17- CYPERACEAE IO9 



29. Perianth consisting of 6 bristles. Spikelets in panicles. — Species i. Region 



of the great lakes. (Under Carpha R. Br.) . Oreograstis K. Schum. 

 Perianth none. 30 



30. Flowers with a toothed or lobed disc at the base of the ovary. Spikelets 



sohtary or in heads. — Species 3. South Africa. (Under Ficinia 



Schrad.) Hemichlaena Schrad, 



Flowers without a disc 31 



31. Style-branches 2. Spikelets containing an hermaprodite and sometimes 



also a male flower, arranged in heads. — Species 40. Tropical and South 

 Africa. The root-stock of some species is used in perfumery and medi- 

 cine ; others yield fodder. (Plate 9.) .... Kyllinga Rottb. 



Style-branches 3, rarely i — 2, but then spikelets many-flowered. . . 32 

 j2. Fertile flowers in each spikelet i — 2. Glumes with a winged keel, the 

 lower glume enclosing the upper one. Spikelets in umbellately ar- 

 ranged heads. — Species 2. Tropics to Transvaal. Courtoisia Xees 



Fertile flowers in each spikelet 3 or more, rarely i — 2, but then glumes not 

 winged or the lower glume not enclosing the upper one. • • • 33 



33. Glumes with the margins united into a cylinder at their base, long acuminate 



at the top. Spikelets terete, 3 — 4-flowered, in spikes. Stamens 2. — 

 Species i. South-east Africa. (Under Mariscus Gaertn. or Cyperus L.) 



Cylindrolepis Boeck. 

 Glumes with free margins. — Species 300. The root-stocks of some (especi- 

 ally C. esciilentus L.) are eaten and used for the preparation of oil, per 

 fume, and medicaments ; the culms (especially of C. Papyrus L.) are 

 used for making paper and for plaiting-work ; some species serve as 

 fodder- or ornamental plants, others are noxious weeds. (Including 

 Galilea Pari., Jimcelliis Griseb., Mariscus Vahl, Pycreus Beauv., and 

 Tondinium Desv.) Cyperus L. 



34. (28.) Style conspicuously thickened at the base 35 



Style not or shghtly thickened at the base 37 



35. Perianth none. Style deciduous. — Species 75. Some are used as fodder. 



(Including Abildgaar(^ia Vahl and BulbostylisKxuvih). Fimbristylis Vahl 

 Perianth consisting of 3 — 8 bristles. Base of the style usually persis- 

 tent 35 



36. Spikelets in heads. Glumes in 5 rows. — Species i. Tropics. (Under 



Fuirena Rottb.' Pentasticha Turcz. 



Spikelets sohtary. ■ — Species 25. Some are used for plaiting-work or yield 

 starch. {Eleocharis R. Br.) Heleocharis R. Br, 



37. Flo weis with a toothed or lobed, persistent disc at the base of the ovary. 



Glumes usually browTi or black. — Species 65. South Afiica and moun- 

 tains of East Africa and Madagascar Ficinia Schrad. 



Flowers without a disc Z^ 



38. Perianth-bristles 6 or more, much elongated after flowering. Spikelets 



sohtary or in umbels. — Species i. South Africa. The cotton-hke 

 perianth-bristles are used for stuffing cushions. " Cotton-grass." 



Eriophorum L. 



