246 THE TASMANIA^ FLORA. 



1. L. GLADIATA, Lob. Stems flat, generally 3 or 4 feet high and |-1 inch wide, 

 convex in the centre, flat towards the margin or sometimes flat throughout ; 

 margin acnte, but not scabrous. Leaves similar to and about as long as the 

 stems. Panicle rather dense, and often thyrsoid, 2-5 inches long, subtending 

 bract shorter than the panicle. Spikelets pale brown, 2-3 lines long. Glumes 

 obtuse or with a short point, keeled, surface rough, at least when young. 

 Hypogynous bristles lanceolate, acnte. Nut without defined angles. 



Common on sandy coasts ; also throughout Southern Australia and New South 

 Wales. 



2. L. LONGiTUDiNALE, Lab. Stems biconvex, with plain, almost obtuse, 

 margins, generally twisted, 3-5 feet high, 2-4 lines broad. Leaves similar. 

 Panicle erect, linear, interrupted, 6 inches to 1 foot long. Spikelets numerous, 

 in rather dense clusters, pale brown, 2-3 lines long. Glumes obtuse or with 

 short points. Nut about 1 line long, the angles not apparent. Scales lanceolate, 

 acute, united in pairs, f-f as long as the nut. 



Veiy common in brackish and fresh swamps ; also throughout South and East 

 Australia. 



3. L. SQDAMATA, Lab. Stems 1-2 feet high, flat, or concave on one side and 

 convex on the other, 2-4 lines wide, margin minutely scabrous. Leaves similar 

 to but shorter than the stems. Panicle short, rather dense, pyramidal or oblong, 

 the subtending bract generally as long as or longer than the panicle. Spikelets 

 crowded in linear clusters, slender, about 3 lines long. Glumes obtuse, except 

 the prominent rib extended into a short point, rough. ' Nut about | line long. 

 Scales thinner than in most species, with delicate ciliate points, about half as 

 long as the nut. L. laterals, Hook. "Fl. Tas. ;" also referred to L. concava, 

 R.Br. 



Common in sandy places, chiefly near the coagt ; also throughout Eastern and 

 Southern Australia. 



4. L. ELATTOR, Lab. Very variable. Stems 3-6 feet, 2-4 lines broad, 

 biconvex, the margins thin, minutely rough. Leaves sinailar. Panicle 8-18 

 inches long, interrupted, the branches short and erect when growing in open 

 country, much extended and drooping in shade ; subtending bract leafy, and 

 from short to much exceeding the inflorescence. Spikelets pale to dark brown, 

 \\-2 lines long." Glumes few, minutely rough, the midrib prominent and 

 extended into a short point. Nut |-1 line long. Scales in most specimens 

 lanceolate and very short. 



Very common ; also in Victoria and South Australia. 



The following are fairly well marked varieties : — 



Var. ensiformis. Similar to the more luxuriant specimens of the type, 

 but the leaves are quite flat and |-1 inch broad. Scales very long and 

 slender. 



Var. oldfieldii. Similar to the robust forms of the type, only the glumes 

 are dark brown, and panicle branches are erect and dense. Scales half 

 as long as the nut, with delicate ciliate points. L. oldfieldii, H. 



6. L. LATERALS, H. Br. Very variable. Stems 1-4 feet, flat, or convex with 

 flat margins, or convex throughout ; edges in the shorter forms minutely scabrous, 

 in the taller smooth ; always narrow, 2-3 lines broad. Leaves similar. Panicle 

 1-8 inches, loose and interrupted, the branches erect in the smaller, much- 

 spreading in the taller specimens. Subtending bracts short. Spikelets pale, 

 with a few not very pointed glumes, about 3 lines long in the smaller, erect, 

 panicled forms, \\ line in the tali looser ones. Nut 1-1| line, shining. Scales 

 nearly as long as the nut, narrow, ciliate. L. roncaoa, H., L. globosa. Lab., 

 L. angustifolid , H., included. 



Very common ; also South-East and East Australia. 



