17- CYPERACEAE 10/ 



Spikelets i-flowered, spicate, rarely 2-flowered or consisting of a basal 



female flower and several male ones. Stamens usually 3. Female 



flowers enclosed by an utricle-like bracteole. [Tribe CARICEAE.] 11 



9. Male flowers 3. Style-branches 3. Spikelets numerous, in spikes which are 



sometimes arranged in panicles or heads. — Species 12. Tropics. (In- 



• eluding Thoracostachyum Kurz) , . Mapania Aubl. 



Male flowers 6 or more. Spikelets in spikes arranged in heads. . . 10 



10. Style-branches 2. Fruit not ribbed. Spikes consisting of numerous 



spikelets. Leaves reduced to the sheath. — Species i. Madagascar. 



Used for plaiting- work Lepironia Rich. 



Style-branches 3. Fruit many-striate. Spikes consisting of i — 4 spikelets. 



— Species 3. South Africa Chrysithrix L. 



ri. Lateral spikelets consisting of one female flower and i — 6 male inserted 

 above the female flower upon the distinctly developed axis of the spike- 

 let ; rarely male flowers reduced to empty glumes or wanting. Utricle 

 usually 2-cleft. ■ — Species 6. South and East Africa. (Including Hemi- 



carex Benth.) Schoenoxiphium Nees 



Lateral spikelets consisting only of i female flower and the usually rudi- 

 mentary axis. Utricle closed, entire or toothed 12 



12. Axis of the spikelet projecting beyond the utricle and hooked at the tip. — 



Species 2. Subantarctic islands UnciniaPers. 



Axis of the spikelet enclosed and straight or more frequently rudimentary 

 and usually early disappearing. — Species 80. Extra-tropical regions 

 and mountains of the tropics Carex L. 



13. (i.) Spikelets (false spikelets) centrifugal, with a terminal flower, branched 



from the uppermost bract, i^ — -2-, rarely 3 — 6-flowered. ... 14 



Spikelets centripetal, without a terminal flower, 3 — many-, rarety 1—2- 



flowered ; flowers hermaphrodite, a male one sometimes added. . 24 



14. Spikelets containing i terminal male flower and i — 2 lateral hermaphro- 



dite flowers. Style dilated at the base. — Species 30. South Africa. 

 [Elynanthus Nees, including M acrochaetium Steud.) [Tribe GAHNI- 



EAE.] Tetraria Beauv. 



Spikelets containing only hermaphrodite flowers, a male one being sometimes 

 added. [Tribe RHYNCHOSPOREAE.l 15 



15. Glumes 2 -ranked. Style-branches 3 16 



Glumes not distinctly 2-ranked 19 



16. Perianth-bristles 6, alternately unequal. Fruit crowned by the base of the 



style. Spikelets in heads. — Species g. South Africa, Madagascar and 



Mascarene Islands. (Under Carpha R. Br.) . . Asterochaete Nees 



Perianth-bristles equal or wanting 17 



17. Perianth-bristles stiff, not feathery, or wanting. Fruit not beaked. — 



Species 6. South Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands, Abys- 

 sinia, North Africa. (Including Epischoenus C.B. Clarke). Schoenus L. 

 Perianth-bristles feathery 18 



