404 CLvi. CYPERACEiB (clarke). [Courtoisia. 



leaves close to the base, the inflorescence at the top. Leaves as long as 

 the stem, J-^ in. broad, green, weak. Umbel simple or compound; 

 bracts similar to the leaves, overtopping the umbel. Spikelets 4-12 

 together, clustered in subglobose heads, yellow to brown. 



Species 2, one of which is common in India. This genus only differs from 

 Mariscus by the extension of the keel of the fertile orlume into a narrow wing, 

 glistening by reason of the loose tissue; and should perhaps be merged in Mariscus. 



Spikelets maturing 1-2 nuts ; fertile glume recurved- 



mucronate . . . . . . . J. C. cyperoides, 



Spikelets maturing 8-2 nuts ; fertile glume shortly 



mucronate . . . . . . . 2. C. assimilis. 



1. C. cyperoides, Nees in Linncea, ix. 28C. Stems 3-1 G in. 

 long, tufted, rather slender, at the top trigonous and smooth. Umbel- 

 rays 8-10, up to 1-4 in. long. Spikes i-J in. in diam. Spikelets 

 maturing 1-2 nuts. Fertile glumes with a distinct slightly recurved 

 mucro. Nut brown, smooth, at the top lanceolate-acuminate. Style 

 hardly any ; branches 8, linear, long. — Kunth, Enum. ii. 127 ; Benth. 

 in Hook. Ic. PI. t. 1841 ; Boeck. in Flora, 18G1, 385, and in Linnsea, 

 XXXV. 434 ; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind. vi. 625, in Durand 

 and Schinz, Conspect. Fl. Afr. v. 590 (var. africana incl.) and in Bull. 

 Herb. Boiss. iv. Append, iii. 31 ; Ridley in Journ. Linn. Soc. xx. 334. 

 Cyperus kleinianus, Hochst. ex Steud. Syn. PI. Glum. ii. 71. 



xrile Iiand. British East Africa : Malewa (Morendat) River, near Lake 

 Naivasha, Gregory, 42 ! 



Iio-wer Guinea. German South-west Africa : Hereroland, Schinz, 370 ! 



IWCozamb. Sist, Zan/ihar, Taylor! British Central Africa : Matabeleland ; 

 banks of the River Matengwe, Holub ! Nyasaland ; Kondowe to Karonga, 2000- 

 6000 ft., Whyte ! 



Also in Madagascar and India. 



The Matabeleland plant, maturing usually 2 nuts to a spikelet, has been named 

 C. assimilis, and I hardly know how it differs from some C. assimilis plants 

 maturing 2-4 nuts. I doubt whether C. cyperoides and C. assimilis can be kept 

 specifically distinct. 



2. C. assimilis, C. B. Clarke in Durand <L' Schinz, Conspect. Fl. 

 Afr. V. 596. Spikelets maturing 8-2 nuts. • Fertile glumes shortly 

 mucronate ; otherwise as C. cyperoides. — Cyperus assimilis^ Steud. in 

 Flora, 1842, 584, and Syn. PI. Glum. ii. 13 ; A. Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss. 

 ii. 480 ; Boeck. in Linnsea, xxxv. 579 ; Engl. Hochgebirgsfl. Trop. 

 Afr. 140. 



xrile X<and. Abyssinia ; near Gapdia, Schimper, 1252 ! near Adowa, Schimper, 

 1074 ! near Amogai, Schimper, 843 ! Shireh Prorince, Quartin- Dillon Sf Petit ! 



The type form of this, with spikelets \ in. long and upwards, maturing 8 nuts, 

 ajipears distinct enough from C. cyperoides, but connecting forms occur. 



8. ELEOCHARIS, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PL iii. 1047. 



Spikelets of many or few perfect flowers, imperfect at the top, one 

 or two lowest glumes empty. Glumes obtuse, in 3 or numerous spirals, 



