Cyperacee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 279 
Has. Middle Island; Dusky Bay, Forster ; Port Preservation, Zyall. 
A very fine species, 3—4 feet high. Leaves longer than the culms, smooth below, scabrid above, with scabrid 
filiform apices. Panicle as in the last, but with fewer shorter branches, longer foliaceous bracts, and fewer, much 
larger spikelets, nearly 4 inch long, of a fine vinous-purple colour. Scales few, not so convolute as is usual in the 
genus, outer longer than the spikelet. Filaments four, very long. Nut pale brown, scarcely shining.—The size 
of the spikelets at once distinguishes this very handsome species. 
Gen, XIV. LEPIDOSPERMA, Br. 
Spicula 1-2-flore. Squame plurime, undique imbricate. Syuamule hypogyne 6, connate, carnosce 
v. membranacem. Stamina et stigmata 3. Nue obsolete triquetra, stylo basi sphacelato acuminata, v. 
obtusa. 
Coarse and often gigantic Sedges, with simple, unbranched, flat or angled culms, and usually sword-shaped 
cutting foliage at the base; natives chiefly of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. —FYowers panicled or spiked, 
of the same structure as Cladium, except that there are small membranous or fleshy scales round the base of the 
nut, which are more or less united together and to the nut, (Name from Aemus, a scale, and omeppa, a seed.) 
1. Lepidosperma australis, Hook. fil. ; culmis ewspitosis glaberrimis compressis 3-4-gonis striatis, 
foliis 8-4-gonis rigidis subulatis erectis, spiculis in capitulum oblongum confertis, bracteis vaginantibus, 
bracteolis mucronatis striatis, squamis 6-8 acuminatis, squamulis hypogynis 6 connatis nuce adnatis.— 
Vauthiera australis, 4. Rich. Flor. p. 107. 1.20. A. Cuna. Prodr. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands; common on banks of lakes, etc. 
A tufted, rigid, almost leafless, rush-like Sedge. Culms 1-12 foot high, quite smooth, irregularly 3—4-angled, 
striated, compressed or square, angles sharp. Sheaths with rigid subulate 3-4-angled erect leaves, 2-8 inches long. 
Spikelets crowded, spiked or fascicled, pale brown, forming a terminal short oblong capitulum 4 inch long. Bract 
Shortly sheathing, with a subulate erect point. Bracteole mucronate, striate; scales 6—8, acuminate, terminal with 
one flower. Stamens and stigmas three. Hypogynous scales six, connate into a six-lobed cup, which is persistent 
on the ripe nut. 
2. Lepidosperma Jongitudinalis, Lab.; culmis planis utringue convexiusculis foliisgue acuminatis 
complanatis marginibus acutissimis minutissime denticulatis, panicula terminali bracteata contracta pauci- 
flora, spiculis 1-floris subfasciculatis breve pedicellatis, fasciculis bractea late ovata «equilonga aristata 
acuminata suffultis, squamis aristatis puberulis, nuce obovata apice bulbo crasso levi terminata basi squa- 
mulis adnatis obscuris suffulta.—Zaõi/. Fl. N. Holl. v. 1. 4.16. 7.18. Br. Prodr. Lepidosperma elatior, 
A. Cunn. Prodr. non Br. 
Has. Northern Island; Bay of Islands, A. Cunningham, etc.; Auckland, Sinclair. 
Culm leafless, except at the very base, 1-2 feet high, quite flat and tape-like, 2~3 lines broad, with cutting 
denticulate edges. Leaf similar, acuminate. Panicle erect, rigid, 2—3 inches long, of few branches, with an acute 
spathaceous bract at the base. Spikelets few, one-flowered, short, scattered in little appressed fascicles of two or 
three, surrounded by an awned bract. Scales puberulous, with awned or subulate points, rough at the back. 
Stamens three; filaments not elongated in fruit. Zalf-ripe nut with a very large swollen polished bulb, broader 
than itself, and adnate scales at the base.—My specimens are not good, but appear to be the same as a very common 
Tasmanian plant, and Sieber’s L. linearis (Herb. Exsicc. n. 9). 
3. Lepidosperma striata, Br.; culmo tereti exsulco vaginato, vaginis elongatis, foliolo brevissimo 
obcompresso verticali, panicula spicaeformi, spiculis subsessilibus subgeminis spatha obtusa inclusis 1-floris, 
ovario trigono apice bulboso incrassato puberulo.— Br. Prodr. Schcenus unguiculatus, Banks et Sol. MSS. 
