1754 CLII. CYPEKACE/E. [Kyllinga. 



1. H. (B.) sphacelata (withered), i?. Br. Prod. 224 ; Bcnth. II. Austr. 

 vii. 292. "Ma-bil," Cooktown, " Ari-ira," Musgrave Eiver, " Panje-a," 

 Batavia Eiver ; " Bulkuru," TuUy River, Both ; " Kaya," Rockhampton, TJiozet^ 

 Rhizome creeping or stoloniferous. Stems from under 2ft. to 4 or 5ft. high, 2 

 to 5 lines diameter, terete but appearing articulate from internal transverse 

 septa, the principal nodes ^ to lin. distant, but several minor ones often 

 appearing between them. Spikelet cylindrical, 1 to ^va. long; 2 to 4 linea 

 diameter. Glumes closely imbricate, broadly obovate, very obtuse, scarcely 

 striate but sometimes faintly 1-nerved, bordered by a parrow Bcarious margin 

 and immediately under it by a brown zone or dark line. Hypogynous bristles 

 6 to 9, usually longer than the nut. Style branche8r2 or S. .Nut rather broad,. 

 minutely pitted or granular but not distinctly striate;, the ' flattened beak rather- 

 narrow, with a narrow ring round its base. — Kunth, Enum. ii. 154 ; Bceckel. 

 in Linnsea, xxxvi. 475 ; Hook. f. FI. Tasm. ii, 85 ; F. v. M. Fragm. viii. 239; 

 Scirpiis sphacelatiis, Bpreng. Syst. i. 204; Heleocharis plantaginca, F. v. M. 

 Fragm. viii. 238, not of R^ Br. 



Hab.: Gulf of Carpentaria, J7. Isrmm ; Kockhampton (the tubers of the rhizome nlimeutary> 

 O'Shanesy ; Brisbane Eiver, Haiky. 



Tubers eaten raw ; or baked first and then roasted ; stems used for making diUy-bngs and 

 mats. — Roth. 



2. H. (B.) spiralis (spiral), R. Br. ; Kiinth, Enum. ii. 153 ; Bentli. Fl. 

 Ansti. vii. 292. Stems ahnost terete or more or less triquetrous, continuous, 

 inside, 1+ to 3ft. high. Spikelets cylindrical, J to lin. long, about 2 lin-es. 

 diameter, pale-coloured or almost white. Glumes broadly ovate, closely 

 imbricate, with a spiral arrangement more evident than in any other specieSf 

 very faintly striate, very obtuse, with a narrow scarions margin which at 

 length disappears. Hypogynous bristles about 6, glabrous or scarcely appearing 

 scarious under a strong lens.- Styles branches 2 or 3. Nut obovate, compressed 

 biconvex, the beak or persistent base of the style shortly conical. — Bceckel. in 

 Linnrea, xxxvi. 473 ; Scirpus spiralis, Eottb. Deer, et Ic. PI. 45, t. 15 f. 1. 



Hab. : Tarampa Creek. 



The species is dispersed over the tropical regions of both the New and the Old World, bvit 

 chiefly in tropical America. 



3. H. (B.) variegata (variegated), Kuntli, Enum. ii. 153 ; Bcnth. Fl. Austr. 

 vii. 293. Stems obtusely triquetrous or nearly terete, continuous inside, frona 

 under 1ft. to nearly 2ft. high, usually 1 to 2 lines_but when luxuriant 8 lines 

 diameter. Sheathing scale oblique and appressed at the orifice. Spikelets 

 cylindrical, from Wn. long when in flower to nearly lin. when in fruit, 1^ to 2|- 

 lines diameter. Glumes from very broadly ovate to obovate-obloug, very obtuse^ 

 not keeled, many-nerved, with a narrow scarious border, either wholly pale 

 coloured or with a dark line within the border. Hypogynous bristles usually 

 about G, very unequal in length. Style-branches 2 or 3. Nut biconvex, broad^ 

 striate and slightly transversely rugose, the beak or persistent base of the 

 style narrow-conical, flattened, with a broad annular base. — Bceckel. in Linn»a, 

 xxxvi. 470 ; Scirpiis rariepatus, 'Po\r. Diet, \i.li9 ; H.fE.) Sieberi, Kunth, I.e. 

 H. (E.J compacta, E. Br. Prod. 224 ; F. v. M, Fragm. viii. 239 ; Scirpu» 

 compactiis, Spreng. Syst. i. 202. 



Hab.: Eockingham Bay, Dallachy , Narran Eiver, SUtehell. 



The species is widely spread in tropical and subtropical regions in the Old World and is also 

 in tropical America. .-:•.! a 



4. H. (E.) fistulosa (pipy), Schtdtz. ; Kunth, Enum. ii. 155 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Auitr. vii. 293. Stems continuous inside, acittely and equally 3-ang]ed''or 

 unequally 4-angled, 1 to 2ft. high, 1| to 2 lines diameter. Spikelets cylindrical,, 

 often fully lin. long, Ii to 2 lines diameter. Glumes imbricate but not very 



