634 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
which are not split, as in the Grasses. The flowers are somewhat similar 
to those of the Grasses. They are arranged in compressed spikelets 
which are in turn grouped in heads, umbels, or panicles. The flowers 
proper are found in the axils of keeled, concave bracts (glumes), 
of which there are always two rows in the spikelet. The perianth 
is represented in this Order by a few minute scales or bristles, or may be 
entirely absent, which latter is the case in this genus. There are one, 
two, or three stamens, a one-celled ovary with two or three stigmas, 
which develops into a three-sided nut. The species—of which two occur, 
though rarely, in Britain—are distributed over all the warmer parts of 
the earth. 
Few of the species of Cyperus have any interest for 
horticulturists, though in various other ways the genus 
has value. The succulent roots yield a mucilage which has been used 
medicinally, and that of Cyperus longus, or Galingale, one of the British 
species, is said to have tonic properties. Others, such as the C. esculentus 
of Southern Europe, yield tubers which are roasted and eaten ; C. alternt- 
folius was introduced from Madagascar in 1781; C. Papyrus, the 
Egyptian Paper Reed, was introduced from Egypt in 1803. This is the 
plant whose pith was used to make the earliest form of paper—papyrus 
—which was made in a very simple manner by cutting the pith in slices 
and laying a number of them with their edges touching, another layer 
was laid upon these, crossing them, and the whole subjected to pressure, 
which united it into a compact sheet. 
CYPERUS ALTERNIFOLIUS (alternate-leaved). Stems 
numerous, erect, dark green, 1 foot to 24 feet high. The 
leaves are very long and narrow, their sheaths one in another round the 
stem, the blades falling back gracefully from the summit of the stem in 
all directions. Perennial. Plate 298. The var. vwriegatus has the leaves 
and stems striped with white, or entirely white. 
C. LONGUS (long). Galingale. Stem solitary, stiff, and erect, 2 to 3 
feet high. Leaves few, flat, keeled, from the lower part of the stem only. 
Flowers i in a loose umbellate-cyme; bracts leaf-like; glumes erect, red- 
brown, with a green midrib; autumn. Perennial. 
C. PAPYRUS (paper). Paper Reed. Stem 10 to 15 feet high, stout, 
surmounted by a huge compound umbel of rays and bracts, the lower 
series of which fall back and present a very graceful appearance. Also 
known as Papyrus antiquorum. Perennial. 
These plants are easily grown, and the two first de- 
scribed above are useful for conservatory decoration. They 
should be potted in a compost of loam and sand to which a little peat has 
History. 
Principal Species. 
Cultivation. 
