1778 CLII. CYPERACE^. [Lepirmia. 



bract strictly continuous with the stem and not dilated at the base, the spikelet 

 varying from shortly ovoid or almost globular and ^in. long to oblong-fusiform, 

 and above l|in. long, from rather pale brown to almost black and shining. 

 <jlumes exceedingly numerous, very closely imbricate in spiral rows, broad 

 almost orbicular, obtuse, membranous or rigid, completely concealing the floral 

 scales, 3, 4 or sometimes more of the lower ones empty and shorter. Flowers 

 very flat, the anthers and style-branches only shortly protruding from under the 

 glumes. Hypogynous scales usually about 16 (said to be 8 only in some extra- 

 Australian specimens), the two outer complicate ones or bracteoles with a ciliate 

 ikeel, the others linear or oblong-linear, shorter than the glume. Stamens 8 or 

 more, alternating with the inner scales or opposite the outer ones, apparently 

 variable in number. Style, glabrous. Nut flat, broadly ovate or almost orbicular, 

 rounded at the end or almost acute, smooth or nearly so, without the longitudinal 

 ribs of Chorisandia. — Kunth, Enum. ii. 366; Miq; 111. Fl.' Archip; Ind.'li. 20; 

 F. V. M. Fragm. ix. 17 ; Chondrachne artkulata, R. Br. Prod. 220. 



Hab.: East coast, JR. Brown; Moreton Bay and environs. M-Gillivray, F. v. Mueller, 

 JLekhhardty Bailey. 



13. CHORISANDRA, R. Br. 

 (The sexes sometimes separated.) 



Spikelets (or heads) solitary, lateral, with numerous hermaphrodite flowers (or 

 androgynous spikelets). Glumes loosely imbricate all round the rhachis, not 

 longer than the floral scales, a few of the lowest empty. Flowers flat or terete. 

 Hypogynous scales numerous, the 2 outer ones (bracteoles ?) placed right and left, 

 complicate, the keel ciliate, the others narrow, flat or nearly so and closely packed 

 in several rows or all spathulate or oblong and flat or concave. Stamens 6 to 12 

 or more, alternating with the inner or opposite the outer scales. Style central, 

 deeply divided into 2 stigmatic branches. Nut biconvex or ovoid-globular, with 

 about 8 prominent longitudinal ribs. — Stems from a creeping-rhizome rush-like, 

 transversely septate inside or continuous. Leaves few at the base of the stem, 

 long terete and stem-like, or all reduced to sheathing scales. Spikelet globular 

 ■ or ovoid. 



The genus is endemic in Australia with the exception of one species which extends to 

 Kew Caledonia. 



Sect. I. Euchorisandra. — Spikelet globular, sessile, the base of the involucral bract not 

 -at all or scarcely dilated. Two outer hypogynous scales complicate and keeled. 



Stems transversely septate. Glumes acuminate-aoute almost arlstate . 1. G. spharoeephala. 



Sect, II. Cymbaria. — Spikelet ovoid globular, lialf-immersed in the dilated base of the 

 involucral bract. Hypogynous scales all oblong-spathulate and slightly concave. 

 : Stems transversely septate. Glumes obtuse 2. C cymbaria. 



1. C sphserocephala (globose-headed), R. Br. Prod. 221; Bmth Fl. 

 Au,itr. vii. 314. Stems from a short rhizome' 1^ to 2ft. high or more, marked 

 inside by transverse septa giving it an articulate appearance^ Leaves few, erect, 

 rigid and stem-like, shorter than the stem, with long, open sheaths. Bract 

 terminating the stem and continuous with it, without any basal dilatation. 

 Spikelet globose, sessile, 4 to 5 lines diameter when fully out, almost black. 

 'Olumes very numerous, a few outer empty ones short broad and obtuse, the 

 flowering ones lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute and mostly aristate with short 

 fine points giving the spikelet an eehinate or hirsute aspect. Flowers flat, 

 Hypogynous scales nearly as long as the glumes, 2 outer ones complicate with 

 acute ciliate keels, the other 12 to 16 somewhat spathulate at the base, very dark 

 at the end, acuminate almost aristate, not keeled but the margins sHghtlyejliate. 

 Stamens few, alternating with the inner scales. Nut broadly ovate, biconvex, 

 with about 8 very prominent longitudinal ribs. — Boeckel. in Linnsea, xxxvii. 142 ; 

 F. V. M, Fragm. ix. 18. 

 Hab.: Islands ol Moreton Bay and other southern localities. 



