Cyperacea. FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. DL 
ID 
2. Isolepis setacea, Br.; culmis setaceis capillaribusve striatis basi 1-phyllis, spiculis solitariis gemi- 
nisve ovatis lateralibus v. subterminalibus, sguamis obtusis mucronatis subacutisve subearinatis castaneis 
1-3-andris, stylo 2-3-partito, nuce obovata trigona v. compressa minutissime punctulato-striata.— Br. Prodr. 
4. Cunn. Prodr. Y. setosa, 4. Rich. Flor. Scirpus setaceus, Linn. 
Var. 8. monandra ; major, spiculis 3-5, squamis monandris. 
Var. y. lenticularis ; spiculis 8-5, squamis subacutis, staminibus 1-2, nucibus lenticularibus, stylis 2-3. 
Var. 8. capillaris ; culmis capillaribus elongatis, spiculis 1-3, squamis obtusis monandris striatis, 
nucibus trigonis, 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands, common, Banks and Solander, etc. (A native of England.) 
A small, slender, excessively variable plant, varying in every locality and habitat, 9—10 inches long, native of 
Europe, Australia, and probably other parts of the world. Culms tufted, erect, filiform or capillary, striated, with 
one or two leaves at the base. Spikelets solitary, sometimes two to six, small, of six to eight broad, concave, blunt 
or mucronate or sharp, pale reddish or chesnut-brown scales. Stamens one to three. Nut covered with minute 
impressed dots, pale, yellow or brownish, compressed, lentieular, or more or less trigonous.—None of my New Zea- 
land specimens quite agree with the J. acicularis or Savii of Europe, nor with any of the five or six allied species 
in Mr. Brown's * Prodromus ;' at the same time I find so great variation in size and habit, the form of the scales, 
number of the stamens and styles, and amount of compression of the lenticular or trigonous nut, that I am quite at 
a loss how to divide my specimens into well-marked varieties. Some of these approach 7. 4ucklandica of Auckland’s 
Group (Fl. Antaret. p. 88. t. 50), but that species has longer, broader leaves, and a much larger and not punctate 
nut. —In moist places the heads become proliferous, when it is chiefly distinguished by its smaller size from J. 
prolifera. 
3. Isolepis cartilaginea, Br.; pusilla, rigida, culmis brevibus curvis basi 1-2-foliatis, foliis trigono- 
setaceis basi membranaceis, spiculis 1-3 infra apicem culmi, squamis paucis cartilagineis carinatis striatis 
late ovatis subacutis 2-andris (3-andris, fig. Br.), nucibus triquetris scaberulis; stylis 3.— Br. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island. East Coast, Ahuriri, Colenso. 
A small, densely tufted, stout, rigid species, 1-12 inch high. Culms trigonous, curved. Leaves rigid, subulate, 
channelled, keeled. Spikelets one or two, sessile, small, green. Scales coriaceous, rigid, rather distant, curved, much 
laterally compressed, subacute, with a thick blunt keel, deeply striate, with chesnut-brown lines. Stamens two. 
Styles three. Nut broad, triangular, rough, with pitted facets.—I am not convinced of this being Mr. Brown’s 
New Holland plant, which has triandrous flowers (a character of little importance, however), and scaberulous nuts, 
whereas these can be considered rough from the depth and number of the impressed dots only. y 
4. Isolepis prolifera, Br.; culmo tereti striato stolonifero aphyllo basi vaginato, capitulis polystachyis 
passim proliferis lateralibus terminalibusque, spiculis oblongis, squamis ecarinatis obtusis monandris, stylo 
trifido, nucibus obovatis apiculatis compressis punctato-striatis pallidis. —Br. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island; watery places. East Coast, etc., Colenso. 
Rather a large tufted species. Culms 4-10 inches long, thick but weak, striated, terete, leafless, sheathed at 
the base. Spikelets short, ovate, brown, clustered at or near the end of the culm, proliferous. Scales red-brown, 
blunt, herbaceous, not keeled. Stamen one. Style bifid. Nut obovate, apiculate, compressed, striated with im- 
pressed dots, pale.—Probably a very variable plant, found in many parts of the world. 
Gen. V. DESMOSCHGNUS, Hook. fil. 
Spicule globose, multiflore, secus culmum apice folioso-bracteatum densissime confertee, sessiles, 
amentum interruptum efformantes. Squama omnes fertiles. Sete Aypogyue 0. Stamina 9, antheris 
