102 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [ Cyperacee. 
longe superantibus ; stigmatibus 3; perigyniis ovatis bicuspidatis glabris, squama lanceolata aristata bre- 
vioribus. (Gunn, 1415.) 
Has. Woolnorth, Gunn. 
Too young for a definite character, but a very distinct species. —Culm 2 feet high, rigid, smooth; inflorescence 
a foot long. Bracts very long and slender, the lower 2 feet ! Spikelets cylindrical, of a fine brown-purple colour, 
evaginate. 
Gen. XVI. UNCINIA, Pers. 
Spice terminales, solitarie, androgynee. Squame undique imbricate, 1-flore. Flores unisexuales. 
Masc. superiores. Perianthium 0. Stamina 3. Fam. Perianthium (perigynium) utriculus compressus, 
apice contractus, persistens, arista hypogyna exserta hamata. Stigmata 2-3, exserta. Nur perianthio aucto 
inclusa.—Herbx habitu Caricis. 
A remarkable genus, confined almost wholly to the southern hemisphere, not infrequent in South America, 
both tropical and temperate. Eleven species are found in New Zealand, and four in Tasmania, whereof two have 
been detected in the Australian continent. Uncinia is very nearly allied to Carex, but differs from most species of 
that genus in the solitary spike, and most conspicuously in the erect bristle, hooked at the apex, which, arising 
from close to the base of the ovary, projects from the mouth of the perigynium. A similar organ, but not hooked 
at the top, is found in many species of Carex, as Dr. Boott informs me; it is an elongation of the axis, and shows 
that the so-called perianthium or perigynium is not a floral organ, but a bract, or rather two connate bracts placed 
right and left to the axis, like the double upper palea of Grasses.—I am indebted to Dr. Boott for the descrip- 
tions of the species. (Name from oyxwos, a small hook.) 
l. Uncinia tenella (Br. Prodr. 241); spica parva ovali laxa albo-viridi apice parce mascula ple- 
rumque nuda; stigmatibus 3; perigyniis lanceolatis triquetris enerviis glabris viridibus, squama lanceolata 
acuta alba nervo viridi decidua paulo longioribus. (Gunn, 97 5.) (Tas. CLIT. 4.) 
Has. Moist woods at Hobarton and Black River, etc., Gunn ; Western Mountains, Archer. 
DisrRiB. Victoria. : 
Dense ezspitosa. Culmus 3-6-pollicaris, levis, setaceus. Folia setacea, scabra, culmum subeequantia. Spica 
3-5 lin. longa, 14 lin. lata, apice inconspicue mascula. Squame conformes : infima rarius foliacea, spica plus duplo 
longior. Perigynium 1-8; lin. longum, -% lin. latum. Achenium conforme, 3% lin. longum, „* lin. latum, trique- 
trum, castaneum. 
A very soft, delicate species, growing in dense tufts, with setaceous culms and leaves. Mr. Gunn says it 
grows on stones and dead trees, among Mosses and Jungermannie, in dark, dry forests, where few other plants 
thrive.—PraTE CLII. 4. Fig. 1, male scale and flower; 2, female ditto and perigynium :—both magnified. 
2. Uncinia riparia (Br.); spica elongata filiformi laxiuscula albo-viridi, apice parce mascula; stig- 
matibus 3; perigyniis anguste lanceolatis subnervosis glaberrimis viridibus, squama lanceolata subacuta 
carinata viridi $ longioribus. (Tas. CLII. B.) 
Has. Tasmania, Brown ; Cuming's Head, Archer.—(Fl. Dec.) 
A very slender species, 1-14 foot high.— Leaves slightly scabrous, narrow, flat, as long as or longer than the 
culm. Spike 2-4 inches long, very slender; flowers rather distant. Scales lanceolate, narrow, subacute, keeled, 
green, with pale margins. Perigynia very long, narrow-lanceolate, smooth, nerved, considerably longer than the 
scale.—PLATE CLII. B. Fig. 1, male scale and flower; 2, female ditto and perigynium; 3, perigynium :—all 
magnified. 
3. Uncinia nervosa (Boott, MSS.) ; spica ovali densa nuda e viridi ferruginea; perigyniis lineari- 
