338 CYPERACE^. Cyperus. 



2. CYPERUS. Linn. ; Torr. Cyp. I. c. p. 249. GALINGALE. 



[An ancient Greek name for some plant of this genus.] 

 Cyperus, Ptcreus and PApyaus, Leslib., Necs. 



Spikelets with the scales nearly all fertile, and distichously imbricated ; the rachilla* usually 

 more or less winged on the angles by the decurrent margin of the scales. Stamens 2 or 3 

 (rarely solitary), deciduous. Style 2 - 3-cleft, deciduous. Achenium compressed or tri- 

 angular. — Culms mostly triangular (rarely terete), simple, leafy at the base. Spikelets 

 terminal, capitate or spicate ; the spikes or heads disposed in simple or compound umbels ; 

 the rays sheathed at the base. 



• PycREUs, P. de Beauv. Style 2-cleft. Achenium lenticular. 



1. Cyperus flavescens, Linn. Yellomsh Dwarf Galin gale. 



Umbel of 2 - 4 short rays ; spikelets linear, 14 - 20-flowered, rather obtuse, clustered at 

 the extremity of the rays ; stamens 3 ; scales obtuse, 1-nerved ; achenium minutely wrinkled 

 transversely, nearly orbicular, shining. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 46 ; Muhl. gram. p. IQ ; Ell. sk. 1. 

 p. 67 ? ; Torr. ft. \..p. 60, and Cyp. p. 250 ; Bigel. ft. Bost. p. 18 ; Beck, hot. p. 421 ; 

 Kunth, enum. 2. p. 5. 



Perennial. Culm 4-10 inches high. Rays of the umbel sometimes very short, so that 

 the spikelets appear fasciculate ; the longer ones commonly from half an inch to an inch in 

 length, each bearing from 4-10 spikelets, which are crowded mostly in fascicles of 3 - 4 

 on the rachis of the ray. Spikelets 5-8 lines long, of a yellowish color, slightly tapering 

 towards the summit but not acute, sometiraes as many as 30-flowered. Scales broadly ovate, 

 thin and membranaceous except on the keel. Stamens always 3, sometimes remaining 

 attached to the rachilla after the fall of the scale. 



Boggy places : most frequent in the vicinity of salt water. Fl. August - September. Our 

 plant agrees in all respects with the European C. flavescens. 



2. Cyperus diandrus, Torr. Diandrous Oalingale. 



Umbel of 2 - 5 short rays ; spikelets lanceolate-oblong, much compressed, father acute, 

 many- (14 - 24-) flowered, scattered or fasciculate on the rachis ; stamens 2 ; scales oblong, 

 rather obtuse, one-nerved, membranaceous ; achenium oblong-obovale, slightly scabrous, dull ; 

 style much exscrted, 3-4 times the length of the achenium. — Torr. cat. pi. N. York (1819), 

 p. 90 \ fl. 1. p. 61, and Cyp. p. 251 ; Spreng. syst. \. p. 217 ; Beck, hot. p 421 ; Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 15 ; Hook. fl. Bar. -Am. 2. p. 232 ; Kunth, enum. 2. p. 6. 



♦ This is a term applied to the axis of the spikelets. 



