1746 CLII, CYPERACE^. [CyperUs. 



rather acute, concave, slightly keeled only above the middle, very obscurely 

 nerved. Style 3-cleft. Nut obovoid, prominently 3-angled, nearly half the 

 length of the glume. — F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 263 ; C. canescens, Vahl ; Bceckel. in 

 Linnffia, xxxvi. 340; C. ventricosus, E. Br. Prod. 217. 



Hab.: Broadsound, i?. -Bra?™; Port Moll e, M'GiUivray; Cape York, Daemel; Eockhampton, 

 Thozet, O'Shanesy (with rather long spikelets) ; Broadwater, Eaves. 



52. C. exaltatus (tall), Rett.; Kitnth. Emim. ii. 70; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 vii. 286. Stem stout, 1 to 3ft. high. Leaves often longer, rdther broad, but 

 tapering into a long narrow point. Spikelets numerous, in loose spikes of 1 to 

 2in. in a large usually compound umbel of many rays, the longer ones often 

 3 or 4in. long. Involucral of few bracts, 1 or 2 much longer than the inflores- 

 cence. Spikelets linear, flat, of a shining brown or rarely pale and greenish, 

 usually 2 to 4 lines long and scarcely 1 line broad, with 10 to 20-flowers, the 

 rhachis bordered by hyaline wings often deciduous, the spikelets sometimes 

 lengthening to \m. with about 80 flowers and then when old appearing stipitate, 

 the nuts with the glumes and wings of the rhachis having fallen away. Glumes 

 closely imbricate, broad, the keel prominent and produced into a very short point 

 with 2 or 3 obscure nerves on each side, the nerveless margins -broad and 

 rounded. Style 3-cleft. Nut prominently 3-angled, less than half the length 

 of the glume. — Boeckel. in Linnsa, xxxvi. 319; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 263; C. 

 venusttis, R. Br. Prod. 217. 



Hab.: Keppel Bay, It. Brown ; Port Denison, Fitzalan (with long narrow spikelets) ; 

 Eoekingham Bay, Dalhchy ; Eockhampton and numeious localities in the south. 

 The species extends over Ea^t India and the Malayan Archipelago. 



53. C. digitatus (finger-like), Ro:di. Fl. Ind. i. 205. Ehizome short 

 and thick. Stems stout, triquetrous, 1 to 3ft. high, the angles acute 

 and sometimes almost winged under the inflorescence. Leaves rather^ broad, 

 often as long as or longer than the stem, with long broad sheaths and ending 

 in long narrow points. Spikelets .in elongated spikes in a compound umbel of 

 many rays, the longer ones often 3in. long. Involucral bracts several, 2 of them 

 much longer than the inflorescence. Spikelets spreading, linear-terete or scarcely 

 flattened, pale-coloured, usually 3 to 6 lines long but sometimes twice as long, 

 I to f line broad, 12 to 20-flowered, the rhachis bordered by hyaline wings. 

 Glumes imbricate, narrow, shortly pointed, the keel prominent and obscurely 

 8-nerved, the nerveless sides pale brown or almost hyaline. Style 8-cleft. Nut 

 oblong, obtuse, triquetrous, much shorter than the glume.— F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 

 263; C. ramsJMs, Kunth, Enum. ii. 68, Boecliel. in liinnffia, xxxvi. 316, not of 

 R. Br. ; C. aiiricomun, Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 286. 



Hab.: Eoekingham Bay, Dallachy; Port Curl is, M'Gillivrai/ ; King's Creek, Bowman. 

 Ahundant in tropical Asia, extending to the South Pacific Islands and into tropical Africa. 



54. C. ferax (fertile), Rich. ; Kimth, Kmim. ii. 89 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 

 286. Stems usually stout, 1 to 3ft. high, acutely or obtusely 3-angled. Leaves 

 shorter or rarely as long as the stem. Spikelets numerous, in elongated spikes 

 in a large compound umbel of numerous rays, the longest often 6 to 8in. long. 

 Involucral bracts several, long and sometimes broad. Spikelets linear-terete, 

 very spreading, 5 to 10 lines long, mostly 6 to 10-flowered, the rhachis flexuose, 

 bordered by hyahne wings and at length articulate below the lowest flowering 

 glume and sometimes between each glume. Glumes distant, but closely 

 appressed to the rhachis, narrow obtuse or almost acute, concave, scarcely keeled, 

 7 or 9-nerved Style 3-clef. Nut obovoid-oblong, obtusely triquetrous, half as 

 long as the glume and closely embraced within it by the wings of the rliachis.- 

 Boeckel. in Linnasa, xxxvi. 399 ; C. pennatus, Bceckel. I.e. 404 not of Lam ■> 

 0'fi^.J?'' '^""'°' '"'"'''"'"'y' M°«"' Elliott and Daintree m.er,' Fitz.lan; Gracemere. 



Widely spread over the tropical regions of the New and the Old World. 



