796 CYPERACES. [Gahnia, 
Nortu anp SourH Isnanps: Dry hills from the North Cape to Banks 
Peninsula, but not common to the south of Cook Strait. Sea-level to 2000 ft. 
AJso in the Sandwich Islands. 
12. OREOBOLUS, RB. Br. 
Dwart perennial herbs, iorming dense cushion-shaped masses in 
alpine bogs. Stems branched, very closely compacted, leafy 
throughout. Leaves numerous, close-set, distichous and equitant, 
more rarely irregularly imbricate all round. Peduncle axillary, 
short at first but lengthening after the flowers expand, strict, com- 
pressed, bearing a terminal spikelet with or without 1 or 2 lateral 
ones. Spikelets minute, narrow, 1-flowered; flower hermaphrodite. 
Glumes 3 or rarely 4, the outer the largest, the second and third 
subequal, the fourth when present small, not much longer than the 
nut. Hypogynous scales (perianth-segments) 6, in 2 series, sub- 
equal, narrow, rigid, erect. Stamens 3. Style slender, continuous 
with the ovary; branches 3. Nut obovoid, obtuse with a depressed 
star-like mark at the apex, smooth. 
In addition to the 2 species described below, one of which extends to Vic- 
toria and Tasmania, there is also one in Andine and antarctic America, and 
another in the Sandwich Islands. 
Leaves obscurely distichous. Peduncle shorter than the 
leaves ; spikelets usually 2, rarely 1 or 3 fs ae 
Leaves conspicuously distichous. Peduncle often equal- 
ling or exceeding the leaves in fruit; spikelets usually 1 1a. O. pumilio var. 
Leaves obscurely distichous, very narrow, strict. Peduncle pectinatus. 
shorter than the leaves; spikelets usually 1 .. -. 2. O. strictus. 
1. O. pumiino. 
1. O. pumilio, &. Br. Prodr. 236.—Stems much branched, short, 
4-2in. high, forming broad and dense cushion-shaped masses. 
Leaves obscurely distichous, 3-14 in. long, erect or incurved, rarely 
spreading, narrow-linear, narrowed towards the obtuse tip, concave 
or almost flat in iront, veinless or indistinctly 3-nerved ; margins 
minutely serrulate; sheaths equitant, membranous, 3-nerved. 
Peduncles stout, rigid, mostly shorter than the leaves; spikelets 
usuaily 2, rarely 3 or 1. Glumes 3-4; the outer one the largest, 
leat-like, 3-nerved ; the second and third about equal; the fourth, 
when present, minute, not much exceeding the nut. Hypogynous 
scales narrow-lanceolate, acute, serrulate. Stamens 3. Style- 
branches 3. Nut small, obovoid, obtuse, whitish or brownish.— 
Hook. f. Handb. N.Z.' Fl. 308; Fl. Tasm. ii. 94; Benth. Fl. 
Austral. vu. 346. 
Sours Istanp: Nelson—Mount Rochfort and other mountains near West- 
post, Townson!  Westland—Arthur’s Pass, 7.f.C.; Kelly’s Hill, Petrie! 
Worsley’s Pass, Vockayne! Otago—Mountains above Lake Harris, Kirk ! 
2000-4000 ft. 
