1786 CLII. (DYPERACE^. [Schcinm.. 



6. S. melanostachyus (spikes- black), li. Br. Prod. 231 ; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 vii. 870. Stems terete, usually 2 to 3ft, high, but some specimens from various 

 quarters marked as attaining 8 to 10ft., leafless except a brown sheath at the base 

 more or less bearded at the orifice, with a spreadihg obtuse rigid lamina of 1 to 8- 

 lines. Panicle rather loose and often secund, oblong or thyrsoid, 3 to 6in. long, 

 the lower branches rather long. Sheathing bracts short, woolly at the orifice,, 

 with a small reflexed obtuse lamina. Spikelets all pedicellate, rather numerous, 

 black, linear-lanceolate, flat, usually about S lines long but sometimes 4 lines, 

 often slightly falcate, with 1, 2 or sometimes 3 flowers. Flowering glumes 

 obtuse, about 4 outer empty ones gradually shorter and more acute. Hypo^nous 

 bristles either none or few and very short and unequal, rarely 1 as long as the 

 nut. Stamens 3 or rarely 4. Nut obovoid, 3-ribbea, granular-tuberculate.— 

 Boeckel. in Linntea, xxxviii. 284 ; F. v. M. Fragm. ix. 29 ; Nees in Sieb. 

 Agrostoth. n. 3. 



Hab.: Kocldngham Bay, Dallathy ; Wide Bay, Leichhardt; Brisbane Kivcr, Bailey. 

 Stems used for making dilly-bags, Stradbroke Island, IVatkins. , . -:' 



7. S. sparteus (Broom-like), R. Dr. Prod. 231 ; Benth. I'l. Amh. vii. 371, 

 Stems very slender but rigid, 1 to 2ft. long, leafless except the brown sheaths at 

 the base bearded at the orifice, with a short recurved subulate point rar^y 

 lengthened into a lamina of 2 or 3in., and occasionally 1 or 2 similar sheaths 

 with short subulate laminsB higher up the stem. Panicle narrow, loose, 1 to 2in. 

 long, besides a flowering bract occasionally. at some distance lower down. Bracts 

 like the lower sheaths but gradually shorter. Spikelets few:within each sheath, 

 all pedicellate or 2 or 3 on a short branch in the lower sheaths, all narrow, very 

 acute, not much flattened, dark brown, about 4 lines long, with about 3 flowers. 

 Glumes acuminate or almost obtuse, fringed with woolly hairs or at length 

 glabrous, 5 or 6 outer empty ones gradually shorter. No hypogynous brisfcles.- 

 Stamens 3. Nut ovoid or obovoid, obtusely 3-angled, obscurely striate or 

 smooth. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown ; Wednesday Island, M-oseley. 



. 8. S. vaginatus (sheathed), F. r. M. Herb.; Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 371. 

 Stems 1 to 2ft. or more long, leafless except a few distant brown sheaths 

 about ^in. long, bearded at the orifice and bearing usually an erect rigidnarcow 

 lamina of J to ^in., or rarely the lower ones with a narrow-linear leaf of 2 to 

 3in., the stem readily disarticulating within each sheath. Panicle narrow, the 

 short erect branches clustered, the lowest sometimes above 1 in. long. Lower 

 sheathing bracts like the sheaths on the stem, the upper ones with very short 

 'points. Spikelets not numerous, all pedicellate but erect, dark brown, very 

 narrow, shghtly compressed, 4 to nearly 5 lines long, with about 3 flowers. 

 Glumes acutely acuminate, glabrous or fringed, with a few hairs, about 3 outer 

 empty and gradually shorter. No hypogynous bristles. Stamens 3. Young nut 

 obovoid, 3-angled. • " n 



Hab.: Brisbane Kiver, Moreton Bay, F. v. Bliieller. 



9. S. falcatus (sickle shaped), R. Br. Prod. 232 ; Benth. Ft. AuMr. vii. 372. 

 Stems 2 to 3ft. high, striate, often more or less flattened. Leaves at the base of 

 the stem with short open sheaths produced into a concave erect lamina, ofteb 2 

 lines broad at the base, but ending in a long subulate point, 1 or ^ of the' leaves 

 1ft. long or more, the stem-leaves few, with brown or black closed sheaths and 

 shorter lamihfe. Panicle long and very narrow, the branches clustered and erect, 

 the lower ones often distant and elongated, the whole panicle above Ift^, .the 

 ' sheathing bracts like the stem-leaves but gradually smaller. ' S|)ikelets numerous, 

 all pedicellate, light brown, linear-laneeolate, falcate or rarely straignt, flat, 

 varying from 4 to 6 lines long with 3 to 6 or rarely more flowers. -Glumes alcute= 



