1750 CLII. CYPEEACE^. [Cyperta. 



59. C. scaber (rough), Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 288. Stems 1 to 2ft. high or 

 rather more, triquetrous and usually very scabrous on the angles. Leaves usually 

 shorter but sometimes longer than the stem. Spikeleta in ovoid or shortly 

 cylindrical spikes, in a compound umbel with numerous rays, the longest 2 to 

 Gin. long, the branches or partial rays divaricate. Involucral bracts several, often 

 very long, the outer ones 2 to 3 lines broad. Spikeleta slender, terete and ofteo 

 curved, either 1 -flowered and abou*; 2 lines long or flexuose with a second flower 

 or empty glume at the end of the lower one, the rhachis within the glume 

 bordered by hyaline wings, two outer empty glumes much narrower than in C. 

 umheUatm, flowering glume or glumes narrow, striate, closely appressed to the 

 rhachis. Style 3- cleft. Nut narrow, triquetrous, closely embraced by the wings 

 of the rhachis. — ^lariscus scaber, E. Br. Prod. 218. 



Hab,: Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown; Rockingham Bay, Daltachy; Percy Island, Walter. 



This and the preceding species, although formerly placed in Mariscus, have all the characters 

 of Uiclidium, with the second and third flowering glumes always distant, not 0¥«rlapped by 

 the lower one as in the section Mariscus. — Benth. 



60. C. decompositus (decompound), F. c M. Fragm. viji. 267 ; Benth, FL 

 Aiistr. vii. 288. Stems prominently 3-angIed, several ft. high. Leaves very 

 long, 3 to 4 lines broad. Spikeletg in very numerous small globular clusters 

 in a very compound umbal with numerous rays, the longest 4 to 6in. long. 

 Bracts of the general involucre like the leaves, often 2ft. long or more and 

 8 to 4 lines broad with scabrous edges, those of the secondary and 

 tertiary umbels small and setacious. Spikelets not above 1^ line long, narrow- 

 ovoid, usually with 2 perfect flowers, the short rhachis bordered by broad hyaline 

 wings. Glumes usually 5, imbricate, broad and striate, the two lower and the 

 terminal one empty. Style 3-cleft. Nut ovoid, triquetrous, more than half the 

 length of the glume. — Mariscus decompositus, E. Br. Prod. 218. 



Hab.: Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown ; Endeavour Eiver, Banks and Solander, A. Cunningham ; 

 Rockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



61. C. Armstrongii (after — . Armstrong), Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 289. 

 Stems from a thick tufted base varying from under 1ft. to near 2ft. high, stout 

 and triquetrous. Leaves rather broad and sometimes very long. Spikelets in 

 cylindrical spikes in a more or less compound umbel of numerous but not long 

 rays. Involucral bracts long, rather rigid, sometimes 2 to 3 lines broad. 

 Spikelets very numerous but not closely packed, spreading, narrow oblong, 

 scarcely more than 1 line long, mostly with 1 perfect flower. Glumes imbricate, 

 4 or 5, the lowest small empty and persistent, the second empty but half as long 

 as the flowering one and falling off with it, the third or flowering glume rather 

 acute, finely striate, enclosing the short winged rhachis, the fourth glume shortly 

 protruding, usually enclosing a male flower and sometimes a second male flower 

 and glume above it. Style 3-cleft. Nut ovoid-oblong, triquetrous, nearly as 

 long as the glume. 



Hab.: Percy Islands, A. Ounningham ; Rockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



62. C. umbellatus (flowers in umbels), Benth. Fl. Homjk. 386, and Fl. 

 AuUr. vii. 289. Stems from under 1ft. to nearly 2ft. high, triquetrous, smooth. 

 Leaves variable, narrow or rather broad, shorter or longer than the stem. 

 Spikelets very numerous, in close cylindrical spikes of | to lin. all sessile or 

 mostly pedunculate in a simple umbel or very rarely 1 or 2 of them branched at 

 the base. Involucral bracts usually several, much longer than the inflorescence, 

 the outer ones sometimes 2 or 3 lines broad. Spikelets spreading, linear- terete, 

 li to 2 lines long, almost always 1 -flowered. Two outer glumes short and 

 empty, both usually attached below the articulation ; flowering glume occupying 

 the whole spikelet, enclosing the flower and a continuation of the rhachis which 

 with its wings assumes the appearance of an empty scarious glume. Style 



