THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 235 



long ; flowers numerousi; periantli of- 6 unequal segments, the two outer ones 

 folded and keeled ; next, one flat, lanceolate, and acute ; the inner 3 shorter and 

 obtuse. Female spikelets few, in a terminal raceme, or solitary, 3-4 lines long ; 

 perianth of 6 equal segments. Nuts ovate, about 2 lines long. Calostrophus 

 fastigiatus, F. v. M. 



Common on many wet heaths ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia, and Queensland. 



3. LEPTOCARPUS. 



Perianth-segments 6 or fewer, unequal. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 pendulous 

 ovule. Flowers dioecious; the males small, within imbricating glumes, in many- 

 flowered spikelets ; females usually in few-flowered erect spikelets, with numerous 

 ■outer empty glumes. Fruit splitting when ripe. 



A small genus, widely spread in the Southern Hemisphere. 



Male spikelets 1-2 lines long ; female erect, free, 



^ inch long ... ... ... ... ... ... 1. L. tenax. 



Male spikelets narrow, ^ inch long ; females massed 



together in clusters, each 2-3 lines long... ... 2. L. brorvnii. 



1. L. TENAX, R. Br. Stems very numerous, from a creeping base, slender, 2-3 

 feet high, simple, with closely-appressed bracts at intervals, about \ inch long. 

 Male spikelets very numerous, in a loose, drooping, compound panicle ; spikelets 

 oblong, about 2 lines long, outer glumes empty ; perianth-segments about -^ line 

 long, the outer pair folded and slightly keeled. , Female spikelets few or many, 

 in an erect, rather dense, panicle, the lowest branches often distant ; spikelets 

 stalked, about | inch long, many outer empty glumes ; perianth-segments about 

 1^-2 lines long, linear, the outer pair folded and acutely keeled above or 

 throughout. 



Very common, principally on damp heaths ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, 

 South Australia, and West Australia. 



2. L. BEOWNii, Hook. Stems few or many from a creeping base, slender, 

 simple, 1-3 feet high, with closely-appressed bracts at intervals, about \ inch 

 long. Male spikelets linear, oblong, about g inch long, few, in a drooping 

 panicle ; flowers in most of the glumes ; perianth hardly 1 line long, the 

 segments linear, the outer pair folded, rather longer and acnter than the inner 

 ■ones. Female spikelets numerous, sessile, compacted in clusters, and forming 

 together a rather dense thyrgoid panicle ; spikelets few-flowered, each 

 surrounded by 2 or 3 barren glumes ; perianth-segments unequal, glume-like, 

 and closely overlapping, the innermost smallest. L. .iimplex, R. Br. (in error). 



Very common in marshy places, also occasionally on sandhills. It occurs 

 also in Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales. 



4. RBSTIO. 



Perianth of •4-6 unequal segments. Ovary 2 or 3-celled, with 1 pendulous 

 ovule in each. Flowers dioecious, numerous, in spikelets, each flower contained 

 in an imbricating bract, the spikelets not conspicuously differing with sex. Fruit 

 2-celted and flat, or 3-celled and 3-angled, splitting along the margins or 

 angles. 



A large genus, confined to South Africa and Australia. 



Barren stems much divided into ultimately filiform 



branches ... ... ... ... ... ... 5. M. tetraphyllm. 



Stems somewhat flat ... ... ... ... ... 4: R. complanatus. 



Stems cylindrical, undivided. 



Bracts blunt, dark brown ... ... ... ... 1. R. oligocephalux. 



