248 THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



Leaves well-developed. 



Leaves and stem square ... ... ... ... 2. C tetraquetrum. 



Leaves flat, smooth, erect ... ... ... ... 3. C. schtenoides. 



Leaves flat, involute, tapering and drooping ... fe. Cfilum. 



(Baron von Mueller occasionally in his vrorks suppressed the genus, and 

 placed the species in Oahnia.) 



1. C. GLOME BATHM, -R. Sr. Stems from a creeping rhizome, terete, rather 

 slender, 1-3 feet high. Leaves terete, much shorter than the stem, mostly 

 reduced to the sheath. Inflorescence an interrupted compound panicle, the 

 spikelets gathered into more or less dense stalked clusters, ^-1| inch diameter, 

 the subtending bracts broad and short. Spikelets about 2 lines long. Glumes 

 few, acute. Stamens 3. Style -branches 3. Nut 1-1| line long, dark, shining, 

 angles hardly marked. 



In many localities, on the borders of swamps ; also throughout Australia, and 

 extending from the Indian Archipelago to New Zealand. 



2. C. TBTBAQDETRUM, Hook. Stems 1-3 or 4 feet high, irregularly angled 

 or nearly terete. Leaves often as long as the stems, irregularly 4-angled, the 

 outer reduced to the sheaths, one inner one, with a long sheathing base, reaching 

 half-way up the stem, and a very short lamina. Inflorescence an interrupted, 

 loose, much -branched panicle, 2-4 inches long. Spikelets numerous, each one (as 

 well as the branches) subtended by small bract, lanceolate, about 2 lines long, 

 with a single flower. Glumes acute, few. Stamens 3. Style-branches 3. Nut 

 I^ line long, with a distinct cushion-like apex. Lepidoaperma tetragona, Lab. 



Common in numerous moist situations ; also in New South Wales, "Victoria, 

 and South Australia. 



3. C. sch.s;noides, R. 'Br. Tufted. Stems mostly 6-12 inches high, flat or 

 convex, about I line broad, margins obtuse. Leaves similar to and generally 

 longer than the stems. Inflorescence an interrupted panicle, the clusters of 

 spikelets generally rather dense, 1-4 inches long ; glumes subtending the branches, 

 long and leaf -like, or about as short as the panicle ; the common rhachis 

 generally flexuose. Spikelets numerous, except in starved specimens, lanceolate, 

 2 lines long, with a solitary flower. Glumes few, narrow, acute. Stamens 3. 

 Style-branches 3. Nut black, polished, obscurely 3-angled, | line long ; when 

 ripe generally hanging from the panicle, and supported by the persistent 

 filaments. 



Common on sandy heaths ; also throughout Eastern and Southern Australia. 



4. C. GUNNll, Sook. Stems terete, slender, mostly 1-2 feet high. Leaves all 

 reduced to sheathing bases, or sometimes 1 or 2 with a stem- like lamina. 

 Inflorescence a narrow, erect, interrupted panicle. Spikelets few, not collected 

 into clusters, about .3 lines long, with a solitary flower. Glumes few, narrow, 

 acute. Stamens 3. Nut obtusely 3-angled, polished, with a cushion-like apex. 

 C laaiijlorum. Hook, (included). 



Found occasionally in swampy localities ; near New Norfolk, Formosa, Mersey 

 River, Evandale, Remine, Ac. ; also in New South Wales, Victoria, and South 

 Australia, and extending to New Zealand. 



5. C. JDNCEtJM, -B. Br. Stems erect, from a creeping rhizome, terete, rush-like, 

 the surface pale and minutely striate, generally 1-2 feet high. Leaves reduced 

 to their closed sheaths, a few at the base and often 1 or 2 dispersed on the stem. 

 Inflorescence a short, erect, interrupted or compact, spike-like panicle. Spikelets 

 few, about 2^ lines long, with a solitary flower. Glumes in 2 opposite rows, the 

 keel prominent and ciliate, acute ; occasionally a small glume, and rarely a 

 staminate flower, above the perfect one. Stamens 3. Nut black, polished, | line 

 long, globose, with an obscure cushion-like apex. 



Common in wet heaths and sandy swamps. It occurs throughout Australia, 

 and spreads to New Zealand. 



