446 97. CYPERACEJE. 



Division III. GLUMIFERJ3. 



(Orders XCVII. and XCV1II.) 



Leaves parallel-veined, persistent. Floral envelopes imbri- 

 cate, bractlike. 



Order XCVII. CYPERACE/E. 



Fl. perfect or unisexual, each from the axil of a scale (or 

 glume) imbricate on a common axis. Perianth 0, or rarely mem- 

 branous. Stam. hypogynous (3 or rarely 2 in our plants), with 

 sometimes a row of bristles or abortive filaments. Anth. erect, 

 entire at the apex. Ovary 1-celled, 1 ovule at its base, often 

 surrounded by bristles or enclosed in a bottle-shaped perianth. 

 Style simple, tritid or bifid. Embryo enclosed within the base 

 of the albumen. L. with entire sheaths. 



Tribe I. CYPEREsE. Fl. perfect. Gl. 2-ranked. Perianth 0- 



1. CYPERUS. Spikelets 2-ranked, many-flowered. Gl. of 

 1 valve, many, keeled, nearly all with flowers. 



2. SCHCENUS. Spikelets 2-ranked, 2 4-flowered. Gl.G 9; 

 several lower ones smaller, empty. Bristles few or 0. 



Tr. II. SCIRPE^E. Fl. perfect. Gl. imbricate on all sides. 

 Perianth 0. 



* Loicest glumes empty or smaller than the others. 



3. CLADIUM. Spikelets 1 3-flowered. G1.5or6. Bristles 0. 

 Nut with a thick fleshy coat, tipped with the conical base of 

 the style. 



4. HYNCHOSPORA. Spikelets few-flowered. Gl. 6 or 7. 

 Bristles about 6. Nut compressed, convex on both sides, 

 crowned with the dilated base of the style. 



** Lowest glume empty or larger than the others, sometimes all 

 fertile. 



\ Bristles scarely equalling the glume or wanting. 



5. ELEOCIIARIS. One or 2 lowest gl. broader, empty. Bris- 

 tles 3 6. Nut compressed, crowned with the persistent 

 dilated base of the style. 



