Xyridea. | FLORA OF TASMANIA. 69 
Leaves quite flat, 3 an inch broad. This is nearly allied to the Z. crinita of Lord Auckland's Islands, but in that 
the perianth-leaflets are narrower and dark brown, the bractew deeply laciniate and ciliated, and the leaves nar- 
rower. The L. Alopecurus, Desv., of Fuegia, is a third closely allied and extremely similar species, but that has 
a ciliated perianth. The Z. Oldfieldii is much nearer L. campestris than any of the above. 
Nat. Orb. XIII. XYRIDEA. 
Gen. I. XYBIS, L: 
Flores in capitulum solitarium terminale dense spicati; sguamis capituli persistentibus, coriaceis, dense 
imbricatis. Perianthium duplex; exterius glumaceum, foliolis 3, exteriore calyptreformi v. cucullato 
caduco; lateralibus navicularibus ; interius corollinum foliolis 3 longe unguiculatis, lamina lobata. Stamina 
9, fertilia unguibus perianthii interioris inserta, cum staminodiis 3 hypogynis apice plumosis alternantia, 
antheris extrorsis. Ovarium 1-loculare, v. basi 3-loculare; ovu/is numerosis, ascendentibus, placentis 3 
basilaribus v. subparietalibus affixis; s/7/o gracili, trifido ; stigmatibus plumosis indivisisve. Capsula 1-8- 
locularis, 3-valvis, polysperma. Semina erecta, subglobosa; testa coriacea; albumine carnoso; embryone 
minimo.—Herbe scapigere; foliis equitantibus, ensiformibus v. filiformibus, strictis tortisve ; scapo basi 
l-vaginato, superne nudo, stricto, tereti v. compresso v. angulato ; capitulo solitario, squamis fuscis ; perianthio 
interiore flavo. 
A large genus, almost the only one of the Order, abundant in tropical and extratropical Australia, and in tro- 
pical America; comparatively rarer in tropical Asia and Africa. About twenty Australian species are known to me, 
for the most part natives of the south-western quarter of the continent; few or none seem to be common to this 
and the eastern quarters, but the species are difficult of discrimination, and the majority have not been studied.— 
Tufted herbs, with no stems, or short ones, fibrous roots, equitant, generally rigid, flat or terete, strict or twisted 
leaves, and slender, strict, erect scapes, bearing solitary, terminal, brown capitula of densely imbricating, coriaceous 
scales. The flowers are sessile and solitary in these scales, one or two open at a time, the three yellow-lobed petals 
alone appearing on the surface of the capitulum.— Perianth of six pieces; outer glumaceous, of three rigid brown 
scales, the lateral persistent, erect, and navicular, the front one hooded and concave or calyptrate, is carried up by 
the inner, and falls away ; inner of three petaloid, clawed, yellow pieces, each bearing a short stamen, with extrorse 
anther on the claw; three filiform staminodia, with plumose apices, alternate with the inner perianth-segments. 
Ovary small, one-celled, or partly three-celled, with a slender, trifid style, and simple or plumose stigmas. Capsule 
thickened at the top, with numerous erect seeds, attached to three basal, more or less confluent placente. (Name 
from £vpos, sharp ; in allusion to the foliage of some species.) 
1. Xyris operculata (Lab. Nov. Holl. i. p. 14*. t. x.) ; foliis teretiusculis filiformibus, culmo tereti, 
capitulo ovoideo v. obovoideo, squamis quinquefariis coriaceis obtusis imberbibus inferioribus minoribus 
vacuis, stigmatibus multifidis?, capsula apice triloba granulata semitriloculari, placentis basi unitis.— Br. 
Prodr. 257 ; Bot. Mag. t. 1158. (Gunn, 334.) 
Has. Common in wet heaths and peat soils.—(Fl. Dec.-Feb.) (v. v.) 
Distris. New South Wales and Victoria. 
Plant forming large, coarse tufts of rigid foliage, and slender, terete scapes, 1-3 feet long.— Leaves slender, 
with very shining brown sheathing bases. Scapes slightly twisted. Capitulum 3-3 inch long. Lateral scales of 
the outer perianth ciliate or bearded. Flowers sweet-scented.—I have not seen ripe fruit. 
2, Xyris gracilis (Br. Prodr. 256) ; foliis ensiformibus tortis, culmo filiformi tereti tortili, capitulo 
parvo ovoideo paucifloro, squamis undique imbricatis obtusis centro discolore imberbibus inferioribus mino- 
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