CYPERACEAE 109 



to a simple head. Spikes globose, the spikelets spreading, fascicled, linear- 

 oblong, brownish, sessile, 1 to 1.5 cm long. Glumes 10 to 50, ovate, obtuse, 

 2 mm long. Nut ellipsoid, somewhat compressed, apiculate, about 1 mm 

 long. 



In open grass lands, La Loma, fl. Nov.-Jan.; of local occurrence in the 

 Philippines. Temperate and tropical parts of the Old World. 



JUNCELLUS C. B. Clarke 



Stems erect, tufted, leafy only near the base, the inflorescence umbellate 

 or capitate, subtended by leaf-like bracts. Spikelets compressed. Glumes 

 many, in two ranks, imbricate, concave, the first two empty, the others 

 with perfect flowers, the uppermost ones empty. Stamens 3 or 2. Nut 

 plano-convex, broad, the plane f^ee* against the rachilla; style-branches 2. 

 (Diminutive of Juneus, the Latin name of the rush.) 



Species about 12, in all warm countries, 1 in the Philippines. 



1. J. pygmaeus (Rottb.) C. B. Clarke. 



An annual, tufted, glabrous plant, 3 to 20 cm high, the stems usually 

 numerous.. Leaves thin, 10 cm long or less, 1 t6 2 mm wide. Inflorescence 

 capitate, heads solitary, 1 cm in diameter or less. Spikelets very numerous, 

 about 5 mm long,, the glumes about 20, oblong-lanceolate, 2 mm long. 

 Nut oblong-ellipsoid, about 1- mm long. 



In open gravelly soil near Culiculi, fl. March-May; of local occurrence in 

 the Philippines. All warm countries. 



4. CYPERUS Linnaeus 



Coarse or slender, tufted or scattered, erect, annual or perennial plants, 

 the stems leafy only at the base, the bracts leaf-like. Inflorescence um- 

 bellate or capitate. Spikelets linear or oblong, compressed, the rachilla 

 persistent. Glumes distichous, the first two empty, the succeeding ones 

 bisexual, seriatim deciduous. Nut 3-angled or plano-convex; style 3-fid. 

 (Ancient Greek name.) 



More than 300 species" in all warm countries, about 21 in the Philippines. 



1. Spikelets digitate or clustered, not spicate or racemose. 

 2. Low slender annuals, the leaves less than 5 nlm wide. 



3. Nuts about as long as the glumes „.. 1. C. difformis 



3. Nuts very much shorter than the glumes ; 2. C. haspan 



2. Perennials, the leaves or bracts 5 to 20 mm in width. 

 3. Coarse, erect, leafless at the base; cultivated only. 



3. C. flabelUformia 

 3. Basal leaves numerous, equaling or longer than the stems. 



4. C diffuaua 

 1. Spikelets spicately or subracemosely arranged. 

 2. Rachilla of spikelets not at all or obscurely winged. 

 3. Tufted annuals; mostly slender plants. 

 4. Spikelets 3 to 10 mm long;, glumes about 1.2 mm long, oboyate, 



the nuts as long as the glumes 5. C. iria 



4. Spikelets 10 to 30 mm long; glumes about 3.5 mm long, promi- 

 nently acuminate, much longer than the nuts — 6. C. compreaatia 

 3. Perennials with woody rootstocks and often long stolons; coarse 

 plants. 

 4. Rachis of the spikes pubescent; spikelets 5 to 10 mm long, com- 

 pressed 7- C. piloawa 



