Cifpents.] CLII. CYPERACE^. 1749 



56. Gi esculentus (edible), Linn. Sp. PL G7. " Mangaru," Boiilia, 

 "Makbra," Gloncurry, liut/i. Root orefeping, branched, bearing tubers. Stem 

 triangular, smoothj leafy only at the base. Leaves as long as the stem or 

 loiiwei*! 'somewhat obaniielled, rough particularly towards the summit and along 

 the k^el ; floral leaves 4 to 6, longer than the ample oir compound umbel. 

 Peduncles 7 to 10, the longer of these spreadin'gly branched towards the upper 

 end. Spikelets yellow or yellowish-brown, 11 to 14, disposed in spikes, lanceolate 

 or linear, coinpressed, each with 10 to 18 flowers. Bracts ovale-ellipticalj 

 k^ried, bluht or hardly pointed, 7 to 9-nerved, yellowish-brown, green towards 

 the keel.' Nut ellipticalj triangular, somewhat apiculated, grey-brown, about 

 half as long as the bract ;' rhachis membranous at the edges: 



Hab.: Near the Queensland border' ot "New South Wales, F. v. SI. 



The nut ^t»ss often met with on down'countij-, not so troublesome as C. rotundvs. 



Tubers eaten raw or roasted.— iJ?dt7(, .: 



56. C. Bowmanii (after E. Bowman), F. i\ M. ; Benth. Fl. Aitstr. vii. 

 287. ' Sterns^ tufted; very 'slender, 1 to l^ft. high.., Leaves mijph shorter, 

 very narrow. . Sjoikelets in short close spikes in an umbel of few slendir rays, 

 the longest about 2in. long, the whole inflorescence sometimes reduced to the 

 central sessile spike. Livolucral bracts few, very narrow, l,or2 rather longer 

 than the inflorescence.: ; Spikelets rather numerous, lipear-terete, almost subulate, 

 flexuose,. 6 to 9 lines _long and ending iji a fine point, 6 to, 10-flowered, the 

 rhachis bordered by ihyaline wings. Glumes distant, closely a^spressed to the 

 rhachis, obtuse or scarcely acute, with a green rather broad keel, the sides 

 brown and-finely several-nerved. Style 3-cleft., Nut, narrow, triquetrous, more 

 than] half as long' as- the glume, closely embraced within it by the, wings of the 

 rhachis. > '-■ i . , i - - 



, Hab.:. Brisbane River, Moretoj;i,Bay, Bailey, Leic}\]iardt (the latter with rather broader leaves) ; 

 Herbert's Creek, Bowman; Gracemere, O'Shanesij. 



, 57. C. itrichpstachys (spike-hairy), 'Boith. FL ' Aiistr. yii. 287." ''^ Steins 

 sijbut,. about 2ft. high, prominently o-angled but quite smooth. Leaves mostly 

 longer an'd rather broad. Spikelets in loose spikes of -^ to fin. in a large 

 umbel of numerouS(, rays, the longer ones often 4 to 5in. long. Involucre of 

 several long bracts, the outer ones often 8 lines broad. Spikelets linear- 

 filiform, spreading, 2 to 3 or rarely 4 lines long, usually 3 or 4-flowered, the 

 rhachis flexuose and bordered by hyaline wings. Glumes distant, closely 

 appressed .to the rhacbis, very narrow, acute. Style 3-cleft. Nut much shorter 

 than the glume, very na.rrow, closely embraced by the wings of the rhachis. 

 Hab,:.Kookingham Bay, Dallachy. 



58. C. leiocaulon (stem smooth), Benth. FL Austr. vii. 287. Stems rather 

 slender, usually about 1ft. high, obtusely triquetrous, quite ■ smQoth. Leaves 

 much shorter, narrow. Spikelets in ovoidTglobular rather dense spikes or rather 

 looser andi nearly '|in. long, in a simple umbel of about 4 to,6^rays, the longest 

 Ito 2in. long. Involucre of few bracts ; not much longer tharwthe; inflorescence. 

 SpikelefcSj'linear-terete, at length flexuose and 3 or sometimes 4 lines long, with 

 ■about 3 flowers, the rhachis bordered by hyaline wings. Flowering-glumes 

 narrow*, distant, closely appressed to the rhachis, striate with several nerves, 

 theterminal one oftpn empty or with an imperfect flower. Style 3-cleft. Nut 

 narrow, closely embraced by the wings of the rhachis. • The spikelet falling away 

 usually carrying off, the second empty glume. — Mariscus Icevis, R. Br. Prod. 218. 



Hab.: jCape York, DacjjJcZ;. Eoekhampton, 0'57ia)iesj/. 



A'ery nearly allied to the following and possibly a variety only. Some specimens from 

 Erid^avoui Eiver, Banlts and Solander, appear almost intermediate between the two. — Benth. 



Pakt VI. E 



