236 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



Bracts acute, pale. 



Bracts subtending the spike] ets large and loose ... 2. R. australis. 

 Subtending bracts becoming small, closely 

 adpressed... ... ... ... ... ... 3. R. gracilis. 



1. R. OLTGOCEPHALDS, F. 0. M. Stsms erect from a creeping rbizome, simple 

 at least below the inflorescence, 6 inches to 1 foot high. Bracts sheathing but 

 loose, with a truncated, usually woolly, apex, smooth, |-| inch. Spikelets usually- 

 few, in an interrupted spike, or rarely a panicle, sometimes solitary. Male 

 spikelets \-\ inch long, narrow-oblong, the glumes with a woolly tip when 

 youag ; perianth flat, about 2 lines long ; the onter side segments folded 

 narrowly, keeled, and woolly towards the apex. Female spikelets broadly oblono- 

 to spherical, 5- inch long ; perianth 1^ line long; 'side segments folded, but not 

 keeled. Ovai'y about I line long, with very short curved styles, flat. Staminodia 

 seldom present. R. monocephahis, R. Br. 



Common on damp heaths in numerous localities. 



The plant is very variable, and the form I here treat as var. glabrum 

 would be worthy of specific rank were it not for the intermediate form. 



Var. iNTERMEDius. Similar to the type, only the female as well as the 

 male spikelets are narrow -oblong, and the styles are about as long as 

 the ovary, 1-2 feet high. Kingston, Longley. 



Var. GLABEUM. Similar in general details to the type, but without the 

 woolly tips to the bracts, glumes, or perianth-segments, seldom 

 exceeding 6 inches, and fairly consistently bearing but 1 spikelet. Bracts 

 sheathing at the base, but loose and spreading, striate, ^-| inch long, 

 the apex .3-lobed, the central one l-.S lines long and subulate, side ones 

 shorter and membranous. Spikelets the same size as in the type, but 

 both sexes narrow-oblong. Male perianth about 1 line long, flat. 

 Female perianth about 1 line long, the outer segments slightly flattened. 

 Ovary |-|- line long. Styles slender, much exceeding it Staminodia 

 always present. Near Kingston. 



2. R. ADS'i'RALis, R. Br. Stems simple, erect, from a creeping rootstock, 1-2 

 feet high, rather robust. Bracts closely sheathing at the base, loose above, 

 obtuse, about 1 inch long. Spikelets similar in both sexes, broadly to narrowly 

 oblong, about f inch long, mostly on short slender stalks, forming a spike-like 

 interrupted panicle. Glumes lanceolate, with slender spreading points. Perianth 

 in both sexes flat, about 2 lines long, the side pair of segments folded. Ovary 

 2-celled. 



Common in wet heaths and on mountain-tops ; also in New South Wales and 

 Victoria. 



3. R. GRACILIS, R. Br. Very close to R. australis. Stems 2-3 feet high. 

 Bracts closely appressed. Spikelets similar, narrow- oblong, rather numerous, in 

 an interrupted, spreading, branched panicle. Glumes lanceolate, with slender 

 spreading points. Flowers as in R. australii. 



Recherche, Anson Marsh, near George's Bay ; also in Queensland, New South 

 Wales, and Victoria. 



4. R. COMPLANATUS, R. Br. Stems tufted, with fibrous roots, erect, simple, 

 flattened, a few inches to 3 feet high. Bracts pale, closely appressed, f-1 inch 

 long. Spikelets on slender stalks, in a loose, interrupted, compound panicle. Male 

 spikelets oblong, 2-3 lines long ; glumes ovate, with slender spreading points ; 

 perianth-segments 4, linear, about 1 line long ; stamens 2. Female spikelets 

 fewer, longer, and narrower than the males, the slender points of the glumes not 

 spreading; perianth-segments 4, rather unequal, glume-like, and imbricated. 

 Ovary '2-celled. 



