1736 CLII. CYPERAOE^. [Cyperm^ 



longer than the head. Spikelets very flat, pale-coloured, ovate, rarely above 1 

 line long and nearly as broad, 8 to 12-flowered, the rhachis not winged. Glumes 

 rather narrow, concave, spreading, obtuse, almost hyaline, the keel slightly 

 prominent and one faint nerve on each side. Stamens usually 1 only. Styles 

 3-cleft. Nut oblong, obtuse, obtusely triquetrous, not quite half as long as the 

 glume. — F. V. M. Fragm. viii. 271 ; Sorostacliys hyUinrjioides, Steud. Syn. Glum, 

 ii. 71 ; Ci/^ienis somxtcicliys, BoBckel. in Linnsea, xxxv. 588. 



Hab.: Gulf of Oarpentai-ia, F. v. Mueller ; Beef Creek, Leichharcit ; Gainstovd, Bou-man. 



The species is also in East India and the Malayan Archipelago. 



13. C. gracilis (slender), R. Br. ProiL 213; Benth. H. Austr. vii. 265. 

 Stems tufted, very slender, from under 6in. to nearly 1ft. high. Leavss filiform, 

 shorter than the stem, with short brown sheaths. Spikelets usually 2 to 4 or 

 rarely more together in a sessile terminal cluster or head. Involucral bracts 

 usually 3, filiform slightly dilated at the base, the longest attaining several inches. 

 Spikelets flat, oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 3 lines long, rather above 1 line broad, of a 

 pale brown or green, with 8 to 12 or rarely more flowers, the rha,cbis not- winged. 

 Glumes rather broad, somewhat acute, and rather spreading at the point, with 3 

 or 4 "prominent nerves on each side and scarcely any nerveless margins. Stamens 

 usually 8. Style 3-cleft. Nut broad, prominently 3-angled, not much shorter 

 than the glume. — F. v. M. Fragm. vjii. 264. 



Hab.: Rockingham B&y, Dallnchy ; Rockhatnpton, 0' Shanesy ; Dawson River, F. v. Mueller. 



Var. ? ricjidelln. Leaves not so slender and rather more rigid. — Head of Bojd River, 

 Leichhardt. ' 



The species is also in New Caledonia. 



14. C. enervis (nerveles.?), E. Br. Prod. 213; Bnith. Fl. Amir. vii. 266. 

 Stems tufted, slender, from under 6in. to nearly Ift. high, with filiform leaves as 

 in C. yracUia. Inflorescence the same except that the spikelets are rather more 

 numerous and rather longer with 12 to 16 flowers. Glumes bioad, loosely 

 itjibricate but not spreading, obtuse or the keel produced into a very short straight 

 point, with 1 or rarely 2 prominent nerves on each side of the keel, the broad 

 sides otherwise nerveless. Nut as in C. yraciUs not much shorter than the glume. 



Hab.: Bockinpham Bay, Dallacliy ; East Coast, H. Brou-u ; Brisbane River, herb. F. Mueller; 

 and towards Wallangarra. 



Var. laxtis. The lateral spikelets sometimes pedunculate. — Between Stanthorpe and border of 

 N.S.W. 



15. C. debilis (weak), 7?. Br. Prod. 213; Benth. Fl. Av!<tr. vii. 266. A 

 slender tufted plant with setaceous leaves and, involucral bracts, closely allied to 

 (.'. gracilis and C. enerrit, and possibly a variety of the latter. Spikelets solitary 

 or rarely 2 together, very much like those of 6\ enervia. Glumes rather broad, 

 with 1 or very rarely 2 nerves on each side of the keel and a rather broad nerve- 

 less margin. Nut broad, much shorter than the glume, acutely or at length 

 obtusely 3-angled, more or less distinctly marked with fine longitudinal striae. 



Hab.: Sometimes met with towards the Tweed River. 



16. C. laevis (smooth), 7?. Br. Prod. 213 ; Bcntli. FL Aiutr. vii. 267. Not so 

 slender as in C. enervis. Stems 1ft. high or rather more, acutely triquetrous. 

 Leaves often above 1 line broad, with thickened nerve-like edges or inflexed 

 margins. Spikelets 6 to 8 or more in a dense sessile cluster, spreading, pale- 

 coloured, flat. 3 to 4 lines long and about 1 broad when fully out, 10 to 

 20-flowered, the rhachis not winged. Glumes spreading, rather broad, the keel 

 prominent and sometimes produced into » very short point, the sides nerveless 



