318 CLVi. CYPERACE.E (clarke). [Cypevus. 



Leaves often as long as the stem, ^^ in. broad. Head 1, of 2-10 sessile 

 spikelets ; bracts 2-3, lowest up to 3 in. long, similar to the leaves. 

 Spikelets chestnut-red, J-J by i in., much compressed, shining, hard, 

 8-18-flowered, sides parallel. Glumes closely imbricated, ovate, striate, 

 nearly one-coloured ; mucro minute, subrecurved. Style about J the 

 length of the nut ; branches 8, very long. Nut J the length of the 

 glume, ellipsoid, triquetrous, obtuse. — C. B. Clarke in Dyer, Fl. Cap. 

 vii. 167. 



XMEozamb. Bist. British Central Africa : Xyasaland ; Zomba Pl-.iteau, 2500- 

 3000 ft., Whyte I 



Also in South Africa. 



5. C. amnicola, Kunth, Enum. ii. 52. Leaves very narrow, 

 margins when dry inrolled, tip obtuse. Bracts similar to the leaves ; 

 tips obtuse. Glumes muticous. Otherwise as C. rupestris. — Boeck. in 

 Linnsea, xxxv. 509 ; Ridley in Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Bot. ii. 131 ; 

 €. B. Clarke in Durand & Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 548, and in 

 Dyer, Fl. Cap. vii. 167. 



Iiower Guinea. Angola : Huilla ; in dried-up swamps near Xene, Welwitsch , 

 6878 (ex Ridley). 



Also in South Africa. 



6. C. holostigma, Schioeinf. in Bull. Herb. Boiss. ii. Append, ii. 

 103. Glabrous. Rhizome very short. Stems thickened at the base, 

 clustered, 2-4 in. long, very slender. Leaves a little shorter than the 

 stem, almost setaceous. Head 1, of 3-6 subdigitate spikelets ; bracts 

 2-3, lowest up to 1 in. long, setaceous, spreading. Spikelets \ by ^ in., 

 narrow lanceolate, black, 10-15-flowered. Glumes 9-11-nerved, muti- 

 cous. Style long exserted, the tip subentire or very shortly 2-3-lobed. 



Ifflle Xiand. Eritrea : Plateau of Kohsiito, 8500 ft., Schweinfurth, 120 ! 



Schweinfurth detected this curious species, made a drawing of the style and 

 sent it to me. It may possibly be a mountain reduced chestnut-black state of 

 C. apricus, Ridley (n. 38 below). 



7. C. Kirkii, C. B. Clarke. Glabrous. Stems 4-5 in. long, 

 slender, at the base thickened and woody, in a tough tuft ; basal sheaths 

 persistent in dirty straw-coloured fibres. Leaves overtopping the stems, 

 setaceous. Head 1, of 5-12 subdigitate spikelets; bracts 3, lowest 

 1 J-21 in. long, similar to the leaves. Spikelets | by y\ in., compressed, 

 dense, 14-18-flowered, yellowish or reddish, with parallel sides. Glumes 

 closely imbricated, 5-7-nerved, minutely apiculate, scarcely mucronate. 

 Style short, linear ; branches 3, long. Nut not seen. 



Mozamb. Dist. Portuguese East Africa: Lower Zambesi; Lupata, Kirk! 

 British Central Africa : Nyasaland; Manganja Hills, Metier ! 



8. C. atractocarpus, Ridley in Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Bot. ii. 

 141. Glabrous. Stems 4-8 in. long, rather slender, thickened and 

 sub-bulbous at the base, united on a very short horizontal rhizome. 

 Leaves J the length of the stem, very narrow, suddenly contracted 



