Plate 216.— CAREX DECURTATA. 



Family CYPERACE^.] ^G^^^, CAREX, Linn. 



Carex decurtata, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxiv (1892), 414 ; Chee.sem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 827. 



Carex decurtata was originally discovered by myself in January 1883 erowing 

 on the dned-up margins of pools near Lake Tekapo, South Canterbury, at an altitude 

 ot about 2,500 ft. I first described it under the name of C. cryptocarpa, from the 

 tact that the leaves at all tunes considerably overtop and thus conceal the culms 

 even when the latter are m fruit, but the name had been preoccupied by an Arctic 

 species, and had to be abandoned. In 1897 I again gathered it in the same locality 

 hnding It not uncommon all round the southern end of Lake Tekapo, and stretching 

 along the western side of the lake, in low-lying places, as far as the valley of the 

 Cass River. So far as I am aware, it has not been found in any other district. 



_ C. decurtata belongs to a singular group of small-sized species, seldom more then 

 4 m. or 5 in. in height, in which the culms are concealed by the leaves, the spikelets 

 being sessile and approximate at the tops of the culms. Two of the species 

 (C. cirrhosa and C. ruhicunda) have two stigmas and a more or less plano-convex 

 utricle ; while four others (C Berggreni C Hectori, C. uncifolia, and C. decurtata) 

 have three stigmas and a trigonous utricle. Of these, G. Berggreni is the most 

 interesting, on account of the flat leaves with remarkable obtuse tips. The whole 

 group is confined to New Zealand, and has no near allies in any other country. 



C. decurtata is usually of a very peculiar glaucous green, and forms very' dense 

 low tussocks, often of considerable diameter. These tussocks often die out in the 

 centre in old age, leaving a hollow ring which grows on vigorously, thus presenting 

 a decidedly curious appearance. 



Plate 216. Carex deon-tata, drawn from specimens collected near Lake Tekapo, South Canter- 

 bury, at an altitude of 2,500 ft. Fig. 1, male and female spikelets (x 2) ; 2, glume from male flower 

 and stamens (x 6) ; .3, anther (x 10) ; 4 and 5, glumes from female flowers (x 6) ; 6 utricle (face 

 incorrectly represented as concave) (x 6) ; 7, section of utricle, showing nut (x 10) ; 8, nut (x 10) 



