388 CYPERACEiE. [Kyllingia. 



2. KYLLINGIA, Linn. 



Spikelets 1-flowered or with a second male flower, closely imbricate in 

 globular or oblong heads or short spikes resembling spikelets; the bracts 

 under each spikelet very small or altogether wanting in the interior of the 

 spike. Glumes distichous, 1, 2, or 3 empty ones below the flowering one. 

 Flowers hermaphrodite, without hypogynous bristles or scales. Stamens 3 or 

 fewer. Style 2-cleft. Nut flattened. Spikes usually solitary or few together, 

 sessile or shortly pedunculate within 2 or 3 long leafy bracts. 



A small genus, chiefly tropical, but extending also into N. America and S. Africa. 



1. K. monocephala, Lhin. ; Knnik, Emm. ii. 129. A small tufted 

 plant with a creeping rhizome ; the stem usually 4 to 8 in. rarely 1 ft. high. 

 Leaves flaccid, shorter than the stem. Spikelets very numerous, in a single 

 sessile head of about 3 lines diameter, between 2 or 3 veiy long leafy bracts. 

 Glumes usually 3, the lowest very small, transparent, obtuse and empty ; the 

 next also empty, pointed, with a gTcen ciliate keel ; the third flowering one 

 similar, but rather longer. Nut obovate, about half as long as the glume, 

 and falling away from it when ripe. 



Hongkong, Hance, Wright. Widely diffused over tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia, 

 and probably the tropical American R. ccespitosa, Nees, may not be distinct. It varies with 

 the head of spikelets quite simple or with 2 short lateral branches. 



3. LIPOCARPHA, Br. 



Spikelets 1-flowered, closely imbricate in globular or oblong heads or short 

 spikes resembling spikelets ; the glume-like bracts under each spikelet as long 

 as the spikelets themselves. Glumes 2, very thin and transparent, concave 

 and scarcely keeled, one or both falling off with the nut when ripe. Flowers 

 hermaphrodite, without hypogynous bristles or scales. Stamens 3 or fewer. 

 Style 2- or 3-cleft. Nut slightly compressed or obtusely 3-angled. — Herbs 

 with the habit of Kyllingia. Spikes usually 3 or 5, rarely solitary, sessile 

 between leafy bracts. 



A small tropical genus, common to the New and the Old ^Yorld. The spikes are usually 

 described as spikelets, the subtending bracts as glumes, and the glumes as inner scales, but 

 the view above taken of the nature of the different parts appears to me to be more correct, 

 especially when they are compared to those of the closely allied genus Kyllingia. 



Leaves and bracts linear. Glume-like scales with very short erect 



points \. L. argentea. 



Leaves and bracts subulate. Spikes squarrose with the spreading or 



recurved points of the glume-like scales ' . . 2. Z. microcephala. 



1. Ii. argentea, Br.; Kunth, Enum. ii. 266. A tufted plant, with 

 slender but stiff stems i to 1 ft. high. Leaves much shorter, narrow-linear, 

 rather stiff. Spikes 3 to 7, ovoid-globose, about 3 lines diameter, closely 

 sessile within 2 or 3 spreading stiff leafy bracts. Glume-like scales spathu- 

 late, closely imbricate, thin and scarious, with short erect points. Spikelets 

 rather shorter. Glumes very thin, the inner one slightly keeled. Style 2-cleft. 

 Nut obovoid-oblong, about half as long as the glumes. 



Hongkong, Haiice, Wright ; in wet places in the Happy Valley, Wilford. Extends over 

 the greater part of tropical Asia, Africa, and America, and northward to Amoy. 



2. L. microcephala, Br.; KimtJi, Enum. ii. 268. A slender annual. 



