Mariscus.] Cyperacece. 39 



spikelets, rhachis of spike stout; bracts up to 18 in. long by 

 \ in. broad at the base, bracteoles o; spikelets about \ in., 

 linear to ovate-oblong, subtetragonous, acute, straw-col'd., 

 rhachilla subtetragonous, not winged; glumes membranous, 

 loosely imbricate, ^2 m - l° n g> broadly ovate-oblong, or nearly 

 orbicular, cuspidate or mucronulate, dorsally rounded, not 

 keeled, streaked with pale brown, veins obscure, margins 

 broadly hyaline; stam. 3, anth. linear, muticous; nut about 

 ^ the length of the glume, ellipsoid, dorsally compressed, 

 plano-convex or biconvex, top umbonate, ashy black, young 

 straw-col'd., style as long as the nut, stigmas 2, capillary. 



In tanks in the dry country ; rather common. Batticaloa ; Mineri ; 

 Tissumabarama, &c; abundant. Fl. March-Sept. 



Also in India, N. and Trop. Africa, and Australia. 



Strongly resembles Mariscus albescens. Described as annual in Fl. 

 B. Ind., but by Boissier as having a stout rootstock. 



2. MARISCUS, Vahl 

 Characters of Cyperus, but rhachilla of spikelets disarti- 

 culating above the 2 lowest glumes; lowest glume broadly 

 ovate, many-veined, persistent on the rhachilla, next above 

 shorter, broader, also many-veined, often deciduous with the 

 spikelet; upper glumes 1 or more, much longer, 3-veined on 

 the keel; nut trigonous, stigmas 3, capillary. — Sp. about 70; 

 13 in FL B. Ind. 



In Cyperus eleusinoides there is a tendency to disarticulation of the 

 rhachilla of the spikelet. Sp. 4, 5, 6 are with difficulty separable. 

 Spikelets turgid, 4-6-fld. 



Spikelets in a globose head . . . . 1. M. Dregeanus. 

 Spikelets in umbelled spikes . . . . 2. M. albescens. 

 Spikelets narrow. 



Spikelets in umbelled, globose heads . . 3. M. MICROCEPHALUS. 

 Spikelets spicate. 



Stem rather stout, 1. \-\ in. broad. 



Stolons tuberiferous . . . . 4. M. PANICEUS. 



Stolons o. 



Spikelets erect or spreading . . 5. M. CYPERINUS. 

 Spikelets spreading or reflexed . . 6. M. SIEBERIANUS. 

 Stem and 1. narrow or filiform . . . 7. M. TENUIFOLIUS. 



1. M. Dreg-eaims, Kitnth, Enum. PL ii. 120 (1837). 



Cyperus ditbius, Thw. Enum. 344; Trim. Syst. Cat. Ceyl. 101 (non 

 Rottb.). C. P. 855, 2942. 

 Fl. B. Ind. vi. 620. 



Annual; stem 3-16 in., densely tufted, stout, trigonous, 

 often curved, base tuberous, root-fibres capillary, stolons o; 

 1. as long as the stem or shorter, narrow, up to \ in. broad, 

 flaccid, 1 -veined, sheath usually long; bracts 3-5, leaf-like; 



