded spikelets ; bract 
4-14 in. long, rigid, erect, continuous with the stem, so that the 
head appears lateral. Spikelets ovoid, 4-3 in. long, many-flowered. 
Glumes broadly ovate, obtuse or obscurely mucronate, concave. 
Hypogynous bristles wanting. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3, 
linear. Nut less than 4 the length of the glume, obovoid, obtusely 
trigonous, the flat face next the glume, pale-brown, smooth and 
polished. — Benth. Fl. Austral. vii. 331. Isolepis nodosa, &. Br. 
