1904.] J. R. Drummond — On a neiu Scirpus from Beluchistan^ 8fc. 139 



{d) sheaths producing laminae which attain 3 inches in length by 

 J of an inch in breadth at the base and are flaccid, narrowly 

 triangular-acuminate in outline, acute at the tip, and spread- 

 ing. 



Note. — The rootlets are scanty and feeble (in the figure). 



In 1820 Carey's Edition of Roxburgh's Flora Indica appeared in 

 which Scirpus pectinatus is described, as a native chiefly of " marshy 

 places where the soil is sandy. " There is a picture of this among the 

 unpublished drawings in Herb. H.B.O. which differs from S . fimhrisetus 

 Delile in the sheaths bearing no laminae, in the shape of the glumes 

 which are acute, not at all emarginate, and by the lax and drooping 

 panicle. 



There are specimens in the Calcutta Herbarium gathered in salt 

 marshes near Sealdah in November 1860 and December 1866, by Kurz, 

 which appear to be the plant of Roxburgh and have been so named by 

 the finder. 



Wall. 3506 which is from Herb. Heyne, and was therefore prob- 

 ably collected on the coast of the Peninsula, agrees fairly well with S. 

 pectinatus also. 



There are also two Ceylon examples (C. P. 831) which have been 

 named S. pectinatus Roxb. in Thwaites' handwriting. 



In Wight's " Contributions, " (J834) the Indian Cyperacese were 

 reviewed, — chiefly on material in the Herbaria of Wight himself, of 

 Wallich, Royle, and Lindley, — by Prof. Nees von Esenbeck, who divided 

 off sundry types from Scirpus and created, among other new genera, 

 Malachochastey which in his Tribe III {Scirpe^) is referred to a sub- 

 tribe B. with the glumes (squamae) arranged spirally (plurifariae), 

 and to that particular group of the same which has a perigonium (of 

 bristles). 



In its group Malacochsete is distinguished by the '* setae " which 

 constitute the perigonium being linear, membranaceous, and ciliate. 



He enumerates a single Indian species only, viz.^ Malacochaste pecti* 

 natttj of which the synonymy is given as follows : — 



Scirpus pectinatus f Roxb. Fl. Ind. I. p. 218 (Ed. 



Wall.) I. 210. 

 S. campestroidesy Roxb. in Co. Merc. I. Or. Mus. tab; 



744 (fide Arnott) 

 S. plumosuSf R. Br. ? Fl. Nov. Holl. 

 As localities are mentioned sandy marshes of the E, L Peninsula 

 (Roxburgh, Wight), Nepal (Royle). 



