CXL. IIESTIACE^. 1-18 



solitary, compressed ; ])eriant]i of G unequal ^^lumes. — Males : 

 Stamens 3 ; pistil rudimentary or wliolly wantin<j;. — IVmale : 

 Stamens rudimentary or 0. Ovary 2-3-celled ; style 1, dividing 

 into 2-3 stigmatic branches. Capsule compressed, 1-2-locn- 

 lar (by abortion), deliiscing longitudiiuilly through the dorsal 

 suture. — Kanth, Eniiiii. iii. p. 382. llhodocoma, Nces ah Eaen- 

 hech\ Kunth, I.e. p. -ISO. Ischyrolepis, Sleiulel, >Spiops. Glumac. 

 ii. p. 219. 



Rush-like plants, with persistent sheaths. — Species 75-80. An equal 

 number in Australia. 



2. DOVEA, Kth. 



Flowers fascicled or in dense spikes, more or less triangular, 

 longer than the bracts. Perianth of G unequal glumes in 2 

 rows ; the inner longer than the outer. — Male : IStamens 3. 

 Kudiment of pistil 3-lobed or 0. — Female : Staminodia 3, ligu- 

 late or 0. Ovary 3-lobed, 3-celled. Capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, 

 surmounted by the persistent base of the style, and splitting 

 longitudinally at the projecting angles. Seeds with numerous 

 raised wavy longitudinal ridges. — Kunth, l.c.p.4'57. 



Rush-Hke plants, Avitli deciduous sheaths, having the inflorescence and 

 general aspect of Elegia, with the fruit of Restio. — 7 species, all natives of 

 the Cape. 



3. ASKIDIOSPERMA, Steudel. 



Male flowers in a dense panicle or loose spike. Bracts 

 linear, membranous ; flowers triangular ; glumes acute. — 

 Female : Flowers in a compact spike ; glumes lanceolate, 

 lacerated at the margins, the inner 3 longer than the outer, 

 Staminodes small, strap-shaped. Capsule oblong, compressed, 

 2-lobed, dehiscent. — A rush-like plant, with deciduous sheaths, 

 which are of a greenish-blue colour. — Steud. I.e. p. 257. 



A little-known genus, represented by a single species ; when better known, 

 it will probably be referred to some otlfer genus. So far as at present 

 known, it seems to connect Elegia or Vovea with Restio. — 1 species. 



4. LEPTOCARPUS, Brown. 



Male and female s])ikelets nearly of the same lorm, ar- 

 ranged in spikes or panicles ; many-flowered or rarely with a 

 solitary flower. Perianth of G unequal glumes. — Male : Sta- 

 mens 3. — Female: Ovary 3-angular, 1-celled, 1-ovuled ; stig- 

 mas 3. Fruit 3-angular, horny, indehiscent, 1-seeded. — Sheaths 

 persistent. — Kunth, I.e. p. 480. Calopsis, Beanv.; Kunth, I.e. 

 p. 421. 



The species have precisely tlie habit and appearance of liPslio, but are 

 distinguished by their triangular, 1-celletl, iiidehisceut Iruit. — G African, 

 besides a few Australian species. 



