270 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. [ Cyperacee. 
blunt, linear-oblong. Bristles six to eight. Styles three-cleft.—An Australian plant, very similar to a species found 
abundantly in the Tropics. 
2. Eleocharis gracilis, Br.; culmis caspitosis gracilibus striatis elongatis intus cellulosis, vaginis ore 
mucronatis, spicis elongato-ovatis linearibusve subacutis, squamis ovatis obovato-oblongisve obtusis ecari- 
natis, setis 4-6 ovario parum longioribus, stylo 3-fido, nuce obovata trigona compressa impunctata.— 
Br. Prodr. Scirpus palustris a, Banks et Sol. MSS. 
Var. B. gracillima ; culmis gracillimis, vaginis ore obliquo, spicis brevibus, squamis ovato-oblongis 
infimis elongatis, setis 5-6 nuce longioribus. E. acicularis, 4. Cunn. Prodr. et Herb. Scirpus palustris, 
Banks et Sol. MSS. 
Var. y. radicans; parvula, rhizomate valido longe repente squamis imbricatis membranaceis nervosis 
subacutis tecto, culmis ascendentibus setaceis striatis, spicis late ovatis obtusis, squamis paucis ovatis 
membranaceis, setis 6. Fimbristylis, 4. Cunn. Herb. 
Has. Bogs throughout the Islands, Banks and Solander, ete. 
A native of Australia, and probably a variety of the European F. palustris, but differing in the trigonous fruit 
and three stigmas.—Culms tufted, a span to 2 feet high, slender, striated, cellular. Sheaths with a small point at the 
mouth. Spikes 1-3 inch long, linear-ovate, subacute ; scales linear-obovate, membranous, blunt. Bristles four, rather 
longer than the broadly obovate, compressed, three-angled, shining nut. Style three-cleft. The var. 6 is a much 
more slender plant. Culms 4-10 inches high, almost thread-like, tufted and creeping at the base, sheaths 
oblique at the mouth, with a short erect point. Spikes pale-coloured, 4 inch long, ovate, acute, of ovate-oblong, 
blunt, membranous scales, the lower the largest. Bristles usually six, longer than the broadly obovate, bluntly 
three-angled, polished achenium.—The var. y is easily recognized by the stout, woody, creeping rhizome, covered 
with membranous imbricating nerved sheaths. Culms ascending, thread-like, 2-3 inches high. Spikes 3-2 lines 
long, of few membranous blunt scales. Bristles six. This may be a new species, but my specimens are not suffi- 
cient to prove it so. 
Gen. TV. ISOLEPIS, Br. 
Spice aggregate: v. solitarie. Sguame fere omnes floriferee, undique v. subdistiche imbricate. Sete 
hypogyna O. Stylus cam ovario inarticulatus, basi simplici, deciduus.—Ilerbe foliate ; spiculis sepius 
aggregatis et lateralibus. 
A very widely dispersed genus, of generally very variable marsh- or water-plants, with slender leafy culms, and 
lateral, rarely terminal, solitary or clustered sessile spikelets. Scales nearly equal, the lower empty. Bristles 0. 
Stamens one to three. Styles two or three. Nut pointed or blunt, compressed or triangular, not conspicuously 
thickened at the top. (Name from wos, egual, and Aeris, a scale.) 
1. Isolepis nodosa, Br.; culmis elatis aphyllis tereti-compressis basi vaginatis, capitulo globoso 
polystachyo, spiculis congestis ovatis, squamis late ovatis obtusis, stylo 3-partito, nuce pallide castanea 
levi nitida apiculata compressa vix 3-gona.—Br. Prodr. A. Rich. Flor. 4. Cunn. Prodr. Scirpus glu- 
tinosus, Banks et Sol. MSS. 
Haz. Northern and Middle Islands, common throughout, Banks and Solander. Nat. name “ Wi-wi,” 
for this and similar sedges and rushes, Zyall. 
A stout, tufted, rushy plant, 1-8 feet high, very different in habit and stature from any New Zealand congener. 
Culms cylindrical below, compressed above, sheathed at the base. Spikelets aggregated in globose, dense, lateral 
heads; beyond which the rigid pungent culm is lengthened. Scales broad, concave, blunt. Styles tripartite. 
Nut smooth, polished, pale brown.—A common Australian plant, very similar to a South African species, and to 
some varieties of Z. Holoschenus. 
