THE TAgMANIAN FLQR^. 247 



The species is distinct in the type form, but passes without a break into 

 L.Mneare, R. Br. The tall, loose, flowered form is commonly referred 

 to L. elatior. Lab. 



6. L. EiNEAEE, M. Br. A small variable species. Stems mostly under 1 foot tall 

 and under 2 lines diameter, convex, the margin nearly obtuse. Leaves similar, 

 often exceeding the stems. Panicle narrow, linear, interrupted, 1 -If inch long. 

 Spikelets few, pale, about 2 lines long, free or clustered. Subtending bract 

 shorter or longer than the panicle. Glumes glabrous or nearly so, acute. 

 Nut about I line long, the angles with pale lines, but not very conspicuous. 

 Scales broad and short under the nut. 



, , Common in stony pastures ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia. 



Var. inops. Plant densely clustered, 2-4 inches high. Stems and leaves 

 nearly flat, \ line wide. Panicle ireduced to 2 or 4 spikelets on short 

 stems, the bracts leafy, the outer one erect and often 2 inches long. 

 Near Waterworks (Hobart), Sorell Creek, &c. 



7. L. TORTUOSUM, F. V. M. Stems about 1 foot high, generally falcate and 

 sub-decumbent, ^-1 line wide, convex, with minutely scabrous margins. Leaves 

 similar to, but generally shorter than, the stems. Panicle |-1 inch long, the 

 branches few, sometimes bearing clusters, but more often the spikelets solitary 

 and the rhachis flexuose ; subtending bract generally very short, rarely as long 

 as the panicle. Spikelets dark brown, about 3 lines long. Glumes few, obtuse 

 or rarely nearly acute, the two inner ones much exceeding the outer ones, and 

 spreading when in fruit. Nut about i line long, with prominent white angles. 

 Scales lanceolate, j-g as long as the nut. 



Common in many heathy districts ; Huon Road; Kingston,' &c. ; also in 

 Victoria. 



8. L. riLlFOBME, Lab. Stems densely tufted, slender, terete, 1-2 or even 3 feet 

 high. Leaves similar bat shorter, sometimes reduced to the long broad sheaths. 

 Spikelets pale, 4 or 5 lines long, slender, each contained in a bract as long as 

 itself, usaally 3-6 together, in a loose terminal spike about 1-2 inches long. 

 Glumes few, narrow, obtuse or slightly acute. Nut IJ line long, narrow- 

 oblong, the angles white. Scales short, acute. 



Common in damp sandy heaths ; also in Victoria, South Australia, and New 

 South Wales. 



11. CLADIUM. 



Spikelets with 1 or more flowers, but usually the lowest only fertile. Glumes 

 few, imbricate all round the rhachis, the one bearing the fertile flower usually 

 the largest. No hypogynous bristles. Stamens usually 3. Style slender, 

 deciduous. Nut oblong or 3-angled, with a cushion-like apex in some species. 

 Inflorescence varied, generally in compound panicles, each branch and spikelet 

 subtended by a bract. 

 Widely spread in both Hemispheres. 



The forms are various, and have in consequence given rise to many generic 

 appellations. C. mariscus, R. Br., is included in Hook. " Fl. Tas.," but 

 its presence in Tasmania seems more than doubtful. It is consequently 

 omitted. 



Leaves much shorter than the stem, often obsolete. 



Spikelets numerous, in dense clusters ... ... 1. C. glomeratum. 



Spikelets numerous, in a loose-branched interrupted 

 panicle ... ... ... ■•• ••• ••■ 4. C. gunnii. 



Spikelets few, at the ends of rigid stems ... ... 5. C.junceum. 



