402 cyperacEjE. [Carex. 



2. C. pumila, Thumb.; Kunth, Enum. ii. 517. Stems about 6 in. high 

 from a creeping rhizome. Leaves narrow, 8 to 10 in. long, stiff but spread- 

 ing. Male spikelets 2 or 3, the terminal one 1 to 1\ in. long, the lower 1 or 

 2 sessile immediately under it, and much shorter ; female spikelets 2 to 4, 

 sessile or shortly pedicellate, about ^ in. long. Bracts leafy, scarcely sheath- 

 ing except the lowest. Glumes lanceolate, with short points. Utricles longer 

 than the glumes, brown, triangular, turgid, with a rather long beak, glabrous, 

 thick and coriaceous, without prominent nerves. — C. littorea, Labill. PI. Nov. 

 Holl. ii. 69, t. 219. 



Hongkong, Wright. In maritime sands, Japan, Loochoo, and N. Australia. 



3. C. ligata, Boott, n. sp. Stems slender, tufted with the leaves, 6 to 

 10 in. high. Leaves narrow, rough, I to H ft. long. Terminal spikelet male, 

 slender, 1 to 1 j in. long. Females usually 2, distant, pedunculate, £ to f in. 

 long, rather loose. Bracts with brown sheaths and green subulate leafy points. 

 Glumes very obtuse, broadly scarious on the margin, with 1 to 3 green central 

 nerves about 1^ lines long. Utricle rather longer than the glume, with a 

 short beak. Nut triangular, obconical at the base but sessile, tapering up- 

 wards to a truncate almost concave apex. 



Hongkong, Harland, Hance, Wright ; in ravines of Mounts Gough and Parker, Wilford. 

 Not known from elsewhere. 



4. C. nexa, Boott, n. sp. Leaves long and narrow, and stems slender, 

 with the inflorescence of C. ligata, but the stems are often above a foot high, 

 and the spikelets longer and more numerous. Terminal male spikelets usually 

 2 to 2^ in. long; ihe glumes lanceolate, acute or nearly so, pale brown, and 

 almost scarious throughout, or rarely with a green nerve, and often 3 lines 

 long. Pemale spikelets usually 3 or 4, very loose, and often above 1 in. long. 

 Utricle somewhat curved, acuminate, narrowed at the base, many-nerved, 

 glabrous. Nut narrowed into a distinct stalk at the base. 



Hongkong, Hance, Hurland, Wright. Not known from elsewhere. 



5. C. manca, Boott, n. sp. Very nearly allied to C. nexa, but the glumes 

 are distinctly keeled, the keel projecting into a short point, and the utricles are 

 pubescent. 



Hongkong, Harland. The nuts are not fully formed' in the only specimens I have seen, 

 and the plant may not improbably, when better known, prove to be a variety of C. nexa. 



6. C. chinensis, Retz ; Boott, Illustr. Car. 74, t. 36. A rather coarser 

 species than the last 3 ; the radical leaves often 2 ft. long and 3 lines broad; 

 the inner ones smaller. Stems 6 in. to 1 ft. high. Bracts with loose sheaths 

 and leafy tips. Terminal spikelet male, 1 to 1£ or rarely 2 in. long, dense. 

 Lower spikes 2 to 5, distant, either all female or with a very few male flowers 

 at their base, and very rarely male at the top, all usually as long as the male 

 spikelet and rather dense. Glumes scarious on the margin ; the keel produced 

 into a long subulate point. Utricle somewhat incurved or oblique, acuminate, 

 tapering at the base, many-nerved, pubescent. Nut obconical at the base but 

 sessile, very obtuse at the top. 



Hongkong, Hance, Harland, Wright. Only known from S. China. 



7. C. tenebrosa, Boott, Illustr. Car. 88, t. 256. Stem stiff though 

 slender, 1£ to 2 ft. high. Leaves rigid, 1 to 1| ft. long, 2 or rarely 3 lines 



